Munk, Currie, take command of HRV lacrosse

Erin Currie, a former coach at Lakeridge, takes over for Eric Nance in the girls program.

The Eagle boys have been a state fixture for several years and the girls program is on the rise, with a steady increase of talent and ability.

Both new coaches followed the call of lacrosse to Hood River. Or in Munk's case, back to Hood River.

Munk played for HRV on the ground floor of lacrosse in Hood River. He went on to play collegiate for Notre Dame de Namur in California, where the team spent most of his career ranked in the top 10.

After graduation he moved on to the pro ranks, playing indoor lacrosse in Canada before spending a season with Portland Lumberjaxx of major league lacrosse. He then played for the San Jose Stealth and spent several years playing for the Czech National Indoor lacrosse team, including two world championship tournaments.

After all that he wound up back in Hood River. He is currently attending school in Portland working on his teaching credential.

"It's a full circle," he said Thursday while watching his new team practice.

Currie is not quite coming full circle, but she is hoping to take HRV girls team to the next level.

She played four years of high school lacrosse at West Linn and Lakeridge, and recreationally at University of Oregon, before getting into coaching at Lakeridge.

After assisting at HRV last year, she takes the reins this season of a team she thinks is prepared to take big strides.

"I'm hoping to make it to state," she said. "That's the goal and the talent is there."