Great athletes, tough choices

The high school sports season is quickly coming to an end — and, for me, the one good thing about that is it will likely eliminate my weekly migraine and be a huge relief not having to crunch a list of great weekly athletes down to 10.

With playoffs, fewer games too, it would appear as if the final choices are easier. Not so. In fact, in some cases, there are tougher choices. While 10 are picked, let's face it, there are dozens more who have done exceptionally well this week with a top performance, a personal best or a significant highlight.

Thanks to all the folks —- players, coaches, administrators, teachers, parents, officials —- who have taken time to offer up opinions, recommend players and even try to sway me. I appreciate the honesty, straightforwardness and suggestions.

Lots of words in the explanations. These student athletes, representing seven sports, deserve it. Here we go with the picks of the week.

Heather Brown, Cardinal Newman. Grade 9 starter on the school varsity soccer team. Scored both goals in a 2-1 semifinal win over Loretto Abbey and a few days later was a big factor in a 3-1 win over St. Basil for the Toronto District Colleges Athletic Association championship. Almost forgot, she scored all three goals. Now, it’s off to the provincial playoffs.

Siobhain Doyle, Mary Ward. Flag football may not be the most popular game in town, but it is a varsity sport for girls at some high schools. Doyle has shown she’s quite the athlete, scoring three touchdowns and converting them in a 21-12 win over R.H. King. Not done. She had a touchdown, convert and single in a 28-0 victory over SATEC/Porter.

Noelle Leon-Palmer, Pickering. Five first-place finishes at the rain-soaked central regional track and field qualifiers in Midland. Get this, she’s only in Grade 9. First in the midget girls’ 80 metre hurdles (12.61), 100 metres (12.61) and 200 metres (25.05) Add a super performance in her leg of the winning 4 x 100-metre relay team (51.21) and another brilliant race with the open girls’ 4 x 400-metre team (4:01.14).

Robyn Matos, St. Thomas Aquinas. Four goals from her in a 10-2 blowout of Burlington Central at the Halton Region senior girls’ soccer quarterfinals. Matos is not new to the game. She was on the school team that won a silver medal, losing 2-1 to Holy Cross of Peterborough, at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations provincial playoffs last year. Aquinas finished 4-1-2 in league play this season.

Djordje Mihaljcic, Don Mills. He’s a good swimmer. Has to be, to play water polo — and he does that well also. Scored 10 times, you read that correctly, in a 15-14 quarterfinal win over Northview Heights in a Toronto District School Board game. Tried to find out if one of his goals was the winner. No luck. Next up: Richview in a sudden-death game on Tuesday.

Jordan Pilosof, Greenwood. He won the private school junior boys’ singles tennis final, beating Crescent’s Dominic Chu 8-6. Read on. A talented player, it’s hard to believe this youngster – born nine weeks premature and weighing less than three pounds – spent some time at the Valentine Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Back to tennis, he spent some time at a world-renowned tennis academy in Florida.

Shayne Snider, Mayfield. Haven’t seen him play, but heard lots about this lacrosse player. I am told that he might be among the best in his league. He scored four goals in the Mavericks 7-4 win over Brampton Centennial for the Peel Region championship. To get to the final, he scored four times in an 11-2 semifinal drubbing of Mount Carmel.

Chanice Taylor-Chase, Notre Dame. That’s the school in Ajax and she’s helped raise the profile too. Last year, came out of nowhere to dominate in her events at the league, regional and provincial track and field finals. This year, so far much of the same – but up a level in the junior category. Getting ready for the Ontario finals, she was first in the 80 metre hurdles (11.56), 200 metres (24.94) and long jump (5.20) at the Central Regionals.

Divyanthan Thasarathan, Bill Crothers. Track fans told me about him at the Cardinal Carter Classic, where the midget-age athlete won the triple and long jumps. Then jumped to victory, twice, at the York Region championships. And he proved he could win yet again, this time at the very competitive Central Regional finals, taking the long jump in 6.03 metres and the triple jump in 12.64.

