Alberta Cross Country Provincial Championships

Eagle Butte High School played host to 119 runners from around the province at the Alberta School Athletic Association (ASAA) Cross Country running provincials at Elkwater Provincial Park Oct. 15.

Grade 11 student Hayley Francois

For grade 11 student Hayley Francois, finishing second place in last year’s competition was a great accomplishment, however she knew that she wanted more. In this year’s competition, she proved that she had it in her all along, as she claimed the intermediate girl’s title.

Francois’s winning time in the intermediate 4km race was 17 minutes, 20 seconds. The runner-up was Kinley Gibson of the Jasper Place Rebels at 17:30.

The hilly course brought out the best in the 2010 Athletics Alberta cross-country midget female of the year. Last year Francois represented the Paul Kane Blues at provincials in Vermilion and was the second-fastest female in the junior 3km at 13:14. At the October 5^th Edmonton zone provincial qualifier, Francois was the top intermediate female at 17:53. The 16 year old is a member of the Edmonton Harriers Track and Field Club and runs cross country to stay in shape for the indoor meets.

On the senior girls side, Alana Skocdopole from Red Deer’s Notre Dame High School earned a rare distinction in ASAA cross country as she won the 4km senior girls race in a time of 16:54, giving her gold medals from each of her three visits to the provincial finals during her high school career at Notre Dame.

Will Clack from Winston Churchill took top honors in the senior boys division with a winning time of 21:59 for the 7km race. Kieran McDonald from Hunting Hills and Chris Fitzgibbon from Sir Winston Churchill placed 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.

New Brunswick Cross Country Provincial Championships

In New Brunswick, over 250 athletes took part in the 2011 New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association (NBIAA) Cross Country Championships on Friday, October 14^th at Odell Park.

The entire Fredericton High School Black Kats cross country running team put forth a strong effort as they ended up just three points shy of a clean sweep of the provincial team titles at the season ending event.

The FHS junior boys and junior girls teams were both dominant as they took home their respective team championships, while the senior girls team just barely overtook Saint John High School in the final meters to take first place. The senior boys also had a strong performance, however they were edged by Saint John HS and finished a very close second in the team competition.

FHS coach Kevin Daley was thrilled with his team’s performance and attributes their success to their collaborative hard work and intense training schedule, which has been in full swing since the first week of September.

The extra training certainly paid off for Cassandra Parsons of the Kats’ senior girls squad who passed Victoria Leblanc of SJHS in the final stretch to place 11th in the senior girls’ 4km race, unknowingly clinching the title for FHS. It was the storybook ending for the Grade 12 student and her teammates after falling short at last year’s championships.

Josh Shanks of SJHS took home gold in the junior boys’ 4km event, finishing at 13:27.20. The Kats’ Tully Masterson won silver with a 13:59.70 time, while Paul Tremblay of École Samuel-de-Champlain grabbed bronze with a 14:02.90 finish.

Photo: Sr. Boys Champions from Saint John HS (courtesy Saint John Track Club)

École Sainte-Anne’s Luiza Schwarz won gold in the junior girls’ 3km, stopping the clock at 11:18.40. Mackenzie Amos of FHS finished in second at 11:23.90, with Claire McGrath from Woodstock High School finishing at 11:36.90 to place third.

In the senior girls race, Katie Robinson of SJHS took the gold with a 15:19.50 time, while Jolaine Boucher of ESA came in second at 15:36.30. Hannah Arsenault of SJHS won the bronze with a 15:41.40 time.

Lee Wesselius of J.M.A. Armstrong High School in Salisbury grabbed the gold in the senior boys’ 5km event, finishing at 15:52.10. Nick MacMakin of SJHS placed second with a 16:33.00 finish, and Dylan Hebert came in third at 16:57.00.

British Columbia’s New Island Rivalry

A resurgence with the Mount Douglas Secondary School’s cross country program has seen its team grow to include 30 runners and become a serious threat to Oak Bay High’s streak as the top team in Victoria at the Vancouver Island cross country championships.

The Island’s high school cross country championships get under way at Beaver Lake Park on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

It’s the depth of Mt. Doug that has coach Bernie Kidd thinking of an Island title.

Seniors Caleigh Bachop (Grade 11) and Katelyn Hayward (Grade 12) lead the Mt. Doug girls’ team along with Grade 9 phenom Farisha Arnensen. Each of the three won a race for Mt. Doug during the school racing season, as have seniors Tyler Norman and Thomas Getty.

Another factor in Mt. Doug’s favour is the number of crossover athletes from other sports who are now excelling at cross country running. About two-thirds of the team is dedicated to cross-country and additionally coach Kidd explains he picked up some mercenaries from field hockey, football and basketball that have really strengthened the overall team.

The boost in Mt. Doug’s program has a bright future as well, as Mt. Doug’s Grade 9 athletes are leading the city and proving be a strong contender in the years ahead.

Arnensen won the Grade 9 girls’ race at the Island Age Grade Cross Country Championships held at Beaver Lake Park on Oct. 18. Joel Getty and Ethan Taylor were first and second, respectively, in the Grade 9 boys’ race. Mt. Doug’s Mohand Khouider was fifth and Ryan Niezen was seventh in the same race, winning the Grade 9 team title for Mt. Doug.

Connor Foreman (Claremont) and Brittany King (Spectrum) won the Island Gr. 11 and 12 titles at Beaver Lake on Tuesday, with Erik Evan (Reynolds) winning the Gr. 10 boys’ title and Nanaimo’s Brittany King topping all grade 10 girls.

Stay tuned for the results of the Island Championships in our October monthly review.

Sport Spotlight Team Focus: Thousand Islands Secondary School

The Thousand Islands Secondary School (TISS) Pirates cross country program in Brockville, Ontario is one of largest and the most successful high school cross country teams in the province of Ontario. The Pirates have captured several OFSAA Overall Cross Country titles and many team, invitational, and international championships.  Over the years, the Pirates Cross Country team has amassed an astonishing 26 straight overall Leeds and Grenville Secondary School Athletic Association (LGSSAA) team titles, and 27 EOSSAA overall team titles. The Pirates entered the 2011 fall season with 80 dedicated athletes determined to carry on the fine tradition that has come to be known as the “Purple Pack”. Each season the program plays host to over 1,000 athletes from over 60 schools from all over the province of Ontario during the annual Pirates Invitation Cross Country Meet.

