Local athletes achieving great success in the lacrosse world
Local athletes Rachel and David Anderson are following in the footsteps of their grandfather Gaylord Powless — the lacrosse legend — as they both achieve immense success in the sport.
Both Rachel and David wear number 15 as a tribute to their grandfather and say it is an honour to do so.
“It means everything to me, and I am so honoured to wear it so I can continue on his legacy,” said Rachel.
David said he has never worn a different number, and even though he never got the chance to meet him, as his grandfather passed away when he was born, he said he has always looked up to him.
“It is an honour having a member like that in my family, and I’m just trying to walk in the same shoes that he did,” said David.
Rachel, 13, only started playing lacrosse a couple of years ago after giving up rep soccer.
“I switched to lacrosse because I wanted to try it out and I saw my brother’s successes and my papa’s successes as well,” said Rachel. Even though she has only played for a short time, she has already racked up an impressive list of accomplishments.
Rachel is a recent gold medallist on both of her teams. Her K-W United U15 field lacrosse team won gold at the Ontario Lacrosse Association Provincials at RIM Park in July, while her K-W bantam Braves box lacrosse team won provincials in the B division at the Ontario Lacrosse Festival held in Whitby this month.
Rachel also recently returned from nationals in Calgary, where she represented Team Ontario playing for the U15 field team. She was the only player from K-W selected and said it was an amazing feeling.
“We won nationals after we beat British Columbia in the finals … and it was so amazing and I was so honoured to experience it with Team Ontario,” said Rachel.
Rachel will be travelling to Florida with the team in November for an invitational tournament.
“I am really excited for that because lacrosse down in the States is very skilled as well,” said Rachel.
Rachel said she will be moving up this year to play for the K-W United U19 field lacrosse team and the K-W Braves midget girls box lacrosse team.
Although she is only turning 14 this year, she said playing with older girls does not intimidate her.
“It challenges me to be more aggressive and a better player, and I take it as an opportunity,” said Rachel.
Rachel said her goals for the future include playing Division 1 lacrosse at a school in the U.S.
David, 17, said he has held a stick in his hand since he could walk, since his grandfather and great-grandfather made him a stick that he has used growing up.
He first started out in Cambridge playing house league and then started to play in Kitchener in 2012, as he said it was more competitive there.
After a couple years, he left Kitchener to join the Jr. B Guelph Regals, where he has stayed until now.
David has played for the Team Ontario midget box lacrosse team and also represented Team Ontario on the U16 lacrosse team at the North American Indigenous Games. He also played for Team Canada last October at the U17 showcase game at the Heritage Cup in Hamilton.
David recently returned home from representing his heritage Team Iroquois at the World Junior Lacrosse Championships, which were held from Aug. 8-12 in Saskatoon. His team won silver after losing to Team Canada.
“It was probably one of the greater experiences of my life,” said David.
Following the tournament, David was named to the 2018 World Junior Lacrosse Championships IIJL All-World Team, which he said was an honour.
“I was just really proud of myself and my teammates because we had one goal and that was to beat Canada, and even though we didn’t accomplish that, we all had a lot of fun in the tournament trying to,” said David.
Along with his success in lacrosse, David also plays hockey.
He is currently training for both sports at the Culver Military Academy in Indiana, which recruited him last spring.
“I made the decision to come here because I feel like it was the best opportunity for me academically and athletically just because they were No. 1 in the nation for both hockey and lacrosse, and their academics here are unbeatable,” said David.
David studies there from August to June and returned home this summer to play Jr. A lacrosse for Toronto Beaches and said he hopes to next summer as well.
Last June, David was drafted in the 10th round by the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League Draft.
However, he said he cannot pursue this route right now as he is missing main camp because of school.
“I’m definitely not closing any doors with that because it is one of the most prestigious junior hockey leagues in the world,” said David. David said he hasn’t made any decisions as to which sport he wants to pursue, but said he has a dream to play both sports at a Division 1 college on a dual scholarship and study business.
Rachel said she wouldn’t be where she is today without the support of her family, especially her brother.
“He’s always pushed me to be a better lacrosse player, a better athlete and a better person.”