Kade Beaton and Caidyn Prediger have been close friends since an early age and have grown up playing lacrosse together.
Now the Prince Albert products will get the chance to play the sport at the post-secondary level as they have both committed to the Quincy University Hawks, who compete in the NCAA Division II ranks.
“The fact that we are both going to the same school and pursuing our dream together is really cool,” Beaton said. “It’s still kind of surreal that we’re getting that opportunity, along with our friend Bauer Swystun (who has committed to Westcliffe University), and it’s cool to think that some of the younger kids playing lacrosse in Prince Albert can look up to us in the future.
“I think all of us are hoping that we’ll see a number of lacrosse players from all over the province commit to schools throughout the United States, as it will really help grow the game,” Prediger said.
Caidyn Prediger controls the ball while playing for the Prince Albert Attack field lacrosse team.
Beaton and Prediger, who are veterans of both box and field lacrosse with the Prince Albert Lacrosse Association and are Grade 12 students at St. Mary, both began the process of finding a program over the course of the last year.
“I was lucky enough to play for Team Sask in 2019 when they won a bronze medal at nationals and I realized around that point that I could possibly go further with the game,” Beaton said. “Sports have been such a big part of my life and I was hoping to get an opportunity to continue to play sports while also pursing an education.”
“The chance to play in college was something that I’ve always wanted to do, but it really started to kick into high gear over the last year,” Prediger added. “I started to reach out to coaches and sent out some game film to different schools…and it all worked out well for me in the end.”
The Hawks, which are located in Quincy, Illinois and are right on the border with Missouri, are entering their second season of play after posting a 0-5 record last year before COVID-19 brought a halt to their inaugural campaign.
“That was a big factor in going there for me as it will be really exciting to help build up the program at Quincy,” Beaton said. “The school also has a real college feel to it as well and the way that they support their teams reminds me of when the gym is packed for volleyball and basketball games at St. Mary.”
“I’ve talked a lot to the players from Saskatchewan (Grayson Kaun, Jordan Ernst and Giulio Fortugno) that are down there already,” Prediger added. “They’ve told me that the level of lacrosse down there is at a very high level and I can’t wait to experience that first hand.”
In the meantime, Beaton and Prediger are both preparing for their journey to Quincy, which will take place later this summer.
“My family and I are already getting stuff ready for the dorm that I’ll be sharing with Kade,” Prediger said.
“Kade, Bauer and I have been working out together almost every day here to get ready for the next level. I’ve been working a lot on my foot speed and I’ll be playing a lot of wall ball once the snow clears off.
