The Board of Directors of School Sport Canada would to congratulate one of our Past President, John Paton (ASAA), on being one of the recipients of the 2025 NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) Citation Awards. An accomplishment only one other Canadian, Morris Glimcher in 2003 had ever achieved. John has worked diligently for the student-athletes and coaches not just in Alberta but all of Canada over his 31 year tenure. He was the driving force behind many of our initiatives and research partnerships such as our partnerships with the Canadian Armed Forces, Coaching Association of Canada and developing courses such as Redefining Winning, Coaching for Life Skills, concussion research with the NFL and the University of Calgary, CIAAA and much much more.

We are very proud of you John, for what you’ve accomplished but most of all for your guidance and leadership over these last 30+ years. Enjoy your well-earned retirement mate!

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Chicago, Illinois – Fourteen leaders in high school activity programs across the country have been selected to receive NFHS Citations.

An award designed to honor individuals who have made contributions to the NFHS, state high school associations, athletic director and coaching professions, the officiating avocation and fine arts/performing arts programs, the NFHS Citation is one of the most highly regarded achievements in high school athletics and performing arts.

Citations for state high school associations, coaching, officiating and performing arts will be presented July 1 at the annual NFHS Summer Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

Eight of the 14 award recipients represent NFHS-member state high school associations, one honoree is from an NFHS affiliate member in Canada, and the other five represent NFHS professional organizations for officials, coaches, music leaders and speech/debate/theatre directors.

The NFHS will be awarding a Citation to John Paton, who recently retired as executive director of the Alberta Schools Athletic Association in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

John Paton, Alberta, Canada – Service to the NFHS

John Paton retired in December after 31 years as executive director of the Alberta (Canada) Schools Athletic Association. Without a doubt, Paton is at the top of the list of individuals who have advanced school sports in Canada during this timeframe.

Paton served two distinguished terms as president of School Sport Canada (2004-2005, 2014-2016) and led numerous provincial and national initiatives during his more than three decades of leadership.

Paton was the driving force in starting the CIAAA, the Canadian equivalent of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), which began in 2008 when Paton led a contingent to Indianapolis to meet with leaders of the NIAAA at the time. The CIAAA now offers an annual conference, leadership training programs, and development opportunities for athletic directors from coast to coast.

Paton has been a member of the NFHS Student Services Committee since 2005 and is attending his final committee meeting this week, marking 20 years of service. He has brought many of the best practices from Canada to the committee, as well as taking many ideas and programs from the committee and putting them into action in Alberta.

Paton was the key driver in the authoring and production of the Redefining Winning: Coaching in Schools course, taken by coaches across Canada to enhance the educational athletics experience for student-athletes. He also co-authored a 2007 study with researchers from the University of Alberta on quantifying the number of political and business leaders in Alberta that had participated in school sport revealing the significance of education-based athletics in the development of successful adults.

Prior to joining the Alberta association more than 30 years ago, Paton was a physical education department head, athletic director and teacher-coach in his native Australia.

Each year, thousands of volunteer teachers, coaches, and members of the school community dedicate much of their time to high school sport in Alberta. The ASAA is proud to recognize the teacher-coaches, student-athletes, and volunteers who help to make education through school sport a reality.

Huge congrats to Camryn Fossum of Lamont Jr/Sr High School, 2025 Michael Vaughan Spirit of Sport Scholarship recipient! Camryn embodies the scholarship’s ideals: multi-sport athlete, exceptional sportsmanship, leadership, and community building. The ASAA thanks her for exemplifying sportsmanship and setting the bar, and wishes her much success in post-secondary.

#SettheBar#SportsmanshipScholarship#ScholarshipRecipient#MichaelVaughanSpiritOfSport#ASAA

Huge congratulations to Jessica Hardy of Cardston High School, the female recipient of the 2025 Alberta Milk Scholarship from the ASAA!

Jessica’s essay highlights her deep commitment to athletics and healthy living. A multi-sport ASAA athlete, she’s learned that performance hinges on proper fueling and openly shares her high-performance meal plan with teammates. Jessica is taking her talents to the NAIT Ooks basketball team this fall!

The ASAA salutes Jessica for her outstanding sportsmanship, healthy habits, and for setting the bar high. We wish her every success in post-secondary.

Great news! Maddox Hagerty of Bowness High School in Calgary is the male recipient of the 2025 Alberta Milk Scholarship from the ASAA.

Maddox’s commitment to diverse sports and healthy living is inspiring. He credits his packed athletic schedule, clean diet (including 6-10 glasses of milk daily!), and consistent sleep for his academic success (97% average!) and injury-free career. He’s an outstanding example of how a healthy body supports a healthy mind, motivating teammates and setting a high bar for all.

The ASAA congratulates Maddox on this well-deserved recognition!

#AlbertaMilkScholarship #StudentAthlete #HealthyLiving #ASAA #SettheBar

Congratulations to Zoe Hodgson of Bassano School, our proud South Central Zone recipient of the 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship from the ASAA!

Zoe perfectly embodies “paying it forward.” This exceptional student-athlete, who has qualified for numerous Provincials, consistently gives back to sport. She actively coaches girls’ volleyball and elementary basketball teams, and tirelessly referees junior high games and scorekeeps tournaments. Her dedication, reliability, and leadership are truly outstanding.

The ASAA proudly celebrates Zoe’s immense impact and inspiring efforts in her community’s sporting life!

Congratulations to McKenzie Siemens of St. Mary’s Taber, our proud South Zone recipient of the 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship from the ASAA!

McKenzie perfectly embodies “paying it forward.” A multi-sport athlete, she’s excelled in various sports, including a 1A Provincial Volleyball Championship. Beyond playing, she’s been a standout student referee for junior high games since Grade 10, praised for her confidence and teaching skills. McKenzie also dedicates her time to coaching Grade 4-6 students in the Mini Basketball program, genuinely impacting their lives.

The ASAA proudly celebrates McKenzie’s outstanding commitment to leadership and inspiring the next generation of student-athletes!

Congratulations to McKenzie Siemens of St. Mary’s Taber, our proud South Zone recipient of the 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship from the ASAA!

McKenzie perfectly embodies “paying it forward.” A multi-sport athlete, she’s excelled in various sports, including a 1A Provincial Volleyball Championship. Beyond playing, she’s been a standout student referee for junior high games since Grade 10, praised for her confidence and teaching skills. McKenzie also dedicates her time to coaching Grade 4-6 students in the Mini Basketball program, genuinely impacting their lives.

The ASAA proudly celebrates McKenzie’s outstanding commitment to leadership and inspiring the next generation of student-athletes!

Congratulations to McKenzie Siemens of St. Mary’s Taber, our proud South Zone recipient of the 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship from the ASAA!

