Ten Athletes Who Stood Out

One week left until the boys and girls take a break from high school sports - ending one decade and starting a new one. Going through the achievements of the past week, many were on the hardwood - and for basketball. Still very quiet from the world of volleyball and on another topic, coaches are doing a great job keeping me informed by recommending athletes but, ah, it's the male coaches by a huge margin.

Here we go, ten who get the spotlight this week,

Abass Ahmed, Etobicoke. He's only a junior-age basketball player, but he's coached by Blue Jays radio baseball announcer Jerry Howarth. Twice this week, I heard from that great baseball voice - and both times Ahmed was mentioned. Start with 23 points in a 50-48 thriller over George Harvey and a dozen in a 28-point win over Lakeshore.

Justin Ali, Northview Heights. He's at a school that likes to brag about its Academic Program for Gifted Athletes. Don't know much about Ali, or even if he's in it, but the soccer team at Boylen Secondary does. He can score goals and had all four in a 4-2 soccer win over Boylen. Yes, soccer. Yes, played indoors too.

Ryan Bennett, St. Mary's. Don't hear much in the way of sports from this Toronto Catholic school. That is, until 43 points are scored in a senior basketball game. Check out the score, wait for it, 102-83 over Bishop Allen. That's an NBA-type score - but these kids only played eight-minute quarters. Defence, what defence?

Brandon Bos, Markham District. You might think I'm the president of his fan club by mentioning him for a second consecutive week. Well, when you lead your team in scoring in six consecutive senior basketball games, you deserve to get the nod again. The point guard had 25 points in a 63-62 tournament game win over Mount Carmel.

Aidan Bronca, Villanova. Not one, but five goals in a hockey game is impressive. They came in a 9-2 spanking of Lakefield in the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Associations. That's the long way of saying private schools. Villanova, just so that you know, is in first place in the 12-team Tier Two league.

Tori Charron, Uxbridge. They play some very good hockey at this school.- and always turn out one of the best players in the league.  She might very well be the next after scoring four times in a 7-1 drubbing of Pine Ridge in a Durham Region varsity girls' game. She has already passed the 20-goal plateau - and it's not even Christmas.

Theadora Imbrogno, St. Basil The Great. You will be hearing her name quite a bit. She scored three goals and the opposing team from Bishop Allen got off easy losing 6-1. Imbrogno is a two-time member of the Star's all-star girls' hockey team and brilliant in the school's 2009 Ontario championship. I think she can easily play on a boys' team.

Chris McLaughlin, Abbey Park. Yet another basketball player to hit for big points this week. In his case, 42 in a 92-83 overtime thriller over Bishop Reding from Milton in a Halton Secondary Schools Athletic Association senior game involving two schools that had not won a game this season.

Scott Morrison, Richview. When a player scores 50 points in a senior boys' basketball game, he makes this list. Only 15 years old, he had quarter scores of 8, 13, 21 and 8 - which included six three-pointers in a 63-53 Toronto District School Board league win over Runnymede. He's the first player this year to crack the half century point total in T-O.

Nicholas Stojanovski, Emily Carr. He's a 17-year-old grade 12 student at the Woodbridge school - not one of your powerhouses. He scored 29 points in a basketball win over Maple and earlier in the week had six three-pointers and 25 points for the Thunderbirds in a York Region game against Toronto District Christian.

 

Bits and Pieces Worth Sharing

My desk is starting to clutter up and figure it might be wise to list a variety of tidbits that I had wanted to share with you - before it's time for my year-end cleaning and, well, things disappear. You know what I mean.

I see the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ontario Government, is dishing out tax dollars - exactly how much I do not know - to schools so students can be introduced to something new or what they call "traditional or non-traditional sports". The Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations has been given the money and to award it at $800 a pop for something called Try Day.

One of your local schools will be able to apply for money so students can learn about sports like disc golf, tubing, snowshoeing, Aussie rules football, orienteering, frisbee, tchoukball and even boxing. That should go well with the anti-bullying stuff.

Let's see, what else. A few people were upset that we made references to 73-0 football scores. We didn't make it up, the games happened. Think that was bad? Well, how about this high school game: Ridley, from St. Catharines, beat Bishop's College from Lennoxville, Que. 101-0 in what was believed to be the first interscholastic match between Ontario and Quebec prep schools. My friend in Durham sent this to me - along with the date when it happened. Back on Nov. 14, 1938 - and published in the Star.

Oh yes, I believe Toronto's Runnymede Collegiate won four Ontario boys' basketball titles - the last in 1990. John Petrushchak, now retired, was coach of all four. They were called the Redmen back then. But that name was changed because it was politically incorrect. Now, called the Ravens, Runnymede still has a basketball team - but only seven players on the senior squad, which is 0-2 in league play.