For more information and past player profiles visit the Pirates website:

www.piratescrosscountry.com

Knights pitcher Brett Siddall - Courtesy of Canada.com

The Holy Names Knights from Windsor had never won an OFSAA Baseball Championship heading into the 2011 season, however once they made it in to the tournament, they knew that anything was possible.

The Knights excelled during regular season play and looked to keep that momentum going into the divisional finals. In May, the team took a major step towards the OFSAA championship when they found themselves in the WECSSAA divisional championships. The Knights advanced to the finals after beating Villanova 9-0 in the semi-finals, and were up against the 2010 OFSAA provincial champions from Vincent Massey Secondary School. In the championship game, Knight’s pitcher Brett Siddall was in championship form allowing just one hit over the first four innings. The Knights rode Siddall’s excellent performance and got some timely hitting to claim the championship by a final score of 4-1.

With that divisional win, The Knights then advanced to play in the SWOSSAA Championships held on June 2 and 3. The team exerted its dominance over the Petrolia Lambton-Central Lancers in a 12-2 game that was shortened due to enforcement of the tournament’s mercy rule.

With two regional championships under their belt, the Knights went looking for more as they went into the OFSAA championships at the Rogers Center in Toronto bursting with confidence. The only things standing in their way from the OFSAA Championship were 15 other baseball teams from all over Ontario. Many of the boys had never played in a Major League park before, adding to the experience of competing for a provincial championship.

The Knights finished pool play with an impressive 3-0 record that included a win over the Ancaster Royals in the OFSAA West Regional finals to reach the semi-finals. The Knights seemed to be in a good position in their semi-final match up against St. Michael’s College, as they held a commanding 8-3 lead going into the seventh and final inning. St. Michael’s slowly chipped away though, making it 8-7 with runners on first and second base with two outs. With the pressure on, Knights closer Connor Soulliere made a clutch play to step off the pitcher’s mound and catch the base runner in a rundown, ending the drama and sending the Knights to the Championship game.

In the other semi-final, the Royals had a much easier time advancing after they dispatched the St Marguerite D’Youville Panthers 11-0.

After losing to the Knights once already in the tournament, the Royals were hungry for revenge and their play showed. The pitchers on both teams were the story in the first two innings of the game, as neither team’s offense could get anything going. The Royals were able to break the deadlock and took a 1-0 lead in the 3^rd inning. The Knights showed their resiliency as they managed a run in the 5^th inning to tie it up.

The game remained tied at the end of the 7^th inning so the interesting extra innings rule came in to place and saw each team start with a base runner on second base to start the 8^th inning. The Knights took advantage and scored on a sacrifice bunt to go ahead 2-1. The Royals simply would not quit and were rewarded with a bit of luck, as Bobby St. Pierre got caught in a rundown between third base and home. Knights catcher Todd Barta made a throw to the third baseman, which proved costly as it hit St. Pierre’s helmet and bounced into the outfield, allowing him to score.

The Holy Names Knights - Courtesy of the Blue Jays/OFSAA

Just as they have the entire tournament, the Royals’ hitting came up clutch, gaining 2 more runs in the top of the 9^th inning to give them a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the 9^th, the drama continued as the Knights were able to tie up the game again at 4-4 with a bases-loaded double.

With only one out, the Knights still had men on second and third when Spencer Church looped a pop fly into short right field to score Jake Lumley and to win the OFSAA Championship in a walk-off.

The Knights were ecstatic to win their first Championship and were even more surprised when former Blue Jays second baseman, Roberto Alomar, presented the medals and the Prentice Cup to Holy Names. After Vincent Massey took home the Championships last year, the Knights are proud to make it two straight for Windsor area high schools.

Deon Clifford

Deon Clifford is the type of athlete that only comes along once in a decade. At a time when student athletes are often encouraged to focus all of their efforts on just one sport, Deon’s approach flies in the face of conventional wisdom as he follows in the footsteps of other dual-sport athletes like Deon Sanders, Bo Jackson and Babe Zaharias.

The unassuming 5’ 9”, 135 pound senior at Earl Marriott Secondary School in Surrey, BC is not only one of the fastest 2,000 metre steeple chase runners in the world for his age group, but he is also a starting full back for British Columbia’s provincial rugby team.

According to Clifford, he loves both sports so much that giving one of them up is simply out of the question. The most unique aspect of Clifford’s story however, is that his two chosen sports are the most unlikely of combinations for elite athletes at any age.

From the standpoint of body types alone, it isn’t very likely that a rugby coach is going to find very many potential recruits by scouring a pack of middle-distance runners. Conversely, a track coach isn’t likely to find his next great miler amidst a rolling maul of rugby players.

What makes Clifford’s ability to excel in both sports even more impressive is the fact that in the B.C. high school sports system, the seasons of play for rugby and track run in the same spring window of competition. In fact, in what will be his final year at Earl Mariott, both senior boys’ rugby and track championship finals are slated for June 2 in Abbotsford and Burnaby respectively.

Clifford’s rugby head coach at Earl Marriott, Adam Roberts feels that due to the nature of the sport of track and field, it is very difficult for track athletes to cross over to other sports, however he is confident Clifford is an exception to the rule.

Above all else however, what makes Clifford an absolute rarity is the level at which he competes in both sports. In June 2011, at the B.C. high school track and field championships, Clifford finished fourth in the 3,000 metres and sixth in the 1,500 metres. In August, he finished eighth in steeplechase at the Worlds in France and also won top spot in his age class at the Canadian championships.

On the rugby pitch, Clifford’s speed and courage have made him a natural at fullback where he competes for Earl Marriott, the Bayside club and Team B.C.

