Tough Picking Athletes of the Week

This was one tough week to pick 10 student athletes for my list. Start with regional track and field finals, then toss in league playoffs in various sports and how about superb individual performances in regular season games. Yikes. Could easily have had 25. To those on the list, congratulations. To the rest, keep up the great work. Now, to the athletes - and listed alphabetically rather than by achievements.

Shemar Anglin, Bill Crothers. Impressive young man. Watch him run, and he fits the description. Listen to him talk, very articulate and caring. On the track, quick. At the York Region track and field finals, first place in the junior boys' 100 metres (11.51), also in the 400 metres (44.96) and helped the 4x100-metre relay team to victory (52.01). Also, very considerate of his teammates and appreciative of his coach.

Andre Ford-Azonwanna, Cardinal McGuigan. You have read in the Star about how fast this 14-year-old can run. Electronically timed in 10.89 seconds over 100 metres a few weeks ago, he won the same event at the TDCAA finals in 11.44 but hampered by cold, wind and puddles on the track. First also in the 400 metres (51.78), a league record, and the 200 metres at 22.55.

Adelaide Burgess, Parkdale. Alright, so I admit bias in support of my alma mater. But, hold on. After five defeats in soccer, the girls' game, the Panthers finally broke the goose-egg. Yes, she scored the goal in a 1-0 win over Monarch Park in their Toronto District School Board game. In case you ask, Monarch Park had a 4-1 record before the game.

Brittany Crew, Birchmount Park. Three events and three first-place finishes in the shot, javelin and discus for this Grade 10 athlete at the Toronto District School Board East Region track and field final. Some background information: she's also got a 93 per cent average, is a member of the elite athlete program and is part of the school anti-bullying team.

Ryan Forletta, King City. He's a pitcher on the Lions varsity boys' baseball team. Plays for a rep team too. But, sticking to high school, he could be a factor in this perennial favorite winning the York Region title again. His pitching beat Westmount, then 13-0 over Mulock - where his bat also helped with a grand slam.

Jordan Hill, Sinclair. I am told that he might be the among best right-handed throwing pitchers in GTA high school baseball. With a 4-0 record, his latest wins were 5-1 over St. Mary (Pickering), 8-0 over Pickering and 13-0 over Northern (Toronto). He has verbally committed to Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas

Laura Kosiba, Father Redmond. How about a junior-age athlete winning the steeplechase, a 1,500-metre race that tends to attract the older runners? She won this race in five minutes, 50.77 seconds at the Toronto District Colleges Athletic Association finals. She also won the 3,000 metres and 300-metre hurdles. Now, off to the Metro Regionals.

John Krzyszkowski, Port Credit. His school coach said a guy like this comes along "once every 10 or 20 years". He may be right. Trying to give his school some attention, the Grade 10 athlete did just that. Record throws in the discus (56.86 metres) and shot put (16.64) at the Peel  track and field finals. He's aiming for one more - the javelin - this week.

Dylan Mundy, Uxbridge. The Tigers might have the best high school boys' rugby team in Ontario - and he's on it. He was a member of the Rugby Canada National mens under-17 team that played games in Wales. He once attended Sutton High, and was a hurdler and member of the track team. For Uxbridge, four tries in a 53-0 rugby win over Pine Ridge.

Natasha Tyzler, St. Joseph/Wellesley. She's been on this list before and also one of our former female athletes of the week. In softball, she just keeps getting better. Since last week, add three more home runs and two grand slams in TDCAA league wins over Dante Alighieri (19-8) and Marrocco/Merton (20-0)

Comments

[Paul]

I have enjoyed reading your stories on track and field and like the way you have given each region something. Keep up the good work and looking forward to your stories at the OFSAA track finals.

[Bernard]

I don't believe you should list an athlete if that person has been on your list before. Maybe you should also have a list of the top coaches too because we get very little credit for the hard work we do.

[Miller]

What an impressive list of young men and women who have been recognized for their efforts. This is very enjoyable when we hear so much about kids in trouble, obese and with little enthusiasm.