Liam Underwood, Malvern. His name has been on this list before – and for good reason. A talented athlete, quarterback for the school football team. On the rugby pitch, he scored a try last year in Malvern’s citywide senior win. He scored a try again, added two converts and a penalty kick, this time in a 27-12 gold medal win over Birchmount Park on Friday.

Coaches Play Important Role

With the high school sports season coming to an end, a time for teachers and coaches to mingle at annual general meetings, sports events and year-end ceremonies with athletes, I would be very surprised if there wasn't any discussion about re-examining things like liabilities.

In fact, I wonder how many people who assume the responsibility of voluntarily coaching of young people will continue doing so under the current set of rules, regulations and responsibilities?

There's no need to panic or re-invent the world, but coaches would be wise to listen carefully to the words of the judicial system.

Justice Bruce Duncan, in his ruling in a Brampton courtroom on Thursday, sent a clear message: that a sports field was not a crime-free zone. That goes for the hockey rink, the gym and anywhere a game is played.

He ruled that an 18-year-old had committed manslaughter when he used aggression beyond the rules of the sport in a Peel District School Board rugby game two years ago. There are injuries in sports, especially contact sports. Students and parents know that before that first game is played. But, there is no room for revenge or retaliation. Coaches who have turned their back to an episode need to take note.

Now is also the perfect time for the Coaching Association of Ontario to re-enforce the duties of an individual tasked with the duty of coaching. Now is the time for the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association to get to the provincial government and, along with Boards of Education, clearly get across the value of coaches. Now is the time for the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association to do more than offer up provincial championships.

For the most part, coaches do a very good job educating students about amateur sport and playing the game. But many are not qualified to coach. Many also sit back and allow players tempers to escalate when they should be telling the player to call it a day. There are rules that need to be enforced, dangerous precedents have existed for years. A minor penalty or a one game suspension doesn't work anymore for athletes who, in a moment of rage, loses control. Elite athlete, top scorer, doesn't matter, play the game by the rules or be forced to pack it in.

Getting a taste of reality

Went down to see the Toronto District School Board boys' soccer championships today at the Cherry Beach Sports Fields located next to Lake Ontario, and got more than I expected.

The cold bothered me a bit. The gusty wind too. The rain was heavy at times. What got to me more was watching Toronto Police search teams —- by car, by foot and by bike, by horseback checking the bushes and waterfront for two boys who went missing in separate incidents.

Mason MacPhail is a 16-year-old who disappeared on Tuesday night during a concert held nearby. He became separated from three friends shortly after the show started. McPhail has a mild form of autism and no knowledge of Toronto. While he does function as an average teenager, he has some difficulty getting adjusted to places.

Further west, more police. This time in boats checking the bottom of Lake Ontario for Shane Fair, the missing 19-year-old York University student last seen at Ontario Place about two weeks ago.

Soccer players and fans, focused on their games —- the Toronto District Colleges Athletic Association varsity girls final and the TDSB championships in three categories. I eventually did watch one game —- Martingrove beating Mowat on penalty kicks. Yes, after an 80-minute game, then 20 more minutes, a city championship decided on penalty kicks. Never was a fan of games won that way.

Day Two at the track

What an interesting day at the track. Not the horses: Make that the final day of the Metro Regional high school track and field finals.

Ups and downs. Interesting results and some great individual performances at Varsity Centre. Also watched athletes throwing the javelin and avoiding breaking their ankles on a shabby field a few blocks away that they were forced to use. Scheduling problems with other events led to that mess.

Mihkel Poldma pulled off a rare accomplishment. Back-to-back years sweeping the discus, shot and javelin events. He did it as a midget last year at Windfields Junior High. This year, as a junior at York Mills Collegiate. As good as he is, hockey is his future: drafted by the Erie Otters in the recent Ontario Hockey League hunt for talent.

