The second week of November was a very good week for Lightning Athletics. Langley Christian School student athletes took home four of a possible five championship banners in soccer and volleyball within days of each other.
A 4-0 win in the final was thoroughly deserved and an occasion for our many seniors to be especially proud to win a trophy at the end of their high school career. Onwards to Provincials where the competition gets very tough, but this year we are confident of getting some results.
MARK JONES – LCS SOCCER COACH
On Tuesday, the senior boys soccer team led by dedicated coaches – high school humanities teacher, Tom Allen, and local pastor and community soccer coach, Mark Jones – beat Eastern Valley perennial soccer favourites, Langley Fundamental, 4-0 in the championship game at Noel Booth Park. The team remains undefeated in 2022 heading into this year’s provincial championship.
On Wednesday, the grade 8 boys and girls teams completed their season. The grade 8 girls competed well and finished 4th in the valley. The boys capped an impressive season running the table and capturing the Eastern Valley Banner. Both teams showed amazing determination and team work all season, and were coached by a number of staff and parent-volunteer coaches with a background in volleyball who just wanted to serve, give back to the community and invest in the personal development of our students.
On Thursday night, within minutes of each other, both the junior girls team and the junior boys team captured the 3rd and 4th Eastern Valley championship of the week for LCS.
The girl’s team beat an inspired Credo Kodiaks. Credo took the first set from LCS before the Lightning stormed back and won in dramatic fashion. Both teams claim the exclusive berths in the junior girls provincial tournament on November 24-26 in Surrey.
The junior boys capped their undefeated league season by winning all their matches and capturing the third Eastern Valley Championship in a row for LCS. Grade 10 setter Tayven Magnowski went down with a bad ankle injury in the semifinal, but back-up setters Drew VanHuizen and Nate McCartie tagged-teamed to lead the team to straight set victory in the gold medal match.
…At first I was sad when I found out I was hurt and couldn’t play. But then I just wanted to get out of the hospital as fast as I could to go back and cheer on my teammates and help them win however I could.
Tayven Magnowski – LCS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER
Four zone championships in one year is remarkable for any school, especially at juniors where every school from A to AAAA must compete against each other. Winning four times in one week is exceptional. This outward success is a testimony to the remarkable leadership and hours of passionate investment into the program from athletic directors Jon Mayan and Jon Keuhl who have designed a program that emphasizes whole student athlete development – character, spiritual, wellness, mental training and performance. In addition to practicing skills, all of the coaches dedicate tremendous effort into mental health training, leadership and character-building skills, as well as praying with and mentoring the students.
These kids hear all season that as a program we collectively believe much is expected from them because have received such a great privilege of being on a team and enjoying all the community connection that comes with that. We challenge these kids to be the best people they can be, live into who they’re purposed to be, and use what they learn through sport to build community and impact others positively outside of their team. Winning a trophy doesn’t matter – it is just an outcome of great behaviours and mindset modelled by inspiring adults and formed into habits in the kids.
LCS HEAD OF SCHOOLS
The opportunities these athletes receive is only possible because of the outstanding coaches who participate selflessly in the program, many of whom were once good high school and varsity level athletes. We’re thankful for coaches like Mitch Jarvie – an LCS grad (2013) who despite running his own paving company, takes time from work every week to coach and mentor youth in our school. Lightning Athletics is a snapshot of the amazing community and spirit of collaborative grassroots investment here at this school.