On the topic of sports nicknames, West Hill is being forced to get rid of the "Warriors". Students will have to come up with a replacement that has to be approved by the school administration. It'll likely be an animal or bird. I can remember the commotion when Toronto's Nelson A. Boylen high school sports teams were called the Bullets. No more, and I don't have to explain.

Wrestling appears to be coming back slowly in the Toronto Catholic Board. Those who have been around long enough remember how everything seemed to have stopped following a tragic injury in that sport way back in 1987. Back then, a 16-year-old Cardinal Newman High student was attempting an over-the-hip throw during a league competition and fell awkwardly on his head, suffering a broken neck and crushed vertebrae.

And, I can remember when girls wrestled with boys - because there was not enough interest or female teams. One female teenager created a stink with the Ontario Human Rights Commission because she wanted to wrestle. Now, lots of girls wrestling - and against girls.

Why is there very little mention from coaches about high school swimming? A great sport - and involving thousands of students too. Over in Durham Region, just the right sport for teenagers - bowling. Yes, they have a league. Last I heard, no school had a bowling alley.

And back to OFSAA one more time, the organization is running a Women's Sports School in 2010. It seems like it might be to attract more women to coaching since those numbers are sagging. They call it a professional development session for teacher-coaches from across the province to share ideas and get motivated. I'm not joking. That's exactly what it says in the pre-event notice.

 

High School Performances Of The Week

One thing I have learned, I can't satisfy everyone. Shucks.

Lots of people took time to offer their opinions last week, and wow - the flood gates opened this week again. Thanks for the info to everyone. Lots to read, including my notes, and here are the ones, I believe, worth singling out this week.

Connor Anderson, Huron Hts. There are some who claim he just might be the best all-purpose running back in the Greater Toronto Area. Five touchdowns (and he could have had more) for the Toronto Star all-star in a 63-0 whipping of Woodbridge in a York Region senior football playoff.

George Daniel, Villanova. Here’s another football player who can pick his university. He scored three touchdowns – two on receptions – but also piled up close to 300 yards of net offence in a late fourth quarter loss to Trinity in a private school senior game. No fluke, he’s been solid all season.

Ryan Dixon, Donald Wilson. Take him out of the game and, likely, his team gets blown away. A very good athlete, and only in grade 10, he knows what to do with a football. Scored five touchdowns in a 36-27 win over Ajax in a Durham region junior football game. That’s 14 majors in his past four games.

Leanne Fernandes, Pope John Paul II. In track, she’s competed in the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York. Also at the Ontario high school finals. Off to the provincial cross country finals after winning the TDCAA senior girls’ 5,000 metres easily in a time of 20 minutes, 10 seconds.

Travis Jennings, Don Bosco. The Eagles keep winning, now at 8-0, and this guy is a big reason. He scored two majors, converted four, had a single and a two-point convert in a 37-0 victory over Forest Hill.  Off to the North Division final against Chaminade, who forfeited the previous game.

Paige Johnson, Nelson. Field hockey is her sport. She scored the winning goal, on a penalty stroke, to defeat the six-time former champs from Notre Dame in the Halton Region final. Then does it again - the winner, this time in OT - in a 1-0 Golden Horseshoe win to get her team to the Ontario playoffs.

Grace Kay, Pearson. Only 15 years old, she scored 35 points in a four-point basketball league loss to St. Thomas Aquinas of Oakville. Points come easy for this guard, she’s had 30 or more in six games for her Halton region school and is a two-time tournament MVP. She also coaches – yup, basketball.

Pat Kelley, Trinity. I know. It’s pressure, but if he keeps up the fabulous performance pace, his senior football team could be in for a CISAA league title. Three majors and the winner in the final minute on a 60-yard pass-and-run. He had a total of 280 net yards against a good Villanova team.

Shanice McKoy, Pope John Paul II. Couldn’t keep her off the list. Chosen MVP of the Applewood Invitational, which her basketball team won. She had 28 points in a 66-53 win over Etobicoke in that tournament, but also led her team in scoring in the first two games of the Centennial Colts Classic.

Chrissie White, Applewood Hts. Yes, the sports team nickname for this school is the “Axemen”. Swinging her stick, she scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Lorne Park for the Peel Region field hockey title. Undefeated in nine games this year, the school is six-time league champs.

Give Participation Awards To Every Student Athlete

You have likely heard about all those Little League baseball players who, win or lose, get a trophy. I know, many of them have closets full of trophies just for participating.

To some, it means a great deal. To others, maybe not.

Going through my e-mail, some readers think that it's not a bad idea to encourage more participation in high school sports: and do so by giving every athlete an award.

Hold on, that's not to say individuals and teams should not compete for the glory of championship trophies, certificates, medals, banners, plaques, badges —- and there must be many more things given out.

Talk to high school athletes and coaches. They'll tell you that once they commit to playing for their school, it's all about bringing home the gold. Fine, but should it always be about winning? What about sportsmanship and the love of the game?