McKenzie perfectly embodies “paying it forward.” A multi-sport athlete, she’s excelled in various sports, including a 1A Provincial Volleyball Championship. Beyond playing, she’s been a standout student referee for junior high games since Grade 10, praised for her confidence and teaching skills. McKenzie also dedicates her time to coaching Grade 4-6 students in the Mini Basketball program, genuinely impacting their lives.

The ASAA proudly celebrates McKenzie’s outstanding commitment to leadership and inspiring the next generation of student-athletes!

Let’s hear it for Zoë Bourbeau of École Notre Dame High School in Bonnyville, the proud North East Zone recipient of the 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship from the ASAA!

Zoë truly embodies the spirit of giving back. A humble, hardworking, and exceptional role model, she balances academic excellence (3.9 GPA) with top-level provincial volleyball and softball. Crucially, Zoë dedicates countless hours volunteering, running ball camps and practices for aspiring young athletes in her community.

The ASAA proudly celebrates Zoë’s incredible commitment to “paying it forward” and her inspiring leadership!

Let’s hear it for Zoë Bourbeau of École Notre Dame High School in Bonnyville, the proud North East Zone recipient of the 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship from the ASAA!

Zoë truly embodies the spirit of giving back. A humble, hardworking, and exceptional role model, she balances academic excellence (3.9 GPA) with top-level provincial volleyball and softball. Crucially, Zoë dedicates countless hours volunteering, running ball camps and practices for aspiring young athletes in her community.

The ASAA proudly celebrates Zoë’s incredible commitment to “paying it forward” and her inspiring leadership!

Huge congrats to Gracelin Spenrath of Jasper Place High School, one of two outstanding Edmonton Metro Zone recipients of the 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship from the ASAA!

Gracelin shines academically and athletically (Team Alberta Basketball, MVP in Flag Football & Cross Country). More impressively, she leads the Best Buddies club, inspires Unified Sports involvement, peer tutors, coaches Indigenous youth, and referees. Her leadership and ability to uplift others, even through personal challenges, are truly remarkable.

The ASAA celebrates Gracelin’s incredible commitment to “paying it forward” and her exceptional leadership in sport and community!

A huge cheer for Brynn Von Kuster of Bentley High School, the proud Central Zone recipient of the 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship from the ASAA!

Brynn is a true leader, praised by her coaches as a diligent student and natural captain across multiple sports. Beyond her athletic and academic excellence, she actively volunteers coaching youth, embodying the “pay it forward” spirit.

The ASAA congratulates Brynn on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates her leadership in sport!

A huge round of applause for Tammy Nguyen of Father Lacombe High School, a proud recipient of the 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship from the ASAA!

Tammy truly embodies this scholarship’s spirit of giving back. Her school chaplain praises her as the “heart of the Chaplaincy program,” highlighting her unwavering commitment to serving others and inspiring her community. Tammy’s dedication shines through her leadership in spiritual life and active promotion of school clubs.

The ASAA congratulates Tammy on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates her profound leadership!

Huge congrats to Emma Faith of Saint Francis High School in Calgary, a 2025 John Paton Pay It Forward Scholarship recipient from the ASAA!

Emma truly embodies the scholarship’s spirit of giving back. Praised by her referee for her natural leadership, integrity, and exceptional work ethic at Level Up Camps, she consistently goes “above and beyond.” Her dedication to guiding and encouraging others in sport shines through.

The ASAA applauds Emma for her incredible commitment to “paying it forward” and her exemplary leadership!

#JohnPatonScholarship #PayItForward #StudentAthlete #ASAA #VolunteerInSport #SetTheBar

The ASAA Sportsmanship Committee is delighted to announce the winners of our Set The Bar Year-round initiative! We extend our warmest congratulations to the exceptional athletes, officials, and coaches who have consistently demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and embodied the true spirit of athletic excellence throughout the year.

Coach Recognition: AJ Bergenhenengouwen (South Zone)

The ASAA Sportsmanship Committee is pleased to recognize St. Mary’s AD and Coach, AJ Bergenhenengouwen, for his outstanding dedication to sportsmanship and fair play.

AJ has been a teacher at St. Mary’s in Taber, Alberta, for 13 years. During his time there, he has filled the roles of teacher, athletic director, coach, and mentor to hundreds of students. While supporting all of the teams at St. Mary’s, he has most recently been coaching in basketball, badminton, and track & field. AJ is the current director of male athletics in the South Zone of the ASAA, is a commissioner in both basketball and volleyball, and has hosted or been a part of many school and zone tournaments. Notably, AJ has also hosted four ASAA provincial championships in both volleyball and basketball!

While his extensive involvement and commitment to the South Zone of the ASAA are truly amazing, he is being nominated specifically because of his character and approach to athletics. AJ is well known in his community and across the zone as someone with a quiet and compassionate demeanor, which perfectly complements his enthusiasm for sport and dedication to his athletes. AJ carries himself in such a way that he stands as an example to other coaches and athletic directors.

Congratulations on this well-deserved award, AJ! We are proud to have you as an ASAA Coach and AD, and we thank you for consistently setting the bar high.

#SetTheBar#SportsmanshipRecognition#Coaches#ASAA

The ASAA Sportsmanship Committee is delighted to announce the winners of our Set The Bar Year-round initiative! We extend our warmest congratulations to the exceptional athletes, officials, and coaches who have consistently demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and embodied the true spirit of athletic excellence throughout the year.

Official Recognition: Michael Hargas (Edmonton Metro Zone)

We are honored to recognize Michael Hargas from the Edmonton Metro Zone as an official who truly exemplifies the spirit and standards of ASAA’s Set the Bar initiative through his outstanding commitment to officiating rugby across Alberta.

Michael’s dedication to improving the quality and consistency of officiating is evident in every match he oversees. More than just enforcing the rules, Michael prioritizes education, respect, and open communication with athletes and coaches alike. What sets Michael apart is his ability to create a respectful and approachable environment on the field. He builds genuine connections with athletes, encouraging dialogue and mutual understanding. He recently officiated the Edmonton Metro Division 1 Rugby 7s Final between Sturgeon and Strathcona, where both teams’ captains expressed sincere gratitude for the way he handled the game—with fairness, clarity, and mutual respect.

Michael never belittles or talks down to players or coaches. Instead, he brings a calm, confident presence and an ever-present smile, maintaining control through professionalism rather than authority. Athletes trust his decision-making and appreciate his willingness to explain calls and offer insight when asked. He truly enhances the integrity of the sport and represents the best of what high school athletics should stand for. Michael Hargas does more than just officiate—he elevates the game. It is with great pride that we recognize him for ASAA’s Set the Bar.

