Ten players who had a good week
It's that time, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.
Ten performances worth mentioning — and there was lots to consider. Again in alphabetical order. And again, the majority of information coming to us from coaches, fans and players —- but in boys' sports. Yes, equity is important. But, it's very difficult to tell you highlights when far too many schools and coaches are not interested in sharing the efforts of their student athletes.
So, we recognize:
Hayden Armstrong, Huron Heights. He’s not related to astronaut Neil, hockey player George or cyclist Lance. This provincially ranked soccer player, in his rookie year playing senior football, was 11-for-11 in converts and has only missed twice this year. His team thumped Newmarket 77-0.
Maddie Benjamin, Richview. She could have stopped for a coffee at the Toronto West cross-country run-offs in Etobicoke. Finishing the Junior girls 3,600 metre-race in 15 minutes, 53.58 seconds, one minute and 18 seconds quicker than the runner-up. City finals are in a few days.
Dillon Campbell, St. Mary. He sat out last year recovering from knee surgery. In five plays, he piled up 268 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Pickering-area school crunched Paul Dwyer of Oshawa 48-14 for a fourth victory in five Durham Region senior games.
Megan Cayley, Michael Power/St. Joseph. She’s the team captain for the Trojans senior girls’ basketball team and, well, a leader. The Grade 12 forward, who also leads Power in scoring, had an easy 13 points in a 46-16 win over Dante Alighieri. Team is 8-0 in the TDCAA league.
Kayla Grossett, Thomson. A former two-time athlete of the year at her school, this talented 5-foot-9 guard for the Titans senior basketball team has scored 20 or more points in nine games this year. Highest was 29 points in a 75-31 win over Leacock the other day in a league game.
Erin Houle, Assumption. She scored all three goals in a 3-2 win over fourth-place Abbey Park of Oakville in a Halton Region senior girls field hockey game. It might have been the biggest win of the year for the fifth place team, finishing the season with a 4-4 record.
Dennis Kaczmarczyk, St. Francis Xavier. Defensive tackle for the junior football team, he made six tackles (two chasing down sweeps), had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery – and nearly intercepted a pass. His team won 20-10 over Turner/Fenton in a Peel Region game.
Connor Lumsden, Nelson. He’s 15 years old and playing senior football. A wide receiver, the kid scored a touchdown in a 27-0 thumping of Assumption in a Halton Region game. He`s also the cousin of Jesse, now with the CFL Eskimos. Uncle Neil was also a fairly good football player.
Akeel Lynch, St. Michael`s. Rushed for a phenomenal 390 yards and four majors in a 36-21 win over Upper Canada in a CISAA league game. A Grade 10 running back, he has nine of the team's 10 touchdowns. Last year, he was outstanding, leading his junior team to the Ontario title.
Llevi Noel, Silverthorn. Spent the off-season working on strength and speed. Sure helped in the Spartans' 49-0 spanking of Western Tech in a senior football game. Noel had five touchdowns for the 3-1 Spartans. Western Tech has just six points and given up 183 in four losses.
Ten performances worth mentioning — and there was lots to consider. Again in alphabetical order. And again, the majority of information coming to us from coaches, fans and players —- but in boys' sports. Yes, equity is important. But, it's very difficult to tell you highlights when far too many schools and coaches are not interested in sharing the efforts of their student athletes.
So, we recognize:
Hayden Armstrong, Huron Heights. He’s not related to astronaut Neil, hockey player George or cyclist Lance. This provincially ranked soccer player, in his rookie year playing senior football, was 11-for-11 in converts and has only missed twice this year. His team thumped Newmarket 77-0.
Maddie Benjamin, Richview. She could have stopped for a coffee at the Toronto West cross-country run-offs in Etobicoke. Finishing the Junior girls 3,600 metre-race in 15 minutes, 53.58 seconds, one minute and 18 seconds quicker than the runner-up. City finals are in a few days.
Dillon Campbell, St. Mary. He sat out last year recovering from knee surgery. In five plays, he piled up 268 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Pickering-area school crunched Paul Dwyer of Oshawa 48-14 for a fourth victory in five Durham Region senior games.
