Ten Athletes for Santa

I know, I am a bit early.

With schools counting the hours until the doors shut for the last time in 2009, I thought I would also make an early jump and pick out the 10 athletes of the week. There's another reason: I'm compiling my last blog of the calendar year with highlights of the school sports year - some oohs and ahhs. Yes, memorable moments and disappointments that also became news. That's coming, maybe in 48 hours.

For now, the athletes - and I hope Santa Claus is good to them next week.

Hassan Abdullahi, Pope John Paul II. He's a 6-foot-2 guard for the Panthers senior basketball team. Apparently, an above average rebounder but he likes to leap - with the ball. Had a game-high 18 points in an 85-43 crushing of Neil McNeil in a Toronto District Colleges league game. The Pope is unbeaten in five.

Motii Ali, Vaughan. Yup, another basketball player. He scored 31 points for the Voyageurs in their 75-42 snoozer over Brampton Centennial in the final of the Vaughan tournament. It wasn't a fluke - the points. In a 63-47 league win over Brebeuf the other day, again he led the team in scoring.

Gillian Beggs, Eastdale. A grade 12 student and forward with the Eagles girls' hockey team that plays in the Durham Region Tier Two loop. Likely headed to a Canadian university in the fall, she has 12 goals and 11 assists for her 5-1-2 squad. In an 8-1 crushing of O'Neill, she had two goals and a pair of assists.

Rick Bota, St. Thomas Aquinas. Got to admit up front, don't know much about him - but that will change. he scored 12 goals and assisted on three more in four games for the Oakville school hockey team. That could be a good reason why the team has an overall 11-5-2 record.

Matt DiMarco, Meadowvale. Could have been DiMarco 3, Mount Carmel 2. He outscored a very good team and Peel region league rival. Three goals for the winger - including one on a powerplay and another while his team was shorthanded. Meadowvale won 6-3 and DiMarco has been consistent all season.

Tevin Findlay, Father Henry Carr. Gosh they have a lot of basketball teams at that school - and some very good players as well. He scored 32 points, as a junior, in a 101-34 league blow-out of Archbishop Romero. No surprise at his scoring, he's hit the 30-point plateau several times this year.

Genevieve Harvey, Northview Heights. I count four recent games for her Toronto high school varsity girls' hockey team - and four losses. But, she's scored in every game. The closest, a 2-1 loss to Clarke High from Newcastle in the Canlan Christmas tournament final. She had three goals in a 6-4 loss to Mowat.

Tyler Lynch, St. Aloysius Gonzaga. Not sure if the excitement is still there for the boys' hockey team that won the Ontario quad/triple-A final last march in North Bay. This winger is showing signs that he wants another gold medal. he scored three goals in a 4-3 win over Mayfield in a Peel Region league game.

Nolan Pettipiece, Notre Dame. I know he's the son of the coach, but he's also a very good hockey player and appears to score in every game. Got two in a 3-1 win over Pearson, another in a 3-1 victory over Robinson and a big one in a 3-2 nail-biter over Nelson. The Irish are 10-3-3, might be the best in Halton.

Aaron Redpath, Richardson. He's been the top scorer in pre-season, league and tournament games for this Ajax-area senior basketball team. In four games this week,he's an explosive player that led his team in scoring three times - including 26 points in a 79-67 Rimrocker tournament win over Ascension.

Comments

[Disgruntled Parent]

As a parent of a high school female volleyball player, I think it's absolutely absurd that more of them are not recognized.
But I am not blaming you or the Toronto Star.
Schools need to get off their buts, and coaches as well, to single out these athletes like they do for basketball and all those other sports.
Please.

[Toronto Fan]

What a great group of young people and I compliment you on always adding some extra highlights and colourful comments. Every week I look forward to this. Keep it up and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[No Name]

I am a teacher and a coach and just wanted to let you know how disappointed I am to read that you singled out a girl for playing on a team that had four losses.
When a team loses, they don't need it mentioned in the newspaper or on any websites.
Leave them alone and write about the m only when they win.

[PL]

Why not do the same for teachers and coaches who could use a few nice words for volunteering time and dealing with some of thes kids who don't have the best attitude and are not one to listen unless they are threatened with not playing.

[Jeremy]

Nolan Pettipiece works hard and deserves every bit of recognition but let's not forget that his father is well-liked, knows his stuff and doesn't tolerate any crap from players.

[Bill]

Basketball and hockey. It seems as if thats all there is these days in school sports.
I think it's more like people affiliated with volleyball, wrestling, swimming, table tennis, skiing just aren't as aggreessive in wanting the limelight for athletes in these sports - and that sucks.
The parent organizations in sports need to do a better job as well.
As a regular follower of amateur sports, I sure would like to see future weeks with some names on this list in those sports and I guess it's up to the schools to stop hibernating and tout the horn for other athletes.
I believe the Toronto Star, with the Olympics not far off, also needs to do a better job in featuring athletes from high schools and universities.
Frankly, there is too much professional sports and not every one is a fan of the Maple Leafs or the Raptors or Tiger Woods and his girls.
Give us what we want. Anyone reading this?

[Dan]

Has anyone ever seen Matt DiMarco play? The kid is sick! Should be good enough to go somewhere. Only knock against him is his size 5"10 but only 160-165 pounds. I've seen this kid play a bunch of times and putting up hat tricks is nothing new for him! Go Matt keep it up!

[KG]

Findlay is a great pick.