#SetTheBar#SportsmanshipRecognition#Officials#ASAA

The ASAA Sportsmanship Committee is delighted to announce the winners of our Set The Bar Year-round initiative! We extend our warmest congratulations to the exceptional athletes, officials, and coaches who have consistently demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and embodied the true spirit of athletic excellence throughout the year.

Athlete Recognition: Keelin Prior and Dom Stewart (North West Zone)

We are especially thrilled to recognize Keelin Prior and Dom Stewart from the North West Zone as winners of the Set The Bar Year-round initiative!

Both Keelin and Dom have played rugby since Grade 9. They are truly excellent teammates, always stepping up to help out wherever needed and often offering without even being asked. They consistently demonstrate respect towards opponents, coaches, and officials, and their great sportsmanship makes them fantastic role models for Charles Spencer and the sport of rugby. These two were instrumental in their team’s success this season, and we thank them for their efforts and for continually representing Charles Spencer and the North West Zone to the highest standard.

#SetTheBar#SportsmanshipRecognition#StudentAthletes#ASAA

Peace Wapiti (Rugby 7s, 3A Girls)

Setting the Bar High: Congratulations, Peace Wapiti Rugby 7s!

The Peace Wapiti 3A Girls Rugby 7s team consistently displayed outstanding sportsmanship, playing with heart and respecting every opponent. They remained positive, supportive, and gracious through every match, truly setting a great example for all. You embody the spirit of fair play and teamwork!

#settingthebar#sportsmanship#teamwork#integrity#grit#determination#congratulations

#Rugby#ASAA#highschoolrugby#thankyouathletes

Westmount Charter (Rugby 7s, 3A Boys)

Integrity in Every Play: Well Done, Westmount Charter Rugby 7s!

The Westmount Charter 3A Boys Rugby 7s team stood out for their respectful and supportive behavior both on and off the field. With genuine encouragement for all and a constant positive attitude, your commitment to fair play and teamwork made you a pleasure to compete with. Congratulations on setting such a high standard!

#settingthebar#sportsmanship#teamwork#integrity#grit#determination#congratulations

#Rugby#ASAA#highschoolrugby#thankyouathletes

Catholic Central (Rugby 7s, 4A Girls)
Champions of Character: Hats Off to Catholic Central Rugby 7s!

A huge shout-out to the Catholic Central 4A Girls Rugby 7s team! Your exceptional sportsmanship shone through as you encouraged not only teammates but also competitors, creating an incredibly positive and inclusive environment. Humble in victory and gracious in every moment, you are a true example of what sportsmanship should be.

#settingthebar#sportsmanship#teamwork#integrity#grit#determination#congratulations

#Rugby#ASAA#highschoolrugby#thankyouathletes

Charles Spencer (Rugby 7s, 4A Boys)

Respect Beyond the Game: Cheers to Charles Spencer Rugby 7s!

Congratulations to the Charles Spencer 4A Boys Rugby 7s team! Your enthusiastic and uplifting cheering set the tone for a positive competition, and your consistent respect for officials, scorekeepers, and volunteers exemplified true sportsmanship. You created a welcoming and enjoyable experience for everyone involved!

#settingthebar#sportsmanship#teamwork#integrity#grit#determination#congratulations

#Rugby#ASAA#highschoolrugby#thankyouathletes

Highwood (Rugby 15s, 3A Girls)
The True Spirit of Rugby: Thank You, Highwood High School!

To the Highwood 3A Girls Rugby 15s team: you’re simply a fun team to compete against and be around! Your positive attitude, even after tough games, and your coach’s dedication to rugby’s culture truly shine through. You play with laser focus within the laws of the game and remain composed, setting an incredible example for all.

#settingthebar#sportsmanship#teamwork#integrity#grit#determination#congratulations

#Rugby#ASAA#highschoolrugby#thankyouathletes

Strathmore (Rugby 15s, 3A Boys)

Beyond the Scoreboard: Salute to Strathmore Rugby 15s!

Kudos to the Strathmore 3A Boys Rugby 15s team! Your willingness to compete through the 4A competition demonstrated incredible dedication. With coaches as great role models and players who clearly enjoyed the event despite tough games, you showed remarkable character and sportsmanship.

#settingthebar#sportsmanship#teamwork#integrity#grit#determination#congratulations

#Rugby#ASAA#highschoolrugby#thankyouathletes

Lloydminster Comp (Rugby 15s, 4A Girls)

Grace in Defeat: Unforgettable Sportsmanship from Lloydminster Comp!

An incredible display of sportsmanship from the Lloydminster Comp 4A Girls Rugby 15s team! Even after a tough loss, every single player congratulated their opponents, shared positive feedback, and wished them luck. Your graciousness and positivity were truly remarkable and left a lasting impression on everyone.

#settingthebar#sportsmanship#teamwork#integrity#grit#determination#congratulations

#Rugby#ASAA#highschoolrugby#thankyouathletes

Lindsay Thurber (Rugby 15s, 4A Boys)

Exemplary Conduct: Bravo, Lindsay Thurber Rugby 15s!

To the Lindsay Thurber 4A Boys Rugby 15s team: your gentlemanly play and excellent sportsmanship are commendable! You showed immense respect for the competition and your opponents, exhibiting great control of emotions even in very physical games. Your integrity on the field truly sets the bar.

#settingthebar#sportsmanship#teamwork#integrity#grit#determination#congratulations

#Rugby#ASAA#highschoolrugby#thankyouathletes

June, 2025

BC School Sports Announces 2025 Scholarship Winners

Burnaby, BC – BC School Sports is pleased to announce its 2025 Scholarship winners, recognizing outstanding student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, and leadership within their school communities.

These scholarships honour remarkable individuals who have distinguished themselves through their commitment, perseverance, and positive impact. Their dedication to personal growth and the values of school sport exemplifies the best of what school sport has to offer in British Columbia.

“It is a privilege to honour these exceptional student-athletes,” said Executive Director Jordan Abney. “Each one of them represents the core values of educational athletics; dedication, perseverance, leadership, and integrity. With over 120,000 student-athlete registrations annually, it’s inspiring to see
students rise to the top through their hard work and character.”

BC School Sports congratulates all the 2025 Scholarship Award winners and wishes them continued success in their academic and athletic pursuits.

Scholarship Recipients

Dave Gifford Memorial Scholarship

Dave Gifford was a respected educator, administrator, and BCSS Director from 1988 to 1990. Dave was a passionate advocate for student-athletes and received the BCSS Honour Award in 1992. This prestigious scholarship honours his enduring legacy in school sport. The Dave Gifford Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to the top male and female student-athlete in British Columbia. Recipients exemplify the highest standards of athletic excellence, academic achievement, and leadership through service in their schools and communities. This scholarship celebrates the well-rounded student-athlete who embodies the spirit of school sport and makes a lasting impact both on and off the playing surface.

