Boys’ lacrosse: Junior’s passion for sport helps new team improve

With 14 new players on the boys’ lacrosse team this year, coach CJ Toy is counting on strong veteran players such as junior team captain Aidan Peck, who plays midfielder and attack, to help the team succeed.

Peck has been improving his lacrosse skills since the summer before eighth grade and has gained confidence each year he has played.

“I'm fast and have stamina,” Peck said. “I have a hard shot and know how to move the ball and where to go to create space for offense.”

For Peck, the nature of lacrosse is what makes it his sport of choice.

“I love playing lacrosse because it's a fast-[paced] game,” Peck said. “It’s fun to pass and shoot the ball.”

Peck said that lacrosse is valuable to his non-athletic life as well as his athletic life. It has helped him form friendships and has given him numerous opportunities to travel.

Through competitions with his club teams, the Chauncey Boys in the West Valley Red Hawks Lacrosse Club and Nor Cal Lacrosse, he has traveled all around California, including Tahoe, San Diego, San Francisco and the San Luis Obispo Valley.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

His talent for lacrosse has even garnered interest from college recruiters, but Peck is not too quick to accept these offers, admitting that playing college level lacrosse is not the only option he is considering.

“I have received letters from multiple colleges to have me come and play for them, but I would rather find a college that fits me better. I can always play club [lacrosse] rather than NCAA,” Peck said.

His skills on the field have made him a model for the rest of the team.

“He’s just like the best midfielder on the team so he gives all the new guys pointers,” sophomore Miles Owyang said. “[The coach will use him] as an example because he knows what to do.”

As a the team captain and as a junior who has played on varsity since freshman year, Peck has assumed a leadership role on the team. Like the coaches, he can easily identify what the team needs to work on.

“My part in helping the team succeed is to help any beginning players that need help,” Peck said. “Right now, our team needs to get better at our mental game. Our strengths are that we have a lot of fast and athletic people on the team who all want to get better and win.”

The boys’ lacrosse team played its first game against Sequoia High School on March 1, losing 11-9. However, because the team is and plans to continue steadily improving, the loss is not as discouraging as it would have been last season.

The team will play Aptos on March 15 and Leland on March 17.