Some interesting reports and studies debate the merits of winning and the effects of losing. I'm not going to get into a debate on sports psychology but I will ask: is a team, or individual, a winner if he or she only has a trophy? What about those who have won all year, but lose the big one for any number of reasons? Is it tough luck? Some people have told me that the losing team learns a great deal too.

Schools, and teams, have an assortment of award presentations and usually at year-end. In addition to the Athlete of the Year, many schools have the top Academic Athlete of the Year, the Most Valuable Player, the Most Improved Player, the Top Graduating Athlete, the School Sport Leader and on and on. Lots of awards.

One reader, who said he just finished doing a university thesis on the benefits of awards for student athletes, believes from his research that every athlete should get some form of an award —- even if it's only for participation.

Dr. Gene Sutton - A Mentor and Friend for Thousands

Got some news this week that was quite upsetting.

My good friend Gene Sutton, yes a Canadian icon, passed away a few days ago in Hamilton. She was 64. We had a story in the Star.

Gene and I had been buddies for years. We always shared some interesting stories about gymnastics, which she knew better than anyone in this country. Often reminding me about the need for stories and more stories about the sport, she was always accessible for an interview even though she wanted the attention on young people.

A promoter, a coach, a judge, a teacher - the list goes on. She made a huge difference, a big impact, in the lives of thousands of people.

I am told that a celebration of her life is being planned for later this month. Maybe September. Funeral is private.

One day, I shared a story with her about how I fractured my ankle when I was in high school during a phys. ed class - and it happened when one of those large wooden box horses and I just did not get along. She told me that any plan I had of becoming a Canadian Olympian in gymnastics was over. She was quick with the jokes too.

I remember one time when she called and said a special event was happening at some Ontario Gymnastics dinner and asked me to attend. I did not have time but, for Gene, I found a way. Gene surprised me that night with a special award for promoting the sport in schools. Then, on the stage while smiling for pictures, reminded me that she would be watching for more athletes to be featured in stories.

And, yes, they have been.

School gymnastics has been declining for years - especially in the Greater Toronto Area. Gene did not like that and had some choice words when she heard rumblings that the OFSAA final would no longer happen. Boys gymnastics has not been around for many years and she was not thrilled with that either. Schools, she said, were worried about liabilities. Yet Gene would always say wrestling, rugby and football had more injuries.

There will likely be a variety of awards set up to honour Gene. The one she would want more than anything: to see this sport thrive in schools. So, all right, there is a challenge to the educational and sport communities. Teachers and coaches take note.

Goodbye Gene. Yes, I will continue promoting this sport and will always remember everything you have done.

Quick action averts Festival embarrassment

Students and staff from some 16 schools in the Greater Toronto Area got a taste of being invited, then uninvited, then invited again, to Thursday night’s marquee track and field event in town.

What a screw-up.

Folks associated with the Festival of Excellence, with Olympic and Jamaican star sprinter Usain Bolt as the star attraction, had to deal with a huge embarrassment earlier in the day resulting from a rather strange e-mail sent from Theresa Edmonson, who works for John Carson.

He’s the massage therapist from Cambridge, who has the connection with one of Bolt’s agents that paved the way for the fastest man in the world to do his thing at the Varsity Centre.

Edmonson and Carson are responsible for another event - the Run for Lightning Program that was put together to help kids get involved - and are also part of the evening’s events. Edmonson invited a group of schools to send a team of four athletes, and a chaperone, to watch the event. A representative from each school would also get a chance to run a post-race victory lap with Bolt.

Sounds great.

But the schools started getting e-mails from Edmonson just 24 hours before the show, saying the invitation was off because of a “technical on-site difficulty.” She also didn’t return calls from some teachers wanting to know about the surprise call. Edmonson did call me back but, learning I was with the Star, abruptly ended the conversation saying she was too busy. Never heard from Carson either.

From her e-mail, sent to me by a teacher, Edmonson had assumed bleacher seats would not be erected, causing a shortage of seats and, well, no room for the kids. But she did mention that seats could still be purchased.

Prices started at $25 and peaked at $250.

But Edmonson failed to inform the University of Toronto, hosting the event, of what she was doing. Geoff Arnoldi, a member of the Festival of Excellence Organizing Committee, said “I was livid when I found out because we had a contingency plan ready to accommodate the students if the bleachers weren’t approved by the city.”

When I started getting calls from schools affected, and a copy of an e-mail sent by Edmonson to high school teacher Steve Konupka at West Hill Collegiate, I called University of Toronto athletic director Liz Hoffman to see if she could help.

Not happy with what I told her, Hoffman immediately went after fixing the problem. The schools were reinvited. I am sure the students, including the one from St. Cornelius elementary school in Caledon East, who said a prayer hoping she would still get to go, went from happy to devastated to confused to happy.

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.