Clifford says there are a lot of people who want him to concentrate solely on running, especially at his young age. He feels that since he has never had a serious injury and is able to train on his own for track if he misses a practice, he should not have to chose one sport over the other in the year ahead

As Clifford’s coach, Roberts laughs at how the fullback defies traditional description. Clifford stereotypical long distance runner body looks rather skinny on the rugby pitch, but he can run for miles without breaking a sweat and is by far the best tackler the Earl Marriot Mariners have seen in recent history.

Amongst all the hype and multi sport practice scheduling, at least for the time being, Clifford is focused on training for one main event, an upcoming running championship. Both he and Vancouver-St. George’s standout Christian Gravel are considered the two favourites for the boys’ final at the B.C. high school cross-country championships slated for November 5 in Kelowna. Both athletes are hungry to improve on their results from last season, where Gravel finished second and Clifford finished fourth.

Although Clifford is very humble about the fact that he is excelling in an extremely rare combination of sports, coaches like Roberts applaud his old school mentality and his desire to simply play the sports he loves to play. It is certainly refreshing to see a high school athlete competing in sports for the pure enjoyment and as he does so, Deon Clifford is defying the status quo and making his case as the best two-sport athlete B.C. high school sports has ever seen.

Ever since the game of golf was first played on pastures in Scotland, it has been a sport that has strong values, such as honesty and integrity, built into the rules. As such, it is a great sport for young high school athletes that helps them discover how to use those values in a variety of situations: whether they are at home, at school, playing sports or in everyday social interactions.

High school golf in Canada has been growing for many years and has developed a number of outstanding young golfers; there are currently 426 Canadian golfers playing in U.S. Colleges, according to the Golf Canada Foundation. While this migration of Canadian golfers to the U.S. is a strong indication of the skill level of our athletes, the Golf Canada Foundation has developed a University/College Support Program that offers Canadian athletes the opportunity to stay in Canada to continue their post-secondary education while continuing to compete and train at a very high level. Read on to find out about some of the up and coming high school Canadian golfers.

British Columbia

From left to right: Coach Brian Unger, Ally Shin, Kevin Ko, Duncan Priestly, Jisoo Keel and David Lee with their Championship banner (photo courtesy: Coquitlam NOW)

Every spring, British Columbia hosts the provincial championships and earlier this year, some of the lowest scores in ‘AAA’ history were set after some very impressive team and individual performances.

Jiso Keel, a grade 10 student, led the way for the Gleneagle Talons as she carded impressive rounds of 72 and 68 to finish with a 4-under par total. Her second round was highlighted by seven birdies and a strong finish that saw her go four-under par over the final eight holes. Keel made history, as she was the first female to capture the low-score total in the co-ed championship’s 40-year history.

Keel wasn’t the only star of the team, as her teammates also enjoyed solid rounds en route to overcoming a 2-shot deficit to Belmont Secondary after the first round. Kevin (Suk Woan) Ko had the second lowest individual score at even par, David Lee shot a one-under 71 on the second day to finish at four-over par while Ally Shin rounded out the top 4 scores with a seven-over par total. The Talons’ remarkable team score of seven-over par is the lowest AAA score in recent history and is sure to be remembered for many years to come.

Alberta

Every year the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) awards the Mizuno All-Canadian award to two high school students for their outstanding performance in academics, golf and community involvement. In April of this year, Sydney MacDonald from Calgary was selected as the female recipient of the award after she has excelled both on the golf course and off. MacDonald is hoping to follow up that stellar season with another as she attempts to earn a university or college golf scholarship to continue developing her game.

“I have such a passion for the game and all the enjoyment it brings me each and every day,” she said.  “I am driven to continue to work hard to achieve my goals and hope that I can be a role model to encourage more girls to get involved in the game”. MacDonald’s smooth swing will be on display at the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) provincial championships being held on September 26 and 27 at Belvedere Golf and Country Club in New Sarepta.

Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) held their provincial golf championships on September 26 at The Links at Penn Hills as golfers from over 20 schools came out to compete. The boys team from CP Allen ran away with the championship, with an overall team score of 298 that blew away the competition. Bruce Tomie had the day’s low round of 72 to lead the way, while his teammate Brad Curren followed close behind with the day’s second lowest round of 73. Daniel Keays and Jonathan Loder rounded out the strong CP Allen team with scores of 76 and 77, respectively. The boys from Parkview finished second place in the team competition with a total score of 321, while the team from Dr. JH Gillis came in third with a score of 324.

In the girls’ competition, the team from North Nova Education Centre (NNEC) claimed their second straight title, as Julia Henderson and Mairi Keay teamed up to shoot a team score of 175 ahead of Northumberland HS (198) and West Kings HS (212).

Saskatchewan

Lisa Reid of Riffel HS tees off during the SHSAA Championship Photo courtesy: Calgary Herald

Saskatchewan is the only province to boast both Sand and Grass Golf Championships, which just meant that there was yet another tournament showcasing the great young up and coming golfers. In the Sand Golf Championships, Tyrin Foley of Bengough HS shot an impressive two day total of 140 (71-69) to easily take the individual title over Brennan Tomporowski and Matthew Pauls, who shot identical rounds of 82-77 to finish at 159. Foley’s performance wasn’t enough to win the team championship though, as Tomporowski’s team from Canwood HS finished with the low score of 683 ahead of Bengough’s 700. In the girls’ competition, Cassidy Onerheim edged her Frontier HS teammate Hope Anderson by 3 strokes to win the girls’ individual championship. Onerheim was the only girl to break 90 on both days, as she shot 88-89 to finish at 177 while Anderson shot 86-94 for a total of 180.

In the Grass Championships, Daegan Wall of Regina Leboldus had the low two-day score of 144 to clinch the individual championship while also helping his team claim the team championship as well. Wall’s teammates Aaron Vogel, Matt Turchett and Kyle Whitrow also enjoyed a strong tournament as the Leboldus team finished 19 shots ahead of the second place finisher. The girls’ side of the tournament featured some high drama as Lisa Reid of Riffel HS edged Ricki-Lee Scott of Whitewood HS in a playoff after they both finished the two-day competition tied at 174. In the team competition it was Coronach HS that took the title as they finished at 373, while Swift Current and Whitewood finished in 2^nd and 3^rd place, respectively.

