PORT HARDY—After helping Cheslakees Elementary School of Port McNeill to last year's Charlie Cup checkers championship, Stephanie Lacasse was back at it last week with a new school.
Lacasse, now a student at Avalon Adventist Academy in Port Hardy, was one of four winners from the school last week during checkers games held at the Friendship Soccer Tournament at Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw School.
Kaisha Cook, Kira Corsi and Seryna Hanuse also claimed wins for Avalon by sweeping five-game matches against tournament host David Lyon of Sointula. The four wins vaulted Avalon to the top of the standings with four points to one each for Sunset Elementary and for Wagalus School of Fort Rupert.
Grace Dawson of Wagalus produced the first winner during last week's soccer tournament, besting Lyon during the grade 2-3 games Wednesday. Lacasse followed with her win Thursday during the grade 4-5 tourney, and the other winners came on Friday as the grade 6-7 students took their turn.
Cheslakees Elementary of Port McNeill was converted to a kindergarten and early learning centre after winning its third straight Charlie Cup championship last spring, with its grade 1-5 students folded into Sunset Elementary.
Lyon has now received 130 entries in the tournament, which runs throughout the school year before concluding at June Sports in Alert Bay on Father's Day weekend in 2012. The next opportunity for students to enter will be during the annual Sointula Winterfest on Malcolm Island Nov. 19.