Female: Bianca Padolina – Britannia Secondary School

Male: Isaiah Falk – Yale Secondary School

BCSS Zone Scholarship

The BCSS Zone Scholarship recognizes one outstanding male and one
outstanding female student-athlete from each of BC School Sports’ nine
athletic zones across the province. These awards celebrate individuals who
have demonstrated excellence in athletics, academics, and school or
community leadership, reflecting the values of school sport in their region.

• Eastern Valley
  o Male: Miles Graham – Unity Christian School
  o Female: Nicole Folka – G.W. Graham Secondary School
• Fraser North
  o Male: Micaiah Unger – Maple Ridge Christian School
  o Female: Olivia Casumpang – St. Thomas More Collegiate
• Kootenay
  o Male: Benson Moss – Grand Forks Secondary School
  o Female: Sophie Carter – Fernie Secondary School
• North Central
  o Male: Thomas Cross – Nechako Valley Secondary School
  o Female: Kira James – Fort St. James Secondary School
• Northwest
  o Male: Ryan Bandstra – Bulkey Valley Christian School
  o Female: Kendra Hughes – Charles Hays Secondary School
• South Fraser
  o Male: Isaac Navarro – Surrey Christian School
  o Female: Samantha Ma – Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School

• Thompson-Okanagan
  o Male: Cole Budgen – Vernon Secondary School
  o Female: Ferron Wallace – South Kamloops Secondary School
• Vancouver Island
  o Male: Justin Hinrichsen – Spectrum Community School
  o Female: Avery Geddes – St. Michaels University School
• Vancouver Sea-to-Sky
  o Male: Luc Primeau – Vancouver College
  o Female: Sofia Varma-Vitug – York House School

Bert & Greta Quartermaine Badminton Scholarship

Established through the generosity of Bert and Greta Quartermaine, this scholarship supports dedicated BC School Sports student-athletes who have competed in badminton at the high school level and are pursuing studies at an accredited post-secondary institution.

The scholarship honours well-rounded individuals who have demonstrated excellence both on the court and in the classroom. Recipients are student athletes who have not only achieved success in badminton, but have also shown strong academic performance and made meaningful contributions as leaders within their schools and communities.

• Male
  o Eric Tao – Fraser Heights Secondary School
  o Joseph Maddalozzo – Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary
  School
  o Yu Zhong Luo – Port Moody Secondary School
• Female
  o Ella Coulombe – Ecole Alpha Secondary School
  o Selina Xie – Prince of Wales Secondary School
  o Caryl Szeto – Gleneagle Secondary School

BCSS Indigenous Student-Athlete Scholarship

This scholarship is intended to recognize and support Indigenous studentathletes who have demonstrated dedication both in school sport and in their academic pursuits. BC School Sports is committed to empowering Indigenous youth by assisting deserving individuals in their journey to attend an accredited post-secondary institution.

• Male: Jayden Kenyon – Brookswood Secondary School
• Female: Magdalena Malfair – Duchess Park Secondary School

BC Dairy Scholarship

BC’s dairy farmers are proud to nourish and support our province’s studentathletes. The BC Dairy Scholarship recognizes student-athletes who embody school spirit, lead active and healthy lifestyles, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

• Male: Emmet Ward – Windsor Secondary School
• Female: Kara Lau – Carson Graham Secondary School

Molten Scholarship

Molten believes that sport is more than competition; it’s a powerful force that inspires growth, builds character, and unites communities. The lessons learned and emotions experienced through sport shape not only athletes, but also the coaches, officials, volunteers, and supporters who help bring it to life.

The Molten Scholarship honours student-athletes who represent these values and lead by example, inspiring others through their dedication, sportsmanship, and leadership.

• Male
  o Sawyer Anderson – Delta Secondary School
  o Edward Le – Ecole Alpha Secondary School
  o Lazlo Lorenzo – L.V. Rogers Secondary School
• Female
  o Lauren Chow – Crofton House School
  o Tessa Hunter-Siebert – Stelly’s Secondary School
  o Carmen Folka – G.W. Graham Secondary School

