SCHOOL SPORT CANADA• SPORT SCOLAIRE CANADA

January Highlights

Student Athletes Remain Optimistic Despite Extra-Curricular Cancellation

With the public school board opposing Bill 115 and withdrawing extra curricular activities, many high school athletes find themselves without the opportunity to play in a regular season on a sport team representing their high school colours.

Many school teams have turned to out-of-town tournaments and exhibition games to maintain some normalcy. The girls’ senior volleyball team from Assumption College School in Brantford, Ontario competed in a tournament in Hamilton. Due to lack of routine and lack of competitive matches, the girls did not perform as well as expected.

This seems to be a common occurrence. The St. John’s girls’ volleyball team participated in a tournament in Kitchener with similar results. Their coach, Jeff De Prosperis, stated that his girls did not play to their full potential due to the fact that they didn’t know what was going on with their impeding season and that was at the forefront of their thoughts.

Both teams have organized exhibition games against each other to get the girls competing and to establish some normalcy. ASC took the win by beating St. John’s in three-out-of-five sets after coming back from a two-sets-to-one deficit.

Both schools have tournaments to look forward to coming up in the near future, but each team would love it if they had the opportunity to play in CWOSSA or OFSAA. They will continue to practice and remain optimistic for a short, yet highly anticipated volleyball season.

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St. Michael Warriors Experience a Tournament Like No Other

The St. Michael Warriors girls’ hockey team had played in a hockey tournament unlike any they have played in before. The girls, along with their coach Mark Flanagan, flew across the pond to take part in a tournament in different parts of Europe. They played in and got to take in the sights of cities in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, and Italy between December 26, 2012 and January 6, 2013.

The girls had the opportunity to play against a variety of teams during the tournament. Some of which were easy to beat, and others that were tough to keep up with. It was a great learning experience for the girls as they got to play against teams with unique styles that they were not used to playing against.

To help pay for the trip, the girls organized a series of fundraisers to cover the $3,500 price tag per player. They hosted a development camp for youth hockey players to improve on their skating skills and organized their own spaghetti dinner to bring down costs. Some contributions were made on behalf of the Greg Cook Memorial 4-on-4 tournament to help the girls as well.

The tournament allowed the girls to grow as athletes and as people as well. The exposure to different cultures and their history has allowed the girls to establish a profound understanding of what life entails.

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Warriors on a Roll

The White Rock Christian Academy Warriors takes yet another tournament Championship within the first three weeks of 2013. After securing a top-of-the-podium medal at the Terry Fox Legal Beagle Invitational and the Surrey RCMP Classic, the Warriors pull off another championship performance at the Vancouver College Emerald Tournament. Within each tournament, they have managed to defeat top ranked programs from across the province.

The final in the Emerald tournament was against the third ranked Walnut Grove Gators. It was not the first time these two teams have met. The two teams played against each other in the finals of the Terry Fox Legal Beagle Invitational just two weeks prior. Both teams played their hearts out, but the Warriors came out on top with a 75-70 victory after being down ten points at the half.

The Warriors have a well-rounded squad with six seniors playing the majority of the minutes. Whether on the offense or on defense, each one of players is aware of their role and that is reflected in their recent success.

Despite their remarkable performances, they are currently ranked second in the Fraser Valley South West Division. Regardless of their ranking, the caliber of basketball the Warriors have been playing has been inspiring, entertaining and exciting.

JanuaryHighlights3

Juvenile Tornades Take First at the Annual Édouard-Montpetit Tournament

The girls juvenile basketball team, Tornades of Longueil, played together as one unit over the weekend and managed to capture the Championship title at the Annual Édouard-Montpetit Tournament. The girls entered the tournament at the last minute, and were not sure what to expect.

One thing was for certain, the girls did not expect to outplay and beat teams with girls roughly three years older in age than them. Their coach, Nico Loureiro, told the girls before the tournament that the goal was not just to win, but rather to improve on specific areas to help them better their performance in league games. The girls used every ounce of energy and determination they had for the five games that led them to their fairy-tale victory.

In the final game of the tournament, five of the players scored in the double digits. Each girl brought their own play to the floor, and with all the different skill sets, they created their own formula for success.

Loureiro is confident that the girls will end their year on a high note if they continue to play together and stick to the game plan. The young squad has proven themselves to be a tough opponent.

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