ABOUT NICK LAPING '61
St Paul’s High School is pleased to announce the 8th Annual Nick Laping Memorial Invitational Varsity and Junior Varsity Boys Tournaments. The Nick Laping Invitational has grown into one of the premier tournaments in the province of Manitoba
The Tournament is named in memory of Nick Laping ’61 who was both a player and a coach for the Crusaders in the 1960s and 70’s.
Nick Laping attended St Paul’s High School and graduated in 1961. He was the team point guard and class president. Nick began teaching at St. Paul’s in the fall
of 1967, but more importantly began coaching the Crusader football and basketball teams. Nick coached the Crusaders until he left the school in 1973. Nick returned to St Paul’s as the Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations in the Spring of 2007.
Nick’s son Jeff attended St. Paul’s High School and graduated in 1989. Jeff returned to St. Paul’s as a teacher in 1999 and began coaching in the basketball program to continue in his father’s footsteps. It was rare for St Paul’s to have a game from 1999-2009 that Nick was not in attendance. Nick’s grandson Nick (named after his Papa) played in the 2015, and the 2016 tournaments for the host Crusaders.
Nick felt very strongly that the lessons learned from sports were some of the most important lessons a young person can learn. Nick remained a great supporter St. Paul’s High School until his passing in February of 2009 of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
The Laping Family and St Paul’s High School are very proud to support the Annual Nick Laping Invitational Tournament.