PEISAA 2025 Spring Award Winners

Sport		Player of the Game 1	Player of the Game 2	MVP
Rugby	Sr A Women’s Bronze	Colonel Gray – Bronson Trevor	Charlottetown Rural – Alecia Stewart
Rugby	Sr A Men’s Bronze	Montague – Cohen Roberts	Bluefield – Cohen Doucette
Rugby	Sr Women’s AA Bronze	Kishora – Aubrey Butler	Charlottetown Rural – Teagan Etchell
Rugby	Sr Women’s A Gold	Rural Cibie Glover	Montague – Carlee McGuigan	Charlottetown Rural – Danika Hood
Rugby	Sr Men’s A Gold	TOSH – Nathan Martin	Westisle – Blake Brink	KISH – Farai Hove
Rugby	Sr Women’s AA Gold	Westilse – Keira Drcourcey	Montague – Madelyn Brothers	Westisle – Ashley Hardy
Rugby	Sr AAA Women’s Bronze	Three Oaks – Sophie McKenna	Bluefield – Jane Butler
Rugby	Sr AAA Men’s Bronze	Charlottetown Rural – Mason MacKenzie	Gray – Leland MacLellan
Rugby	Sr Women’s AAA Gold	Charlottetown Rural – Hope Smith	Colonel Gray – Bella Vos	Charlottetown Rural – Addison Schneider
Rugby	Sr AAA Men’s Gold	Bluefield – Kyler MacLeod	Three Oaks – Yoshi Hachijo	Three Oaks – Amare Cameron
Softball	Sr Women’s AAA Gold	Charlottetown Rural – Brooklyn Hardy	Westisle – Sadie Betts	Charlottetown Rural – Rebekah McGeoghan
Softball	Sr Women’s AAA Bronze	Morell – Ailah MacDonald	Montague – Shaye Fleming
Flag Football	Sr AAA Men’s Gold	Charlottetown Rural – Deacon Allen	Colonel Gray – Keifer Dunn	Colonel Gray – Jorman Ortiz
Flag Football	Sr AAA Women’s Gold	Bluefield – Addison Langley	Colonel Gray – Nora Cunniffe	Bluefield – Kelsey Adams
Flag Football	Sr AAA Men’s  Bronze	Three Oaks Zach Connell
Flag Football	Sr A Men’s Flag Gold	Morell Nathan Clinton	Ecole Sur Mer -Landon Laughlin	Ecole Sur Mer -Luke MacKinnon
Flag Football	Sr A Women’s Gold	Pierre Chaisson – Ciara Chaisson	Kensington – Kennedi MacLean	Pierre Chaisson – Paris Murray
Flag Football	Sr A Women’s Bronze	Evangeline – Ella Yeo	Ecole Francois – Buote Riley Lewis
Flag Football	Sr A Men’s Bronze	Grace – Cody Rancourt	Souris – Evan Keenan
Ball Hockey	Men’s Sr AAA Bronze	Montague – Hunter Martell	Colonel Gray – Willam Mossey
Ball Hockey	Men’s Sr AAA Ball Gold	Three Oaks – Cole Dowling	Bluefield – Evan Weeks	Three Oaks – Mason Cook
Flag Football	Intermediate Girls A Bronze	Queen Charlotte – Cheyanne Howatt
Flag Football	Intermediate Girls A Gold	SIS – Karleah Louisa Cameron McCann	Hernewood – Jane Ashley	SIS – Eden Kember
Flag Football	Intermediate Boys AA Bronze	SIS – Miguel Delgado	Hernewood – Connor Hudson
Flag Football	Intermediate Boys AA Gold	East Whiltshire – Cole Brioux	Queen Charlotte – David Knickle	East Whiltshire – Declan MacKenzie
Flag Football	Intermediate Girls AA Bronze	East Whiltshire – Aislyn Ferguson	Hernewood – Kate Coughlin
Flag Football	Intermediate Girls AA Gold	Stonepark – Nealah Court	SIS Karleah – Gallant Coles	Stonepark – Mia McGee Gallant
Flag Football	Intermediate Boys A Bronze	SIS – Braeden Harvey
Flag Football	Intermediate Boys A Gold	ME Callaghan – Ellis Callaghan	Queen Charlotte – Oliver Crozier	Queen Charlotte – Jack Potter
Flag Football	Intermediate Boys A Tier 2 Bronze	Miscouche – Laine Rodd	Stonepark – James Walsh
Flag Football	Intermediate Boys A Tier 2 Gold	Kensington – Nate Milligan	Grace Christian – Nolan Ford	Kensington – Dylan Livingston
Flag Football	Intermediate Girls A Tier 2 Bronze	Gulf Shore – Ellie Peters	East Wiltshire – Brooklyn Clark
Flag Football	Intermediate Girls A Tier 2 Gold	Ecole Sur Mer – Emerie Baglole	Evangeline – Emma Arsenault	Evangeline – Macy Richard
Softball	Int AA Girls Bronze	SIS – Mia Richard	ME Callaghan – Kara Hutt
Softball	Int AA Girls Gold	Queen Charlotte – Jesse MacDonald	Montague – Abby MacKinnon	Queen Charlotte – Laura Bishop

SPORTS STARS winners have been determined!

We’re sending big congrats (and banners!) to all winning member schools to recognize their accomplishments.

#SSNLSportsStars#SchoolSportsNL#SSNLAwards

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

NTSSA 2025 Track and Field Championships

	MITE GIRLS (7 & UP)	MITE BOYS (7 & UP)	TYKE GIRLS (8-9)	TYKE BOYS (8-9)
50 m	Kenzie Bourque, JBT	Zion Fabien-Ferrol, STJ	Lacey Skelton, WELE	Conall Healy, ITLO
100 m	Kenzie Bourque, JBT	Zion Fabien-Ferrol, STJ	Lacey Skelton, WELE	Owen Fane, ITLO
200 m			Kate Mantla, CJB	Lawson Kugler, STJ
400 m			Rayne McRae,ITLO	Wyatt Freund, JBT
800 m			Rayne McRae,ITLO	Hawke Morin, ITLO
High Jump			Marin Marrai, ITLO	Wolf Tatem, STJ (NR)
Long Jump			Kate Mantla, CJB	Owen Fane, ITLO
Standing Long Jump	Jade Tourangeau, NJ	Jasper Froese, HCS	Marin Marrai, ITLO	Hudson Maund, RLN (NR)
Softball Throw*	Haizleigh Guild, HCS	Zion Fabien-Ferrol, STJ	Kate Mantla, CJB	Ethan Boudreau, ITLO
	PEEWEE GIRLS (10-11)	PEEWEE BOYS (10-11)	BANTAM GIRLS (12-13)	BANTAM BOYS (12-13)
100 m	Jazm Fabien-Ferrol, STJ	Preston Maniragaba, ITLO (NR)	Lukka Nolting, WMC	Jayden Hwata, WMC (NR)
200 m	Hailey Stephenson, ITLO	Preston Maniragaba, ITLO (NR)	Lukka Nolting, WMC	Jayden Hwata, WMC (NR)
400 m	Hailey Stephenson, ITLO	Preston Maniragaba, ITLO	Belle Smith, PA	Jaxin Coombs, ÉB
800 m	Emma Fleet, ITLO	Holden Reid, ITLO	Lilia Townson, WMC	Jaxson Godreau
1000/1500m	Arya Townson, ITLO	Zak Benning, ITLO	Lilia Townson, WMC	Jaxin Coombs, ÉB
3000m	N/A	N/A	Lilana Marrai, SJF
High Jump	Nola Babiuk,  ÉB	Dominic Froese, PA	Louise Henry and Lukka Nolting, WMC (NR)	Jayden Hwata, WMC (NR)
Long Jump	Hailey Stephenson, ITLO	Dominic Froese, PA	Lukka Nolting  (NR)	Jayden Hwata, WMC (NR)
Triple Jump	Mickyler Hanan, PA (NR)	Dominic Froese, PA	Belle Smith, PA  (NR)	Jack Walsh, STJ
Shot Put	Laila Ryan, KAL  (NR)	Emmett Wyman, NJ (NR)	Havanna Paulette, PKW	Frederick Lefort, ÉASC (NR)
Discus	Noelle Ruggles, PA	Antoine Sanfacon, ITLO (NR)	Allison Cane, WMC	Ace Wickens, WMC
Softball Throw*	Noelle Ruggles, PA	Emmett Wyman, NJ	Charlene Tale, LII	Jacob Kotokak, MILD
	MIDGET GIRLS (14-15)	MIDGET BOYS (14-15)	JUVENILE GIRLS (16-17)	JUVENILE BOYS (16-17)
100 m	Ayanna Darku, SFJ	Gavin Rose, STP	Kaylia Locke-Setter, SJF	Karter Carson, STP
200 m	Ayanna Darku, SJF	Gavin Rose, STP	Beatrice Henry, SJF	Karter Carson, STP
400 m	Ayanna Darku, SFJ	Yuma McEachern, WMC	Mia Locke-Setter, SjF	Hudson Shymko, SJF
800 m	Solenn Kikoak, PWK	Jordi Casas, SJF	Desiree Breitbach, SJF	Logan Doll, SJF
1500 m	Solenn Kikoak, PWK	Garritt Mbimbo, STP	Mia Locke-Setter, SjF	Logan Doll, SJF
3000/5000m	Liliana Marrai, SJF	Toryn Wheler, SJF	Bridgid Murphy, STP	Logan Doll, SJF
High Jump	Araliya Fox, WMC	Byron O’Brien, DJSS (NR)	Kaylia Locke-Setter, SJF	Joe Depwe, STP
Long Jump	Kaiah Carter, DJSS	Hayden Frost, SJF	Beatrice Henry, SJF	Devin Apsimik-Frise, KAL
Triple Jump	Kaiah Carter, DJSS	Byron O’Brien, DJSS	London Black, SJF	Devin Apsimik-Frise, KAL
Shot Put	Ayanna Darku, SJF	Greyson Fabien, DEN	Ria Rogers, SJF	Joe Depwe, STP
Discus	Jolie Wolki, ETS	Seth Gordon, SJF	Ria Rogers, SJF	Calen Knight, SJF
Javelin	Lexi Brandford	Johns-Courtoeille, PWK	Bridgid Murphy, STP	Karter Carson, STP
Softball Throw
	JUNIOR GIRLS (18-19)	JUNIOR BOYS (18-19)
100 m	Annabelle Churchill, SJF	Khalec Abooelnaga, DJSS
200 m	Annabelle Churchill, SJF	Khalec Abooelnaga, DJSS
400 m	Brooklyn Bodnar, ETS	Malachi Morin, YKTC
800 m	N/A	Adam Clinton, SJF
1500 m	Mackenzie Schwartz, DJSS	Stephen Moore, KAL
3000/5000m	Brooklyn Bodnar, ETS	Stephen Moore, KAL
High Jump	N/A	Khalec Abooelnaga, DJSS
Long Jump	Annabelle Churchill, SJF	Sebastien Kikoak,PWK
Triple Jump	Brooklyn Bodnar, ETS	Ian Cayen, DJSS
Shot Put	Zandria Bernhardt,ETS	Grayson Kilen, SJF
Discus	Zandria Bernhardt,ETS	Adam Clinton, SJF

