Local girl moves up the ranks

Andrea Roberts
Times Intern

 

Strathmore local Jaimie Betterton, 18, has moved up in the lacrosse world and is now playing for the Rockyview Silvertip Junior girls’ team. Betterton started playing for the Silvertips this year, the team’s inaugural year, and has already proven to be a valuable team member.
“It has been great to have the opportunity that I have to coach her again,” said Lesley Hawke, the vice president of women’s field lacrosse who had previously coached Betterton.
“She is such a talented athlete and it really doesn’t matter what she does she puts in 110 per cent and you can always see the improvement with what she does because she works really hard.”
Hawke explained that Betterton’s biggest assets were her speed and drive, which meant she is always engaged when she is on the floor. Due to such speed, her coaches usually use the offensive player for power plays and transitions because even when she gets checked she usually comes away with the ball still in her possession.
“My adrenaline goes up very high and that’s one of the things that I like about it the most,” said Betterton.
“That is one of the things that people don’t know, how hard it is to actually play and be focused. So my favourite part about when I play [is] just how excited I get and how my adrenaline goes up so high.”
She started playing lacrosse five years ago with the Venom midget girls and in her second year made it onto Team Alberta. However, she was unable to go to nationals due to a concussion. She later moved on to playing for the Junior A Cardinals ladies team, and eventually ended up in Airdrie playing for the new junior team, which takes in girls from the surrounding areas, including Strathmore, that don’t have a junior girls’ team.
Head coach Pat Brown referred to Betterton as a tough and talented player.
Betterton is not the only girl from Strathmore who plays for the team. Raegan Burkholder is one of the team’s defense players who Brown said made great strides since joining the team.
“She’s a totally reliable defender out there now,” said Brown.
“I’m really happy with the way she has come along and improved herself and she has done wonders.”
He further explained that both players are a valuable part of the team and have made a huge difference in the success of the team.