UBC Invitational Kicks off BC Senior Girls’ Volleyball Season

The Kelowna Owls moved into No. 1 spot in the early season BC senior girls Quad A volleyball rankings after their first-place finish at the UBC Mizuno Invitational on September 24^th. The Owls defeated Victoria’s Triple A No. 1-ranked Lambrick Park 2-0 (25-23, 25-15) in the championship final.

The gold-medal match was the first time the Kelowna Secondary School squad used a set lineup in the 48 team tournament, highlighting their depth and balance while also improving upon their No. 3 rank going in to the season’s first competition.  Grade 12 captain and tournament all-star Kaitlynn Given led by example, posting the most kills and registering the best passing percentage. Also playing key roles in the final were power hitters Hillary Schell and Kaitlyn Valgardson, as well as libero Megan Witela.

En route to their gold medal, the Owls defeated No. 7 (4A) ranked Robert McMath of Richmond in two decisive semifinal sets. Also among the KSS victims on the weekend were the provincially No. 5 (4A) ranked Earl Marriott Mariners of Surrey.

The tournament bronze medal game saw Richmond’s McMath Wildcats and defending B.C. Quad A champion Handsworth Royals of North Vancouver finish third and fourth respectively.

Young Golfers Shine at Burlington Golf and Country Club

Madison Easterbrook watches her tee shot on the 14th hole at the Burlington Golf and Country Club in Burlington during the high school golf tournament. Source: The Hamilton Spectator

The sixth annual Burlington High School Golf Tournament was played at the Burlington Golf and Country Club on September 26^th where some very talented boys’ and girls’ teams from the nine high schools in the city of Burlington competed in one of the highlight events of their season. Although rain made conditions less than ideal, the young golfers still managed to put up some very impressive scores.

Leading the way was grade 9 student Joey Hetherman from Corpus Christi Secondary School. When Joey arrived at Corpus Christi this fall, he was just hoping to make the school golf team. Little did he know that just three weeks later he would be making history with his eight over par, 79 final round score at the local tournament. His victory inked him a spot in the tournament record books as the first Grade 9 student to win the annual event. Hetherman had four victories this past summer, including a national bantam match-play title. The 14 year old is a member at Willow Valley Golf Club under coach Mike Pollard and has future aspirations of being a golf coach.

The overall low score of the tournament was turned in by grade 10 student Madison Easterbrook of Aldershot, who took the girls’ division with a 78. Easterbrook, at only 15 years of age, is one of the newest members of Ontario’s Under 17 Provincial Team and hopes one day her skills on the golf course will grant her a scholarship across the border.  The tournament’s team title went to Corpus Christi’s foursome of Christian Jeffery, Hetherman, Matthew Matecki and Brad Holmes whose total store of 246 gave them a two-stroke victory over Notre Dame.

The high school golf season in Ontario concludes with the annual OFSAA boys’ golf championship takes place Oct. 12-13 at Trillium Wood in Corbyville on the boy’s side and the provincial girls’ competition gets underway Oct. 13 at Loch March in Kanata.

Neepawa Golf and Country Club Hosts MHSAA Golf Championships

Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association provincial golf championships were held at the Neepawa Golf and Country Club on September 24^th and marked the end of the 2011 season. Jenna Roadley of Sturgeon Heights shot an impressive even par round of 72 and Travis Fredborg of Lord Selkirk finished with a two-over 74 to claim the overall women’s and men’s low scores at the event.

St. Mary’s Academy’s team of Nicole McGlennen, Jaclyn Albrechtson, Adrianna Pawlowsky and Hanna Diamond shot a combined score of 277 to win the girls team title while the team from Nellie McClung was second with 282 and Boissevain third with 351.

The boys’ team competition was close as Lord Selkirk took the title with a combined score of 234. Joining Fredborg on the team were Noel Ngo, Brenden Setter and Ryan Moneo. St. Paul’s finished just behind in second place with a total of 238 and the team from Stonewall Collegiate Institute came in third with a score of 240.

Full results from the day are listed below can be found here

Calgary High School Football League Opens With Familiar Rivals

Calgary high school football league opens with familiar rivals

The schedule makers behind the scenes at the Calgary High School Football League proved they wanted to start the 2011 season off with a bang as they pitted the city’s two most prominent archrivals and pre-season powerhouses against each other in the first week of competition.

The much anticipated September 16^th game between the St. Francis Browns and the Notre Dame Pride started out neck and neck after the teams battled to an 8-8 halftime score, resulting in both sides increasing the pressure in the second half.

Early in the third quarter the Browns grabbed an 11-8 lead thanks to a well-struck 15-yard field goal. The Pride punched back on the ensuing kick-off when running back Landon Bayda miraculously found his way to the end zone for a quick touchdown.

The Pride extended the lead in the fourth quarter when quarterback Brett Hunchak scored on a one-yard plunge into the end zone. Both coaches admitted to a little early season rust, but that didn’t stop either team from putting on an exciting show for the fans that packed into the Hellard Field stands at Shouldice Park for the first Friday night game of the season.

In the end, the Pride came away with a narrow 22-17 win to gain the early upper hand in the standings. More importantly though, the game set a positive tone for a season that promises to be one of the more competitive campaigns in years.

Based on Friday night’s games, the Pride and the Browns will no doubt be competing for the number one seed when the regular season comes to an end, but don’t forget about the Henry Wise Wood Warriors or the Bishop O’Byrne Bobcats. The Warriors got off to an impressive start by defeating the Western Canada Redmen 51-10, also on Friday night. The Bobcats enjoyed a bye in the opening week, but based on their recent success and proven development system, they will again be a team that will be battling for the top spot towards the end of the season.

Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) Track and Field Provincials

On June 3-4, the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association’s North Region played host to the 2011 ASAA Track and Field Provincials, bringing over 1,077 athletes to Foote Field in Edmonton to compete.

“I felt that the meet was very successful,” said Tim Schultz, Tournament Director. “It is our largest provincial championship. About 216 high schools across the province participated in the two-day event. We also had a lot of spectators considering the rainy cold weather.”

