From Orangeville To New York:

ORANGEVILLE, Ont. - The Hill Academy is proud to announce that one of its elite student-athletes, Jayson Card has accepted an athletic scholarship to play NCAA Division 1 lacrosse at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York next season.

Slated to be one of the first graduates of the Hill Academy, Card is looking forward to the opportunity to excel in the NCAA field lacrosse circuit. He will enroll in the Physical Education and Business co-op program at Hofstra. Card credits the Hill Academy with getting him recognized by the Hofstra coaches.

Previously he thought he was not NCAA Division 1 material. However, The Hill Academy's unique program helped Card realize his goals and abilities. It also helped him get noticed by top NCAA schools including NCAA National Champions Virginia University.

3 months into his senior year at The Hill Academy, Jayson says that he feels faster, fitter and significantly stronger thanks to the "top notch" training program run by The Hill's Farell Duclair.

"He pushes and motivates me beyond my limits," Card says. "The Hill has great facilities and here they introduced me to intense weight training and conditioning. The same training that is expected at the next (NCAA) level."

In particular, Card says he feels the hands-on attention and elite-level coaching provided at the Hill has helped him to reach his goal to attend a top Division 1 school.

"Being coached and being able to practice my skills against the Merrill brothers is priceless," Card says. During The Hill Academy's lacrosse season Jayson has the opportunity to train with two professional lacrosse players Brodie (Portland Lumberjax) and Patrick (Toronto Rock) who are instructors with the Hill Academy.

"The Merrill Brothers are great role models for me because they have been to the next level. Both went to American universities on lacrosse scholarships, and are currently playing professional box and field lacrosse. Their example helps me strive for my goals and makes them seem worthwhile."

It's not just the athletic improvements Card has seen through his experience at The Hill. Card says the "great academic program" in a four-semester set-up has helped him to be successful in the classroom.

"And they have supportive teachers who are aligned with my goals," Card says. "I'm surrounded in an environment with students-athletes who are working towards the goal; getting to the next level."

Card has recently gotten a tattoo of the Hill Feather to record the milestone along his "journey of success."

"The tattoo has played a prominent role in my life as a student-athlete," Card explains. "The choice of the feather is based on my beliefs that if one commits, dedicates and wills an outcome, that outcome will appear. It promotes individual growth, courage and accomplishments that are attained by sound yet aggressive preparation and sacrifice."

Jayson says the chance to play at Hofstra will be an enriching athletic and academic experience. "They have a positive, supportive coaching staff that believe in me. And they have a well respected (head) coach who is greatly motivated to win National Championship."

"They have great facilities and the school is in a town that attracts local fans to every game," he adds. "They made me feel like I have something great to offer to their program."

Growing up in Orangeville, Jayson developed a deep passion for the game. Local pro lacrosse players like Rusty Kruger, Phil and Brandon Sanderson, Brodie and Patrick Merrill each had a profound influence on his playing experience and development as an athlete.

He adds that former field coaches - Rob Teeter, Dave Summerville and Jamie Dowball - introduced the field game to him early in his lacrosse career and helped him become an offensive threat on the field.

"I had been fortunate enough to have been able to play most of my years with older age groups which in fact made me mature as a player and got me stronger," he says.

Card believes that his training at the Hill Academy will help him have immediate impact as a freshman attackman at Hofstra. He eventually hopes the NCAA experience will help him earn a spot on the next Canadian team to compete at the world lacrosse championships.