And Aaron Brown, the sprinter from Birchmount Park, now knows not to play basketball with his friends on the weekend before these provincial qualifiers. After finishing second in the senior boys' 100 metres on Monday, he made up for it on Tuesday in the 200 metres. Yes, first place in a photo finish over Neil McNeil's Dushane Farrier (who beat him in the 100 metres). Both should win medals at the Ontario finals next week.

The late and great Father John Redmond, an admirer of track and field, is smiling up above. The school named in his honour did well. Nicollette Weathers won the junior girls' 300 metre hurdles. Midget-age Vanessa McLeod won the 800 metres; Harrison Sloan took first in the midget boys' 3,000 metres, and Dylan Dimock came first twice: in the midget boys' 800 metres and 300-metre hurdles.

And a lesson learned. Steven Ajayi was back where he belongs - on the track. A great midget-age sprinter, also from Neil McNeil, he made a mistake and went for lunch on Monday at the wrong time. When he came back, the youngster found out that he missed the 100 metres - a race many thought he would win. On top of that, he was bounced from the 4 x 100-metre relay and, feeling bad as it is, also was scolded publicly by one of his coaches. On Tuesday, he won the 200 metres.

Day One at the Metro track and field meet

Thought I would check out action on Day One of the Metro Regional high school track and field meet at Varsity Centre, that gem of a facility that the U of T keeps talking about.

It is a great facility, no doubt about it, but that university doesn't have an outdoor track and field program, likely because students are long gone by the time the warm weather arrives.

Noticed a few people turn their heads rather quickly every time the starter pistol went off. Another thing folks were talking about, and I tend to agree, is how hectic it will be for the provincial championships —- set for June 4 to 6. Forget about finding a parking spot unless you have a friend in a nearby office building or apartment. Not sure where all the buses will end up or where students will warm up?

Some great performances and, well, unfortunate circumstances too. Sheereen Harris of Mary Ward competed, despite a leg injury, and won two individual events but more impressive was helping her relay team come first.

Not sure I can remember the last time a Humberside student won two events. Kristine Mirkiewicz did in the discus and pole vault. Mihkel Poldma won the shot and discus for York Mills. No surprise. Nice to see Father Henry Carr athletes do well. Dushane Farrier, who met with former Olympian Donovan Bailey last week, won the senior 100 metres. And the powerhouse team at Birchmount Park piled it up, winning seven events.

And, wouldn't you know it, with the OFSAA final coming up and folks are charging admission rather than welcoming people to see these kids compete. Which begs the question: will they put curtains around three quarters of the facility to block off people watching from Bloor St?

Finally, I don't understand a few things. No medals and no records. Wouldn't it be nice if an athlete could say she or he set a Metro track and field record and has a medal to show off?

Athlete of the year time - tough choices

The high school sports season is quickly coming to an end, and I am told of lots of back room discussions going on about what can be a very sensitive and debatable subject: the high school athlete of the year.

As several coaches have told me this past week, some tough decisions still to be made at many high schools across the Greater Toronto Area. And, in certain cases, the conversations are really heating up causing a bit of friction.

Coaches have their favourite pick. Does the football hero, who helped win a league championship, get the nod over the soccer player that may have had his best season since he entered school? ow about picking the same person for a second or third consecutive year?

I remember when schools chose the athlete who played the most sports. In other cases, coaches had a favourite student - the one who just seemed to be the most popular. That could still be happening. Some schools allow feedback from community coaches, and there are some darn good ones, but still make the decision based on the "teacher coach" - some who are assistants or stand around for liability reasons.

As coaches are being consulted to offer up opinions leading to these special awards, what I find interesting is that the selection process varies from school to school. Some select a graduating student. Some have senior and junior athletes. Some say a student in one sport doesn't have a chance. Some allow students, like an athletic association, to pick.

And there are schools who simply don't pick athletes of the year. That's right. Does a lot for school spirit. Their reasons range from not one student worthy of the award to a school decision to avoid singling out one person, when every student deserves an award for simply competing.

What do you think? Should there be overall high school athletes of the year and, if so, how would you select the winners?