The meet brought together the best in the province, with the athletes fighting to prove their worth, show off their hard work and gain provincial experience. “For some it is their last high school competition, for some they are looking for their personal best, some are using this as a spring board for athletic scholarships to post secondary institutes or national team tryouts. While some just see it as a chance to rekindle friendships that they have developed over the years of competition in high school sport,” says Schultz.

The two-day meet featured exciting action as each athlete competed not only for themselves, but for their school as well. In the 1A Division, Glendon School clinched first place overall in convincing fashion by almost doubling the total point total of the second place team. Sundre High School took home the 2A Division title in similar fashion by finishing with more than twice as many points as the second place team. The 3A Division saw a bit more competition at the top, as Cochrane High School narrowly edge Cold Lake High School for the banner. Finally, the 4A Division provided the most dramatic results during the 2-day meet as Strathcona Composite High School from Edmonton and Medicine Hat High School battled with each other to the very end. After the dust settled, Strathcona emerged victorious with a total team score of 423.50 points, agonizingly close to Medicine Hat’s score of 422.75. While it must sting the Medicine Hat athletes to have been so close to winning it all, they should certainly be proud of their accomplishment and use this year’s championships as motivation for next year.

The athletes also proved to be getting stronger and faster, with students breaking seven records in this year’s provincials, in comparison to three records that were broken last year.

Niki Oudenaarden competing in long jump (courtesy Chris Colbourne, St. Albert Gazette)

Even though the high school season is over, there is still plenty of action ahead for Oudenaarden, as she will be preparing for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Youth Championships in Lille, France from July 6 to 10. After such an impressive 2011 season, the sky is certainly the limit for Oudenaarden as she enters her final year of high school in 2012!

New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association (NBIAA) Track and Field Provincials

On June 4, the NBIAA Track and Field Provincials took place at the Canada Games Stadium in Saint John and proved to be one of the most exciting meets this year, bringing together over 42 schools.

The battle for the overall AAA team championship was intense as athletes from Fredericton HS and Saint John HS went head to head. In the end, it was Fredericton that came out on top, narrowly edging Saint John with a point total of 327 to 318. The competition for the AA team championship was equally as close, as Boner Law Memorial School came in first with 117 points, just ahead of J.M. Armstrong HS, who ended up with 112 points.

Three athletes in particular enjoyed exceptional days as they established new provincial records. Ryan Cassidy from Louis J. Robichaud HS shattered the senior boys’ 3000m record by almost 10 seconds with a time of 8:34.30. Amy Lynn-Grant from Nepisiguit HS set the new junior girls’ 400m record of 58.67, beating Grace Annear’s record that she had just set in 2009. Lynn-Grant was extremely close to taking home two more gold medals, but she came up just short, finishing second in both the junior girls’ 100m and 200m. While Annear may have momentarily lost one provincial record, she went right ahead and set a new one in the senior girls’ 400m, finishing in 58.16 to break the old record of 58.59 that had stood for 10 years. Annear’s golden day wasn’t complete just yet, as she followed up the 400m victory with another in the senior girls’ 800m.

While he may not have broken any records, Nic MacMackin had arguably the most outstanding day out of all athletes as the lone triple gold medal winner. After winning gold in the junior boys’ 400m, 800m and 1500m races in 2010, it a was going to be tough to follow up that performance in 2011 but MacMackin did just that and amazingly won each event again. The question now is if MacMackin can make it a triple gold three-peat – after such an impressive performance, it would certainly be hard to bet against him.

Another athlete who enjoyed a great day on the track was Kylie Paulson from Fredericton HS, as she definitively claimed the title of ‘fastest junior girl’ by winning both the junior girls’ 100m and 200m races.

The fight for the team championship between Fredericton HS and Saint John HS was embodied in the senior boys’ 100m and 200m races as Jeff Retallick from FHS went head to head with Alex Peobody from SJHS. Retallick claimed the 200m title by finishing in 24.10, ahead of Peobody’s time of 24.50. In the 100m final, Peobody got his revenge and took home the gold by finishing just 0.01 seconds ahead of Retallick with a time of 11.93.

Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) Softball Championships

This year’s NSSAF Division 1 Girls’ Slo-Pitch Championships were hosted by Memorial High School on June 3-4 and featured some high-scoring play and some very exciting matchups.

The South Colchester Academy (SCA) Wolves entered the tournament as the prohibitive favourites after taking home the championship title the past two seasons. The Memorial Highlanders came into the tournament with momentum and a home crowd on their side, however and were determined to prevent the Wolves from accomplishing the rare three-peat.

The Wolves and Highlanders both breezed by their competition in the first two games before meeting each other in the final game of round robin play. It was a close game, but the Wolves demonstrated their offensive power and took the game 13-7 to finish a perfect 3-0 in round robin play.

The Highlanders outlasted Northeast Kings Education Centre in the first semi-final thanks in part to the support of the home crowd and came out on top 13-9. In the other semi-final, the Wolves faced off against CP Allen and won handily with a final score of 14-4 to set up a rematch for all the marbles with the Highlanders.

SCA Wolves: 2011 NSSAF Division 1 Girls’ Slo-Pitch Champions

OFSAA Lacrosse Festival

The AAA/AAAA OFSAA Lacrosse Festival was hosted by St. Matthew Catholic High School on June 2-3, as more than 320 students traveled to Ottawa to compete for the championship.

The Paul Dwyer Catholic HS Saints from Oshawa entered the tournament as the #1 seed in the province, ending the regular season with 18 wins and only one loss. In pool play, Paul Dwyer easily beat Upper Canada College and Bracebridge/Muskoka Lakes winning both games 12-2. The Saints kept their momentum going against Welland’s Notre Dame in the semi-finals, and hung on for a 7-4 victory, giving them their second straight birth in the Championship finals.

In a rematch of last year’s Championship, the #2 seed St. Michael’s Varsity Blue Gaels were the only thing that stood between the Saints and the provincial title. While the Gaels came away with the title in 2010, the Saints had already beaten the Gaels once in a tournament earlier this year, so the psychological advantage had to go to them.