Softball Throw* = Weighted Throw in results sheet

School Codes

CJSB	Chief Jimmy Bruneau School	MILD	Mildred Hall Elementary School
DEN	Deninu School	MMS	Mackenzie Mountain School
DGS	Deh Gáh (Ft. Providence)	NJ	N J MacPherson School
DJSS	Diamond Jenness Secondary School	PA	Princess Alexandra School
ÉASC	École Allain St-Cyr	PWL	Paul William Kaeser High School
ÉB	École Boreale (Hay River)	RLN	Range Lake North (Yellowknife)
ETS	East Three School	SJF	École Sir John Franklin
HCS	Harry Camsell School (Hay River)	STJ	École St Joseph School;
ITLO	École Įtłʼǫ̀ (École J.H. Sissons School)	STP	École St Patrick High School
JBT	Joseph Burr Tyrell (Fort Smith)	WELE	Weledeh Catholic School
KAL	K’alemi Dene School	WMC	William McDonald Middle School
LII	Líídlįį Kúę Regional High School (Fort Simpson)	YKTC

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NWT Track and Field Championships attract athletes from 12 communities

Large teams from Yellowknife compete with smaller schools, such as Kakisa Lake and K’àlemì Dene, over three days

Posted By: James O’Connor June 9, 2025

The 2025 NWT Track and Field Championships in Hay River will now pass the baton to next year’s gathering.

At a high-energy closing ceremony on Friday afternoon, dozens of medallists were called up to the podium in the common area at Diamond Jenness Secondary School to the cheers of families, organizers and students.

One of those medal recipients was Kate Lafferty Mantla, of Chief Jimmy Bruneau School in Behchokǫ̀, who said she practices three times a week — but not in winter.

“I really like it a lot,” she said, with her three red ribbons fluttering in the breeze.

She won her 200-metre race, ball throw and long jump.

Her father, Dave Lafferty, said the Hay River event is getting better each year.

“Everyone gets to meet new friends, new people — it’s a good atmosphere,” he said. “So that’s a good thing about it.”

In all, 1,039 athletes attended this year’s championships — up slightly from last year — representing teams from 12 different communities.

Organizers said they were pleased with the way the championships played out, as it’s never easy scheduling over 1,000 athletes to competed in a host of events, including either running, throwing and jumping.

This not to mention playing host to parents, chaperones, media and onlookers.

More than eight records ended up being broken — five in categories for female athletes — including: masters women’s 5,000 metres; girls’ 13U high jump; girls’ 13U triple jump; girls’ 13U long jump; and girls’ 11U shot-put.

Co-organizer Tim Borchuk at the podium during closing ceremonies at Diamond Jenness School of the 2025 NWT Track and Field Championships in Hay River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)

And while wildfire smoke threatened at times, weather conditions were overall perfect for outdoor athletics. A strong breeze each day kept the biting bugs at bay.

Co-organizer Tim Borchuk thanked all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make this year’s championships a success.

“We have volunteers from all the schools in town, volunteers from businesses who are lending us their employees for the day … and I want to send out a huge thank you to them,” said Borchuk, who also pointed to a long list of sponsors who are crucial to the running of the championships.

Click here for more photo’s

Track and field athletes shine once more in Hay River

More than 1,000 participants from a dozen communities compete

James McCarthy

The NWT Track and Field Championships in Hay River is in the stretch run with just one more day to go 

before it comes to an end for another year. 

Everything got underway beneath a sunny sky and warmth on Wednesday with the long-distance events and some of the field events for the older competitors. The first records of the championships fell on opening day as Amy MacDonald of the Hay River Track Club set the new mark in the women’s 5,000-metre event, winning in a time of 22:27.

The other new benchmarks included Louisa Henry of William McDonald School breaking the record in the 13U girls high jump and Belle Smith of Hay River setting the new distance in the 13U girls triple jump with a leap of 9.35 metres.

The bulk of the events got underway on Thursday with the heats for the sprint races kicking things off and a plethora of field events. One of the more exciting competitions on Thursday afternoon was the 15U boys high jump. The final came down to Garritt Mbimbo of St. Pat’s and Byron O’Brien of Hay River in a straight duel to determine the winner. Mbimbo would miss all three attempts at 1.53 metres to finish second, but O’Brien ended up making clearing the bar to win it all.

