The Star's Top School Performances This Week

With the end of the school year just about two months away, and sports being capped much earlier to allow for exams, it's getting busy again around Greater Toronto Area high schools.

Pick a sport, and it's bound to be happening at a school near you. Unlike many years ago, when students could compete in a variety of sports, more and more schools and leagues are restricting students to one sport per season. Some people are crying foul while others say it's necessary to avoid athletes from commiting to rugby, as an example, and then leaving the team and pitch to run with the track and field team.

Our top picks of this week have, for the first time that I can recall, more females than males. Here we go.

Celine Amenta, Mowat. She scored four goals in a 7-0 thumping of R.H. King Academy in a Toronto District School Board senior girls' soccer game. She's on the No. 1 team at a school that, for years, has fielded two squads because of popularity.

Eva Amo-Mensah, Father Henry Carr. She's played basketball for the school team and has won medals in track and field. Toss in four more (three gold and a silver) to her collection of awards with quite a showing at the Father Redmond Classic track and field meet.

Khalil Barakzai, Laurier. Some athletes are happy to score in a school game. This guy did it four times, all tries too, as the Blue Devils defeated Cedarbrae 44-5 in a Toronto District School Board junior boys' rugby match.

Amanda D'Amato, Michael Power/St. Joseph. Opening game for her team in the Toronto District Colleges Athletic Association senior girls' soccer league and she put the ball in the net three times. It was part of a 13-0 rout of Marshall McLuhan High.

Jesse Douglas-Johnson, Uxbridge. This kid can kick a rugby ball through the uprights with ease. He had eight conversions in a Durham region senior rugby game. His team crushed Dunbarton 72-0 opening up the debate once again on lopsided scores.

Taylor Landry, Sinclair. It's early in the lacrosse season, but she's already showing signs of challenging for the scoring lead. Five goals in a 14-3 win over Father Leo Austin in a Durham region varsity girls' game. After a short rest, three more goals in a 14-0 victory over Monsignor Pereyma.

Matthew Pang, St. Francis Xavier. Nothing like beating your best friend in the Peel Region Singles badminton final. He did and was awarded the title when his friend, hampered by leg cramps, ended the match because of pain. Pang won the first set 21-13 and trailed 7-3 in the second when things stopped.

Justin Rasmussen, St. Andrew's. Tough decisions for him - lacrosse or hockey? He's good in both. This time, five goals in a 13-5 lacrosse win over Upper Canada in a private school game. He once played for Team Ontario in lacrosse and was also a fourth round OHL pick of the St. Michael's Majors.

Tamika Shanice-Josephs, West Hill. Some high schools have flag football teams and some have athletes with great speed and talent. She's one of them. Four touchdowns for her in a 28-6 victory over Woburn in a Toronto District School Board East Region league game.

Lana Sheppard, Henry Street. She scored seven goals in one game - including the winner in a 9-8 victory over Anderson. Same day, she scored six more times but this time - with her team missing some key players - lost 15-7 to Donald Wilson in more Durham lacrosse action.

 

Comments

[Shayne]

I really enjoyed reading this list and it's quite nice to see a newspaper that cares about school sports.

[P.M.]

I believe that high schools in the cityy should let the students play as much as they can without jeopardizing their school marks.
It's time for coaches to stop standing in the way of progress just because they're greedy and only want athletes for their own teams.

[Watchdog]

It's really nice to see these youngsters get recognized in ways that they would miss out. Maybe someone can express some opinions on why the school system in this part of Ontario just seems so out of touch with everthing and why I get the impression that the big priority now is counting the days until June so many teachers can suddenly volunteer to coach sports that they have no clue about and enjoy the warm weather before heading off on the their two months plus of vacation time. Maybe I should have been a teacher instead of a corporate businessman.

[P. Morris]

Can you not just mention the list of names without going in to so much detail about every student because some of the scores are not very nice and shouldn't be printed and who really cares on whether a girl or boy scores so many times.

[Coach]

To Watchdog, we all make our choices, but if you plan on being a teacher, or if you ever were a student, WATCH THE RUN ON SENTENCE!!!
Signed,
A clueless teacher counting down the days.
P.S. You're welcome, I hope your kid enjoys playing school sports on our time, but please you canstay home... bad karma.

[Mr. Blake]

I am surprised you have been so quiet about the usual pile of ridiculous scores showing up in your paper like the 72-0 rugby score above and some 12-0 scores in soccer. Coaches and school teachers just don't get it and have the free hand to do as they please.
How about doing a story on how athletic associations and OFSSAA are such hypocrites and speaking out of both sides of their mouth on sportsmanship. I'm nauseated thinking of their shenanigans and the terrible lack of leadership. Someone clean up the mess now.

[Pepper]

Please take this seriously and only focus on the real sports and leave out things like frisbee and water polo and some of the ridiculous other activities that diminish what sports in the high schools are all about.

[Lacrosse Friend]

Taylor Landry is well deserving of being on your list. I have watched her play and she is the best lacrosse player in her league. She is also going to a university in Virginia after she graduates. Thank you for giving girls so much attention.