St. Michael’s Varsity Blue Gaels: 2011 AAA/AAAA OFSAA Champions

That power play sucked the life out of the Saints, as they just, “couldn’t seem to respond,” commented tournament Convenor Al Smith. “St. Mike’s defense played really well. They just seemed to have more depth and conditioning than Dwyer throughout the game. And they definitely had the talent and the drive.”

The Saints never gave up and made the game interesting, however in the end, the early lead proved to be too much for them to overcome, as the Gaels claimed their second straight Championship with a 12-7 victory. After two highly entertaining championships between two elite teams, lacrosse fans in Ontario can only hope for another exciting chapter to be written in this budding rivalry in 2012.

The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association, with support from Jostens and Super 8, are pleased to announce the 2011 Jostens Manitoba High School Athletes of the Year, as well as the “Super 8-Super 8″, athlete of the year, in each of our competition classifications.

The “A” category is for rural schools with student populations of under 125 students, the “AA” category is for city of Winnipeg schools with student populations of under 100 students plus rural schools of 125 – 300 students. The “AAA” category includes all Winnipeg Schools with populations of 100-500 students plus rural school with student enrolment over 300 students, while the “AAAA” category includes all city of Winnipeg schools with a population of over 500 students as well as Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive, Crocus Plains and Vincent Massey from Brandon, Garden Valley- Winkler, Portage Collegiate, Stonewall Collegiate, Springfield Collegiate, and Steinbach Regional School.

The 2011 “Super 8-Super 8” are:

“A” Girls – Courtney Van De Kerckhove of Westmount School Complex–Courtney participates in Volleyball, Curling, Badminton, Baseball and Track and Field. She was skip of her school curling team and is a very strong team leader. She was selected as team MVP in Volleyball as well as a league All-Star. Courtney was also vice president of the student council and co-editor of the Year Book.

“AA” Girls – Melanie Edel of Morris School was a graduating All-Star in Volleyball and Basketball and a recipient of the Dr. Dale Iwanoczko Memorial Scholarship, as well as a Credit Union Scholar Athlete Award winner. She was selected as the Player of the Game and Players Choice Award at the Provincial Volleyball Championships, and also a recipient of the Ron Myers Memorial High School Basketball Scholarship. Melanie will be attending U of M to play basketball next year.

“AAA” Girls – Alexandra Warburton of Sanford Collegiate – Alex was a graduating All-Star in both Volleyball and Basketball and was ranked as the number 7 high school basketball player in Manitoba. She is a recipient of the Carl Ridd Basketball Award and also ranked as the top “AAA” Female Basketball Player in Manitoba. In addition to Volleyball and Basketball, she participates in Cross Country, Soccer, Track. Her Cross Country Team placed 1st at the Provincials, and she was the starting goalie for her soccer team. In Track, she ran the 800M, Triple Jump and 4 x 400M relay. Alex also sits as the Student Representative on the MHSAA Board of Directors. She will be attending U of W and play with the Wesmen

“AAAA” Girls – Tia Coulter of Crocus Plains Secondary School in Brandon – Tia participates in Basketball and Volleyball and was selected as an “AAAA” Basketball Player of the Year. She was captain of both of her Volleyball and Basketball teams and was selected as an All-Star at four tournaments. She was a graduating All-Star in both Volleyball and Basketball, and will be attending University of Winnipeg in the fall, and hopes to be a member of the Wesmen.

“A” Boys – Travis Strain of Glenboro School – Travis participates in Golf, Volleyball, Basketball, Badminton, Baseball, and Track and Field. In Volleyball he was both a Provincial All-Star and Most Valuable Player, while he was also a Provincial All-Star on the Basketball team that he captained, and in Badminton was the boys doubles Provincial Rep. He was selected as a Graduating All-Star in both Volleyball and Basketball.

“AA” Boys – Daniel Braun of Morris School – Daniel participates in Volleyball, Basketball, Curling, Badminton and Baseball. He was skip of his high school curling team, and captain of the Varsity Volleyball team where he was also a Provincial All-Star. He has several MVP and All-Star awards from tournaments in Basketball and Volleyball all season.

“AAA” Boys – Mathieu Haiart of St. John’s Ravenscourt School – Mathieu participates in Soccer, Rugby, Basketball and Track and Field. He co-captain of his Basketball team which advanced to the “AAA” Provincial Championship and was selected a Provincial All-Star. He is a member of the Graduating All-Star Basketball Team and selected as MVP in several tournaments. He also participates in under 18 Provincial Rugby.

“AAAA” Boys – Shane de Rooy of Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School – Shane participates in Volleyball and Basketball and was ranked as the #1 Volleyball Player of the year. He was selected as a Graduating All-Star, and was recognized with the Dr. Dale Iwanoczko Memorial Scholarship. He was selected MVP and All-Star of numerous tournaments. In Basketball, Shane also received numerous All-Star Awards and recognition. He also participates in Soccer. Shane will be playing Volleyball at the Pacific University in California next year.

The 2011 Jostens High School Female Athlete of the Year is Alexandra Warburton of Sanford Collegiate and the 2011 Jostens Male Athlete of the Year is Shane deRooy of Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School.

The 2010 Athletes of the Year where Ben Allan of Kelvin High School and Stephanie Kleysen of Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg.

The “Super8-Super8″ will each receive a watch courtesy of Super 8 Motels while the “Jostens” Athletes of Year will receive a ring courtesy of Jostens. The Awards were presented at a reception held at the Blue and Gold Room on June 28, 2011.

For further information Morris Glimcher 925-5641 (office), 792-5749 (cell)

The 2011 Manitoba Credit Union Scholar Athlete Award Winners are:

Award recipients from left to right - Melanie Edel, Taylor Pischke, Noah Derksen, Alexandra Warburton

Melanie Edel, Morris School. Melanie was captain of her volleyball and basketball teams and also participated in cross country running, track and field and badminton.  She maintains a 94% average and is student council president, as well as a member of the Year Book Committee, Theatre Club, and Grad Committee, Superintendents Advisory Council, Band Volunteer and other clubs.  She was selected a graduating All-Star in both Volleyball and Basketball and received a Premiers Youth Volunteers Service Award, and recipient of the Dr. Dale Iwanoczko Memorial Volleyball Scholarship and the Student Citizenship Award from the Manitoba School Boards Association.  Melanie will be attending the University of Manitoba Basketball in the next year.