Megan Cayley, Michael Power/St. Joseph. She’s the team captain for the Trojans senior girls’ basketball team and, well, a leader. The Grade 12 forward, who also leads Power in scoring, had an easy 13 points in a 46-16 win over Dante Alighieri. Team is 8-0 in the TDCAA league.
Kayla Grossett, Thomson. A former two-time athlete of the year at her school, this talented 5-foot-9 guard for the Titans senior basketball team has scored 20 or more points in nine games this year. Highest was 29 points in a 75-31 win over Leacock the other day in a league game.
Erin Houle, Assumption. She scored all three goals in a 3-2 win over fourth-place Abbey Park of Oakville in a Halton Region senior girls field hockey game. It might have been the biggest win of the year for the fifth place team, finishing the season with a 4-4 record.
Dennis Kaczmarczyk, St. Francis Xavier. Defensive tackle for the junior football team, he made six tackles (two chasing down sweeps), had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery – and nearly intercepted a pass. His team won 20-10 over Turner/Fenton in a Peel Region game.
Connor Lumsden, Nelson. He’s 15 years old and playing senior football. A wide receiver, the kid scored a touchdown in a 27-0 thumping of Assumption in a Halton Region game. He`s also the cousin of Jesse, now with the CFL Eskimos. Uncle Neil was also a fairly good football player.
Akeel Lynch, St. Michael`s. Rushed for a phenomenal 390 yards and four majors in a 36-21 win over Upper Canada in a CISAA league game. A Grade 10 running back, he has nine of the team's 10 touchdowns. Last year, he was outstanding, leading his junior team to the Ontario title.
Llevi Noel, Silverthorn. Spent the off-season working on strength and speed. Sure helped in the Spartans' 49-0 spanking of Western Tech in a senior football game. Noel had five touchdowns for the 3-1 Spartans. Western Tech has just six points and given up 183 in four losses.
Thank you for recognizing the Silverthorn player. He's on a team that doesn't get much attention, plays in a Division with so-so teams and is an very good athlete. No, I'm not his parent or coach but just an admirer.
Posted by: Pigskin | October 23, 2009 at 09:29 PM
I really look foreward to reading this every Friday because you have taken the time to research some great athletes and it's nice to learn about them. The Star should be commended for what it does with high school sports. You are the only one.
Posted by: Mr. T. Donaldson | October 23, 2009 at 09:32 PM
Akeel is the real deal. Canadian universities can forget recruiting him, it's NCAA all the way and the kid will make the CFL.
Posted by: Scott Howell | October 24, 2009 at 12:20 AM
Just a bit heavy on football but it is the top sport now and I guess you can't go wrong with performances of Campbell, Lynch, Noel and Armstrong. Now that I think of it, they all deserve the attention.
Posted by: T. Baxter | October 24, 2009 at 12:24 AM
I know the guy kicked 11 converts but I am really not a big fan of a school that has a 77-0 football score and says it couldn't have been avoided.
Posted by: McDonald | October 24, 2009 at 09:07 PM
I am sure there are many people who think it would be a great idea to recognize a coach of the week.
Posted by: Williams | October 25, 2009 at 12:17 AM
I found this weekly list of athletes to be very interesting and only wish others in the media did the same great work and focussed on these kids, many future professional athletes, rather than the clowns who now call themselves professionals and wear the uniforms of the Leafs, Argos, etc.
Posted by: A. Craig | October 25, 2009 at 08:52 AM
Sports is what it's all about. It is good for keeping your body in shape and stay out of trouble. Of course you can still get in trouble no matter what, like me. I was a star basketball player in high school and some colleges were offering me scholarships. After my graduation party I got caught drunk driving and police also found some drugs in my car. I got arrested and couldn't go to play college ball. I was court ordered to go to a drug rehab. Narconon Arrowhead has changed my life. Even though my drug use was a one time thing, but Narconon still opened my eyes. It made me realize why it all happened and how to control myself in that kind of situation if it ever happens again.
Posted by: Slava Lenkov | October 25, 2009 at 10:57 AM
In case you didn't know, Kaczmarczyk had another big game beating those guys at St. Marcellinus who like to brag about having the best team in our league. No more.
Posted by: Delroy | October 25, 2009 at 03:35 PM