Top 10 performers of the week

Yikes, what a week to pick 10 athletes.

Playoff time in seven leagues.

Track and field championships in Durham, Peel, York and the Toronto District Colleges loop.

Toss in great performances in rugby, soccer, lacrosse, cricket and the list goes on.

Whoops, I almost forgot the showdown in the Toronto District School Board to qualify for the Prentice Cup baseball playoffs.

Thought about breaking my own rules and, well, this week coming up with a Top 20.

Nope. Not a good idea to make changes now.

So, agree or disagree, here they are:

Derek Allen, Trinity. He's an outstanding football player, picked as a linebacker on the Toronto Star's pre-season Top 25 list. Hawaii, North Dakota, Akron and, recently, Buffalo are universities showing lots of interest for next year. In rugby this week, he scored four tries in a 66-10 pasting of St. Andrew's in a Conference of Independent Schools semifinal game.

Mulenga Chandra, Michael Power/St. Joseph. It took well over two hours to complete a senior boys' soccer playoff game between Power and St. Basil. Scoreless after regulation. No goals after two 10-minute overtime periods. Then penalty shots - and won 8-7. The winning goal, from the foot of Chandra.

Marsha Cryderman, St. Stephen's. She scored six goals, more than the entire opposing team, in an 11-4 win over Dennis O'Connor of Ajax for the Lake Ontario Secondary Schools Association Tier Two varsity girls' lacrosse title. She's also a former winner of the Most Sportsmanlike Award in Ontario women's lacrosse.

Mike Forbes, York Mills. At first glance, he doesn't look like much of a pitcher. Then watch his fastball and curve pick away at batters. He got the win in a 16-1 blowout of Ursula Franklin. A day later, he pitched again and came out with a 4-1 win over Richview, the defending Toronto citywide champs. Next up: Prentice Cup playoffs.

Victoria Hanna, McLaughlin. She's a middle distance runner with victories almost every time there's a meet. First in the 1,500 metres at the Hamilton Indoor Games. First at the Durham region finals. Won by 13 seconds at a Brockville meet. Next victory could come at the Central Regionals meet in a few days in Midland.

Shereen Harris, Mary Ward. People describe her using a four-letter word - fast. Great speed in winning the junior girls' 100 metres at the TDCAA finals. Then, the 80-metre hurdles. Capped the championships, qualifying for the Metro regionals, with a win in the 200 metres. This race in a record 25.68 seconds. Could be looking at a provincial medal winner here.

Eamonn Kichuk, Bill Crothers. He's attending the posh sports school in Markham and for good reason. He was the only athlete in the Greater Toronto Area to win a provincial gold medal in cross country last fall. The 14-year-old added three more gold medals - in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 metres. Also, a York Region record of one minute, 59.30 seconds in the 800 metres. This kid is for real.

Rachel McCormick, Loyola. Her Mississauga junior girls' soccer team is unbeaten in Peel Region league play. Not sure if she's the top scorer, but she's likely right up there. Reason for her selection: she got the hat trick in soccer. Yup, three goals in a 3-1 win over divisional league runner-up Clarkson.

Cassandra Pascal, St. Marcellinus. Superb performances in three events, all gold medals, at the Peel Region track finals. Won the junior girls' 100 and 200 metres and great come-from-behind final 100 metres in a 4 x 100-metre relay win. She should be collecting medals at the provincial finals in Toronto next month.

Sara Ross, Cardinal Newman. Here's something not heard of these days - a student playing two sports in the same season. For this star athlete, rugby and soccer. A three-time school athlete of the year too. She's the captain for both teams and the rugby girls won the Toronto District Colleges title. On Monday, she leads the soccer team in a semifinal.

Some records and pitfalls on high school track scene

For high school track and field athletes, it's time to perform.

No holding back now. And with the pressure from peers, coaches and other stuff, things can happen. One minute excitement, the next, disappointment. Hold on, there are some big surprises too and some great performances this past week, depending on whether it's on the great track at St. Marcellinus High in Mississauga or the not-so-great track at Civic Stadium in Oshawa.