Melanie states “perseverance, courage and determination are just a few words that come to mind when thinking of high school sport…..sport has not only helped me with my physical health but has helped me with my emotional and mental health as well….my education would not have been complete without high school sport….”

Taylor Pischke, Fort Richmond Collegiate. Taylor participates in cross country running, volleyball, basketball and track.  She was ranked as the top volleyball player in Manitoba and maintains a 96% average.  Taylor volunteers at Victoria General Hospital.  She was selected to the Graduating All Star team in both Volleyball and Basketball and took a Bronze Medal in High Jump at the Track and Field Provincial Championships.

Taylor states “friends, academics and community service were a huge part of my life at Fort Richmond, but it would not have been the same without high school sports. Participation in sports contributed to my overall personal growth and development and identification to the schools goals and values…..it improved my problem solving skills and gave me a chance to exercise leadership and commitment… it has helped prepare me for the future and the rest of my life’s journey.”

Noah Derksen, Mennonite Brethren Collegiate. Noah participated in volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country running and track and field, while maintaining a 97% average.  He was captain of the basketball team and selected as a graduating all star.  In volleyball, where his team captured Silver at the Provincials,  he was ranked as the number four player in the province and also selected as a graduating all star.  Noah also helped out with the Kid’s Club at his church and Red Rock Bible Camp.  Noah also had a lead role in the school musical “Fiddler on the Roof”.  Noah will be attending the University of British Columbia next year.   Noah states…..“Being part of a team will teach discipline, respect, and determination needed to be successful in any area of life…..Everyday, we come into contact with many people, and we must attempt to bring out the best in everyone we encounter”

Alexandra Warburton, Sanford Collegiate. Alex participates in cross country running, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and track.  She maintains a 98% average and also is a member of the Student Athlete Council, Grad Committee and a Leadership Class participant and as well sits as the Rural Student Representative on the MHSAA Board of Directors.  Alex was a graduating all star in both volleyball and basketball, and received the Carl Ridd Award in Basketball and was ranked at the number seven top female basketball player in the Province.  She was also awarded the Sport Manitoba Great West Life Youth Volunteer of the Year Award.  She also participates in Church Activities and organized a volleyball tournament to raise funds for cancer research.  Alex states “I will always remember the transforming experiences that high school sports have provided me with….through high school sport I have gained confidence in myself and my abilities….high school sport has helped me develop a sense of self and deep respect for teammates, coaches, opponents and officials….the lessons I have learned through high school sport could never have been taught in a classroom – they had to be lived and experienced.  It is my hope that one day I can give back to other high school athletes.”

The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association is a not for profit organization which coordinates school sport in the Province.   Approximately 30,000 student athletes participate in MHSAA activities along with 2,500 volunteer teacher coaches.  Credit Unions of Manitoba is a manger supporter of high school sport in addition to providing these scholarships, also supports high school athletics through support of major sponsorship.

For further information please contact Morris Glimcher at morris@mhsaa.ca or 925-5641.

Brian Lynch, President of the British Columbia Secondary Schools’ Rugby Union, has spent 20 years with high school rugby athletes and has seen the tremendous growth of the sport among schools.

“There are many successful programs at the senior level in schools (Grades 11 and 12) while more and more schools are playing junior rugby (Grade 8, 9 and 10),” comments Lynch.

While rugby has traditionally been much preferred by boys compared to girls, female athletes are starting to become more involved in rugby than boys, and at a faster pace.

“When I first started, girls didn’t play rugby at all. So you can see how significant the growth has been, because now high schools have all girl rugby teams,” says Lynch.

Shaun Allen, currently a rugby coach for McMaster University and a Coordinator at Rugby Ontario, has over 5 years of experience coaching high school rugby players. Allen comments, “Girls rugby in high school is increasing for sure. We look at women’s rugby very positively here, as our Canadian women’s rugby team is significantly better worldwide, placing sixth at the last World Cup, than our national male rugby team who is currently ranked 15^th. So we definitely want to improve and encourage [participation] in our [female] student athletes.”

The game’s competitive and high-speed nature is what draws high school students to the sport. With students coming from a wide range of sport backgrounds, rugby brings the best out of each athlete and enables them to apply their athletic abilities to a new game that they are not as familiar with.

Allen comments, “Rugby is a fast paced, wide open, fun game. Especially sevens. It’s a good way to introduce non-rugby players to the sport. It gives them the opportunity to be creative with the ball, especially for girls, where they don’t have a lot of outlets for contact sports. Rugby is a real contact sport, and there are no modified rules for girls like there are with hockey.”

With rugby becoming more popular, students are also starting to recognize the opportunities available to them to compete on behalf of their province and even on the international stage. Lynch says, “We offer scholarships to people going to school to play rugby, and we encourage our kids to play provincially.”

What’s Happening in High School Rugby Now

Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) Rugby Championships

On June 3, the Burnside Field Turf in Dartmouth was flooded with excited high school rugby athletes. The provincial tournament saw schools from all over Nova Scotia participating, and brought together some of the best rugby players in the province.

One team in particular, the Cobequid Educational Center (CEC) Cougars from Truro, performed exceptionally well in the girls division. After winning all six of their regular season games in the Northumberland region, the Cougars came into the provincials extremely confident and with momentum on their side. In addition to their strong regular season play, the Cougars had extra motivation after losing last year’s provincial championship game in double overtime on their home field.

The Cougars kicked off the tournament with an easy 22-0 victory over Avon View. The next game against the tough team from Lockview proved to be their most difficult win of the tournament, as their tight defence needed to be at its best during a narrow 5-3 victory. The Cougars strong defence prevailed again in the semi-finals, where they shutout King’s Edgehill School 18-0.

The Cougars found themselves playing against a familiar foe in the championship game, as they faced off against a Lockview team that was determined to avenge their earlier loss. This game was not as close as the first one, as Lockview’s defence just could not get the job done while the Cougars’ defence held strong again en route to an 18-0 victory.

