It's been a banner year for sports across the Langley School District.
Secondary and middle schools won Eastern Valley championship banners in a variety of sports - from basketball to curling - and there still remains the possibility of more banners yet to come, with provincial championships in a few spring sports still yet to be played, including track and field.
And while schools scooped up a number of banners, two of them - Aldergrove Community Secondary and Brookswood Secondary - won enough to set new school records for most banners won in a single school year, with four and five, respectively.
Not only were the ACSS banners a school-best by overall numbers, the championships were also won in sports that Aldergrove athletes had never won in before, including the school's first-ever Eastern Valley banner in curling. As well, rugby sevens banners for senior boys and girls were firsts for the school.
"These banners represent significant achievements for the school and our students," said ACSS athletic director Emily Pollastretti. "Winning these banners boosts school pride and morale among both students and staff. Furthermore, these achievements inspire other students to participate in sports and strive for similar results."
Pollastretti also gave credit to the school's coaches, noting that "without staff and coaches dedicating their time to these student-athletes we would not nearly be as successful. They play a crucial role in the success of our student-athletes."
ACSS principal Virinder Braich also praised on the coaches, especially Pollastretti, who he said "has done an excellent job reinvigorating our athletics program."
Brookswood Secondary's record season came in a variety of sports, too, led by the school's senior girls basketball team, which not only won an Eastern Valley regional banner, but a provincial title as well.
More recently, the Bobcats won an Eastern Valley championship banner in senior girls soccer.
Elsewhere in the District, Walnut Grove Secondary won eight Eastern Valley banners in total, with the two most recent coming in junior and senior boys track and field. The eight banners was one off the school's record of nine, which was accomplished in 2021-2022.
R.E. Mountain Secondary also won four banners this school year; D.W. Poppy won one Eastern Valley title, in senior girls rugby; and H.D. Stafford Middle School also brought home one new banner to hang on the gym wall. As well, Yorkson Creek Middle School's Grade 8 team won an Eastern Valley banner in badminton.
Last weekend, DW Poppy's senior girls rugby team added a second banner - a provincial one - after defeating Shawnigan Lake 56-7 in the B.C. AA Senior Girls Rugby Championships. And they were not the only Redhawks team to claim a provincial rugby banner last weekend, as the school's senior boys rugby team won a Tier 2 AA championship, with a win over McNair Secondary.
