Harbinson’s son secures lacrosse NCAA scholarship
Freddy Harbinson has earned an NCAA scholarship to Tusculum College Pioneers.
The 18-year-old son of long-time Penticton Vees Junior-A hockey team head coach, Fred Harbinson, is bound for Greeneville, Tenn., this fall — to play field lacrosse.
Freddy Harbinson, who will be majoring in business, graduates from Penticton Secondary in June.
He played several years of minor hockey as a right-winger but decided lacrosse — where he plays defence — was his sport of passion.
“I felt like my strength was in lacrosse, so I decided to focus on one sport,” Harbinson said. “I think I made the right decision.”
Harbinson — who played for the Thompson Okanagan Selects and Penticton under-18 teams — got into the sport as a box lacrosse player seven years ago. He will in fact be playing for the South Okanagan Flames of the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League this spring. He took up field lacrosse four years ago. “I like both field and box,” said Harbinson. “They’re a lot different games. Box lacrosse is a much faster pace and there isn’t as much time to react. Field lacrosse is a more technical game and you really have to be aware of your positioning.”
Harbinson is looking forward to attending a school — especially one that is so sports-oriented. He said he knew it would be a great fit after visiting the school last year.
“There are so many different sports there and so just about everyone is an athlete,” he said. “I really like that kind of culture. It should be a lot of fun.”
The Pioneers — who play in the South Atlantic Conference — start training in the fall, though the league season doesn’t begin until February.
Another local player, Kale Lawrence, signed with Tusculum last fall and will be a freshman along with Harbinson this season.
“There are quite a few guys from the Okanagan that I’ve played against that are going to be going to the school as well,” said Harbinson. “It’s definitely nice to know some of the guys when you’re going to a brand-new environment.”