After clinching victory, O’Brien had a chance to go for the record as is custom in high jump. For the 15U boys, the mark was at 1.68 metres set by Hay River’s Bryce Smith in 2016, meaning the bar was set at 1.69 metres. O’Brien missed all three attempts at the record height, but he asked officials for one more shot just for fun knowing it wouldn’t count.

Guess what happened? He beat the mark.

O’Brien said if he’s being honest, his ankle wasn’t feeling great after winning.

“It kind of gave out after my third jump and when I did the fun one, I could really feel it,” he said. “It was still fun being out there and competing against the boys.”

He’s not upset about it, he added, because it’s just one of those things.

“You just have to learn and grow and keep getting better,” he said. 

In all, a total of 1,039 athletes are at this year’s championships with teams from 12 different communities. William McDonald School has, by far, the largest contingent with 121 athletes.

Thursday’s conditions were less favourable than opening day with clouds, cooler weather and a heavier 

concentration of forest fire smoke. That smoke led to a postponement of the proceedings at around mid day Thursday, which lasted around 20 minutes after officials deemed it acceptable to resume. 

“We just took the precautions and we had to stop things for a bit, but we got through it and everything picked right up where they left off,” said JJ Hirst, co-chair of the meet’s steering committee.

Overall, Hirst said he was pleased with the proceedings. 

“I’ve always said we have the toughest kids in the world,” he said. “They’ll run through snow, sleet, rain, 

whatever gets thrown at them. Our volunteers do such a great job and they’re making sure they still have their spot from the year before. They just do an amazing job.” 

The overall champions weren’t known as of press time. See the next edition of NWT News/North for the results of the closing awards.

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‘Extraordinary’ performances break records at Track and Field 2025

Serra Hamilton

The 2025 NWT Track and Field Championships in Hay River closed on Friday with at least eight broken records.

The official list of new records – and their holders – will be released to the public on Saturday. Some details were still coming in on Friday afternoon.

Event organizers confirmed records have been broken in the masters women’s 5,000 metres, girls’ 13U high jump, girls’ 13U triple jump, girls’ 13U long jump, girls’ 11U shot-put, boys’ 11U 100 metres, boys 11U 200 metres and men’s 35-plus triple jump.

Track and Field organizers JJ Hirst and Tim Borchuk told Cabin Radio the number of records broken was “extraordinary” compared to last year’s competition.

“There were still a couple that fell [in 2024] but not like this year,” said Hirst.

Borchuk said the turnout for Track and Field this year was “amazing.”

“We’re almost to the point now where we were before Covid,” he said. “We’re maybe 100 kids out.”

Weather conditions were far more pleasant this year for Track and Field, with warmer temperatures and clear skies compared to last year’s rain. Hirst said while there were concerns on Thursday surrounding wildfire smoke, the championship was able to resume after only a 20-minute break.

“It cleared up,” said Hirst. “And hey, it got hot and today was cool in the morning and beautiful in the afternoon. Perfect track weather.”

Borchuk told Cabin Radio athlete morale has been up throughout the whole competition.

“I was talking to some of the coaches and they’re saying that their kids are exhausted,” said Borchuk. “They’ll be sleeping on the buses going home.”

“I walked around that track the last three days and I didn’t see one kid without a smile,” added Hirst.

“Every kid you see, they’re having a great time. Whether it’s opening ceremonies, hanging out with their friends, cheering them on, everyone had a smile on and that includes spectators, parents, officials. It was just an awesome meet. One of the best.”

Hirst and Borchuk said the community worked together to help Track and Field run smoothly thanks to volunteers, local groups and sponsors.

“Two people don’t make a track meet,” said Borchuk. “A community does.”

PEI Mutual Girls AA Intermediate PEISAA Softball Provincials

Queen Charlotte defeated Montague in 2 extra innings in the Gold medal game in a hard fought pitchers duel pulling out a 1-0 victory.

SIS defeated ME Callaghan in the Bronze medal game.

PEI Mutual Players of the Game: Queen Charlotte – Jesse MacDonald; Montague – Abby MacKinnon; SIS – Mia Richard; ME Callaghan – Kara Hutt

PEI Mutual MVP from Queen Charlotte – Laura Bishop

PEISAA 2025 Castle Building Supplies Intermediate Flag Football

Division A	Girls Tier 1	Boys Tier 1
Gold	Summerside Intermediate School	Queen Charlotte Intermediate School
Silver	Hernewood Intermediate School	M E Callaghan Intermediate School
Bronze	Queen Charlotte Intermediate School	Summerside Intermediate School
Antique Bronze	Montague Intermediate School	Birchwood Intermediate School
Division A	Girls Tier 2	Boys Tier 2
Gold	École Évangéline	Kensington Intermediate/Senior High
Silver	École-sur-Mer	Grace Christian School
Bronze	Gulf Shore Consolidated School	Stonepark Intermediate School
Antique Bronze	East Wiltshire Intermediate School	Miscouche Consolidated School

Castle Building Supplies 2025 PEISAA Intermediate Girls A Flag Football Provincials.

SIS defeated Hernewood in the Gold medal game. Queen Charlotte defeated Montague in the Bronze medal game.

PEI Mutual Players of the Game: Queen Charlotte – Cheyanne Howatt; SIS Karleah – Louisa Cameron McCann; Hernewood – Jane Ashley

PEI Mutual MVP from SIS – Eden Kember

Representing Castle Building Supplies Madeline Arsenault

Castle Building Supplies 2025 PEISAA Intermediate Flag Football Girls A Tier 2 Provincials.

École Evangeline defeated École Sur Mer in the Gold medal game and Gulf Shore defeated East Wiltshire in the Bronze Medal game.

PEI Mutual Players of the Game: East Wiltshire – Brooklyn Clark; Gulf Shore – Ellie Peters; École Sur Mer Emerie Baglole; École Evangeline Emma Arsenault

PEI Mutual MVP from Evangeline – Macy Richard

Castle Building Supplies 2025 PEISAA Intermediate Boys A Flag Football Provincials.

Queen Charlotte defeated ME Callaghan in the Gold Medal Game and SIS defeated Birchwood in the Bronze Medal Game.

PEI Mutual Players of the Game: ME Callaghan – Ellis Callaghan; Queen Charlotte – Oliver Crozier; SIS – Braeden Harvey

PEI Mutual MVP from Queen Charlotte – Jack Potter

Representing Castle Building Supplies Madeline Arsenault

Castle Building Supplies 2025 PEISAA Intermediate Flag Football Boys A Tier 2 Provincials.

Kensington defeated Grace Christian in the Gold Medal Game and Stonepark defeated Miscouche in the Bronze Medal Game.