Felt bad for Pickering's Marissa Smith, the superb hurdler, who tripped on the first hurdle. But she's off to the Central Regionals in Midland next week with her relay team. Phillip Hayle has been to Poland for the world junior finals, India for the Commonwealth junior finals and will likely be off to the Pan Ams in Trinidad this summer. So, when the senior-age sprinter came second in the 100 metres, he was disappointed. But he'll be off to the Southern Regionals in St. Catharines. Watch out for him.

Close to 10 records at the Peel Regional finals, and that's just day one. Not much attention to Chris Dulhanty, from Loyola in Mississauga. He set a steeplechase record, one that hadn't been broken in 12 years. And, only in her second year, Cassandra Pascal is showing the Ontario record she set last year was no fluke.

And I haven't even mentioned Toronto's best with the Metro Regionals coming up next week. I can go on and on. Some great athletes - and future Canadian Olympians. Don't believe me? Check out the provincial finals in Toronto in a few weeks. It's all happening at the U of T, which continues to show off its nice facility at Varsity Centre.

Dad's track record almost falls

I was at Day One of the Lake Ontario Secondary Schools Association track and field finals in Oshawa on Tuesday, and there were some tense moments in one race —- the senior boys' 1,500 metres.

It was one event that Pickering High, a school that has won 14 provincial banners in the sport and pretty much owned the LOSSA boys' league title for 20 years, wasn't going to win.

Among a great field of athletes in the middle distance race was Eric Dillon from McLaughlin High in Oshawa. Battling gusty winds, Dillon won the race in a time of three minutes, 59.85 seconds. He comes from a family of very good athletes. His older brother Marcus, a former league and OFSAA champion in the 3,000 metres and steeplechase, is now at Wake Forest University on a scholarship. Older sister Katie preferred hockey and is now at the University of Western Ontario.

And the guy watching Eric's time very carefully was his father, Kevin.

You see, Dad was a fairly good distance runner in his teens too. He owns the region record in the 1,500 metres - a time of 3:58.9 set in 1978 and timed by hand. It's now 31 years later, they timed it by hand again - and the grade 11 youngster almost broke the record. His father was in Grade 13, remember that, when he set the mark.

Maybe the kid played it right — won the race, qualified for the Central Regionals and left the record for his father. Not so sure. I imagine there will be lots of discussion about this, especially around the dinner table.

OFSAA threatens to cancel eight school playoffs

I know, it's the Victoria Day Holiday weekend. My day off too.

So, what prompted me to spend some time preparing this. Well, simple. I made the mistake of checking my e-mail. One gets hooked on this stuff and, well, saw a note from a student who was very upset after hearing that a provincial championship, something she was striving for in her last year of high school, might be cancelled.

So, I e-mailed back and she referred me to the website for OFSAA - the provincial sports athletic association. Lo and behold, message is there - clear and, depending on how much you read it, or read in to it, it does come across very harsh.

Eight Ontario championships will, not could, be cancelled if a school association doesn't step up by June 10 of this year to bid or claim ownership for hosting a sports playoff in the next school year. In jeopardy: girls' field hockey, girls' quad-A basketball, boys' single/double-A lacrosse and rugby as well as four soccer finals.

How could OFSAA let something like this drag until now? Maybe, by creating so many finals in certain sports, this organization bit its own tail.

Not so sure OFSAA will make many friends taking that approach or whether the threat of cancellation looks good to an organization that gets a significant amount of operating dollars from the Ontario Government. Make that the taxpayers.

There has to be a more creative, professional, diplomatic (pick your own word) way of dealing with this. OFSAA seems to forget that volunteers, many in-experienced in staging sports playoffs, put  in countless hours planning these playoffs. There isn't much for them in return. Oh yes, OFSAA then shows up to hand out awards and take some of the gate revenues.

A lesson to OFSAA. Better planning, organization and a more genuine approach can go a long way.