In the Boys’ Division, the prime match up saw Citadel and King’s-Edgehill School (KES) go head to head as they faced off first in the round robin and then again in the championship game. In the first game, KES came out on top 17-10 in a hard fought battle that saw the outcome of the game decided on the final play. Both teams demonstrated their defensive prowess on the road to the championship final, as Citadel surrendered just 10 points in two games while KES was very impressive in shutting out both Sydney Academy and North Nova.

Cougars practicing in preparation for the NSAAF Championships

Photo courtesy: Truro Daily News

Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) Rugby Provincials

On June 10, the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) Rugby Provincial Tournament was held at the Calgary Rugby Union. For the Strathmore Spartans Girls’ team, the tournament was a memorable one, as it was not only the first time the school had hosted the provincial championships, it was the first time that the school had a team competing in the tournament.

The Spartans’ spot in the tournament was not always guaranteed however, as they lost their regional qualifying match in overtime. Originally, the Spartans needed to win that match to qualify for the tournament, however when one zone could not field a team, the decision was made to give the host school a spot in the tournament. With 32 schools competing from all over the province, the Spartans knew they were going to be in tough against many schools with larger and more established girls’ rugby programs.

In the Spartan’s first tournament game, they played against the heavily favoured #1 seed from Raymond High School, losing the game 49-0. Spartans Coach Jerry Flaws took a positive from the loss and noted that, “although we lost, it still looked like we belonged.”

The Spartans’ next game was against Ross Sheppard High School and proved to be another learning experience. The final score was 34-0, however, “it was a closer game [than the score indicates] and the girls played well,” said Flaws.

“It was the first time ever running the rugby program at Strathmore. The girls were just learning the sport. Throughout this tournament the girls really learned how to play with character and emotion. They all absolutely loved rugby and the whole team will be returning back next year. We are very appreciative of the position we were given.”

Strathmore Spartans girls in action

Photo courtesy: The Strathmore Standard

Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association (MHSAA) All-Star Rugby

Brian Yon, a teacher and coach at Souris High School, encountered a lot of critics when he first proposed a provincial boys’ and girls’ All-Star game. “Although there were skeptics, it felt like something that we could attain. In the end, the event was a great success, and there was great feedback from parents and fans,” states Yon.

Coaches from rural and urban Manitoba high schools were asked to nominate players to compete in the All-Star games held in Souris. Athletes were then placed either on the Rural team or the City team, depending on what school they came from. Yon states, “At the end of the day, there is always a rivalry between the rural side and the city.”

On the Rural team, students from schools like Souris, Swan Valley and Minnedosa were all nominated to participate. On the City team, students from Selkirk along with schools located in Winnipeg also played. Yon says, “This tournament will do nothing but good things for us next year. It gave recognition to the kids.”

The teams were split into boys and girls divisions. In the girls’ game, the City and Rural teams were clearly well matched, as they fought to a 22-22 draw. The competition level was high in the boys’ game as well, with the Rural team prevailing over the City team in an exciting 29-21 match. With several hundred people in attendance, competitive rugby on display and happy athletes from all over Manitoba, the inaugural provincial All-Star games certainly proved to be a major success.

Boys All-Stars

Girls All-Stars

Photo courtesy: Westman High School Rugby

Many of this year’s grade 12 students played on both the 2009 and 2010 teams, so they knew the joy of winning as well as the agony of defeat and were itching to end their high school careers with a victory. A major roadblock to the Rams’ success this year was the weather, as rain limited the girls’ outdoor practice time and even caused some annual tournaments to be cancelled, cutting their season short.

The Rams were a determined team however, and they did what they could with their limited practice time.

“Before our tournaments we had a lot of indoor practices due to the poor weather outside,” stated the Rams coach Deanna Easterbrook.

“During practices we focused a lot on our technical skills. We did a lot of ground balls, quick release throws, pop fly drop sets, cut offs, and plenty of batting practice.”

Eventually the weather began to cooperate, enabling practices to be held outside and the girls to get back into their groove.

Easterbrook comments, “When we had the opportunity to get outside we practiced tracking pop flies, double plays, proper base running, and grounders. Before every game and practice, the team did the same warm-up: go for a warm up run, dynamic stretch, throws, soft toss batting drill, brake off to infield and outfield, final team drill, and a pump up cheer.”

Although the Rams’ practice routine was demanding, it was nothing the girls couldn’t handle; especially for the graduating core of the team, who have been playing together for the past four years.

MHSAA Championship Tournament Convenor Curtis Grieves noted, “We have a team of strong grade 12 athletes. [Many of them] started in grade 9 with us, and have had four years of successful competition in high school.”

Easterbrook adds, “Overall we have an extremely strong team. Every player has their own specific role on the team and we wouldn’t be able to perform at this level if this wasn’t true.”

On June 3 and 4 at Quarry Park in Stonewall, the Rams’ chance for redemption had arrived. Having home field advantage certainly gave them a boost, as the bleachers were almost always filled with Rams supporters. The Rams dominated in pool play, breezing by the Killarney School Raiders with a score of 10-0 and then the Major Pratt School Lady Trojans, 11-0.

The Rams kept their momentum going as they beat the Westmount School Warriors 12-3 in the quarter-final game. In the semi-finals, the Nellie McClung Stingers put up a good fight against the Rams, playing excellent defense and getting impressive outs. In the end however, the Rams’ experience and clutch hitting led them to a tight 2-0 victory.

In the championship game, the Neepawa Tigers proved no match for the Rams as they won the game handily with a score of 12-2.

Picture: Courtesy of the Stonewall Argus

The win was a perfect ending for the team and especially for the graduating students who were able to end their high school fast pitch careers on a high note. Easterbrook attributes the win to the team’s experience and mental toughness.

“No matter what the competition looked like, every player had to play to their level and not the level of the competitors. To be able to do that, the players needed to remain focused and get the job done.”

The Rams will lose six players to graduation after this year, making a championship repeat even more difficult to achieve than normal. With their strong mental game and experience on their side however, it would be hard not to expect the Rams to win their third championship in just four years.