PEI Mutual Players of the game: Kensington – Nate Milligan; Grace Christian – Nolan Ford; Miscouche – Laine Rodd; Stonepark – James Walsh

PEI Mutual MVP from Kensington Dylan Livingston

Division AA	Girls	Boys
Gold	Stonepark Intermediate School	East Wiltshire Intermediate School
Silver	Summerside Intermediate School	Queen Charlotte Intermediate School
Bronze	East Wiltshire Intermediate School	Hernewood Intermediate School
Antique Bronze	Hernewood Intermediate School	Summerside Intermediate School

Castle Building Supplies 2025 PEISAA Intermediate Girls AA Flag Football Provincials.

Stonepark defeated SIS in the Gold medal game. East Wiltshire defeated Hernewood in the Bronze medal game.

PEI Mutual Players of the Game: East Whiltshire – Aislyn Ferguson; Hernewood – Kate Coughlin; Stonepark – Nealah Court; SIS – Karleah Gallant Coles

PEI Mutual MVP from Stonepark Mia McGee Gallant

Representing Castle Building Supplies Madeline Arsenault

Castle Building Supplies 2025 PEISAA Intermediate Boys Provincial AA Flag Football Gold Medal game. East Wiltshire defeated Queen Charlotte.

PEI Mutual Players of the Game: East Whiltshire – Cole Brioux; Queen Charlotte – David Knickle

PEI Mutual MVP from East Whiltshire Declan MacKenzie

Representing Castle Building Supplies Madeline Arsenault

Castle Building Supplies 2025 PEISAA Provincial Intermediate Boys AA Flag Football Bronze medal game.

SIS defeated Hernewood.

PEI Mutual Players of the Game: SIS – Miguel Delgado; Hernewood – Connor Hudson

Representing Castle Building Supplies Madeline Arsenault

BIG thanks to our official’s team at the Intermediate Flag Football Championships. Officials are a vital part of the PEISAA and all sports. Our events and competitions could not take place without them. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all officials and assignors that took part in the 2024-25 season.

OFSAA 2025 Boys Baseball

Gold	St Peter Catholic Secondary School COSSA (15-9)
Silver	St Charles College NOSSA
Bronze	St Anne Secondary School SWOSSAA (7 – 2)
Antique Bronze	Upper Canada College CISAA

Semi-finals

NOSSA St. Charles College Cardinals

4 – 3

CISAA Upper Canada College Blues

COSSA St. Peter Saints

3 – 2

SWOSSAA St. Anne SS Saints

OFSAA 2024 Boys Baseball Participants

Association	East Teams	Association	West Teams
COSSA	St Peter Catholic Secondary School	CISAA	Upper Canada College
EOSSAA	Thousand Island Secondary School	CWOSSA	Sacred Heart High School
GBSSA	St Josephs or Collingwood	GHAC	Milton District High School
LOSSA	Donald A Wilson Secondary School	SOSSA	West Niagara Secondary School
LOSSA	Sinclair Secondary School	SWOSSAA	Riverside Secondary School
NCSSAA	Sir Robert Borden High School	SWOSSSAA	St Anne Secondary School
NOSSA	St Charles College	TDCAA	Bishop Allen Academy Catholic Secondary School
ROPSSAA	Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Secondary School	TDSSAA	York Mills Collegiate Institute
YRAA	St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School	WOSSAA	Glendale High School

Gold	Sandwich Secondary School, SWOSSAA
Silver	Bishop Paul F Redding Catholic Secondary School, GHAC
Bronze	St Peter’s Catholic Secondary School, GBSSA
Antique Bronze	Michael Power/St Joseph High School, TDCAA

OFSAA 2025 Girls Slo-Pitch Participants

Association	Seed	Team
COSSA	16	Central Hastings School
CWOSSA	12	Norwell District Secondary School
GBSSA	5	Collingwood Collegiate Institute
GBSSA	10	St Peter’s Catholic Secondary School
GHAC	8	St Mary Catholic High School (Hamilton)
GHAC	2	Bishop Paul F Redding Catholic Secondary School
NOSSA	14	École secondaire catholique l’Horizon
ROPSSAA	3	St Martin Catholic Secondary School
SOSSA	13	St Michael Catholic Secondary School (St Catharines)
SWOSSAA	15	FJ Brennan Catholic High School
SWOSSAA	1	Sandwich Secondary School
TDCAA	9	Michael Power/St Joseph High School
TDSSAA	4	Richview Collegiate Institute
TDSSAA	6	Riverdale Collegiate Institue
WOSSAA	7	South Huron District High School
YRAA	11	St Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School (Woodbridge)

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Sabres repeat as OFSAA slo-pitch champs

Back-to-Back Champions: Sandwich Claims OFSAA Gold at Home

In a thrilling gold medal showdown at the OFSAA tournament, the Sandwich Sabres battled back from multiple deficits to earn a 10-7 victory over Milton’s Bishop Reding, securing their second straight provincial title — this time on home turf.

The game was a back-and-forth affair filled with clutch plays and momentum swings. For the first time in the tournament, Sandwich found themselves trailing after the first inning, down 2-0, but they responded with resilience, tying it 2-2 by the end of the second.

The see-saw affair continued with Bishop Reding regaining the lead at 4-2 in the top of the third, but a game-changing defensive play helped stop the bleeding. With a runner on third and a flyball hit to right-center, Caitlin Brayford made a catch and fired a perfect throw home to nail the runner trying to tag up — halting what could have been a big swing inning.

That gave Sandwich the opportunity to answer in the bottom half of the inning with two more runs, tying things up at 4. Reding surged ahead with three runs in the fourth to go up 7-4, but the Sabres chipped away — scoring twice in the fifth before exploding for four runs in the sixth to take their first lead of the game at 10-7, which held up as the final score.

“It was a really great championship game,” Sabres head coach Michael Trudell told Powerplay Sports. “We were having a little trouble getting the bats going but our pitching and defense have been tremendous all year and that kept us in the game until we could find some offense.”

“Really proud of the way the girls played. Despite being down most of the game, they played composed and confident, and kept a great positive energy all game.”

Key Performances:

• Emily Crosby, the league MVP, delivered a strong performance in the circle, allowing just one walk in a steady outing.
• Haylie Hancock powered the offense, going 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a walk.
• Kyra Smith was a spark plug at shortstop, finishing 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored and solid defense.
• Meredith Reynolds chipped in with a perfect day at the plate (2-for-2 with a single, double, walk, and 2 RBIs).

Reflecting on the team’s repeat, Trudell beams with pride.

“When I started coaching this team in 2022, we struggled just to win a game,” Trudell said. “To be back-to-back OFSAA champions now is amazing. And doing it in Windsor made it even more special, with so many friends and family in the stands. These girls are not just great athletes — they’re a fantastic group of people. It’s been an honor to coach them.”

Brennan hosted the tournament.