Fall sports roundup

11/17/2023

As the fall athletics season comes to a close, there are many successes to celebrate.

Prep Sports

The U13 soccer team defeated St. Andrew’s 4-1 to win the Canadian Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) championship, and went on to nationals in Halifax where they finished second in Canada.

“The team really enjoyed it, meeting teams from all over Canada and doing some sightseeing, too,” says Victoria Altomare-Volokostas, the Prep’s athletic director.

In other triumphs, the U13 cross-country team were CISAA champions, winning the final at Centennial Park by one point. U11 cross-country competed in meets at Sunnybrook, Centennial Park and Norval, as did the U12 team, with individual athletes from the latter consistently placing in the top three. The U13 volleyball team placed second in U14 Division 2; after an undefeated season, they lost in the final to Bayview Glen.

The U12 volleyball team was undefeated, despite many players competing in volleyball for the first time. By the end of the season, they were skilled enough to use the standard three touches on the ball. The U11 intramural program taught students volleyball and soccer skills; for some students it was their first exposure to volleyball.

In soccer, the three U10 teams enjoyed representing UCC for the first time, playing CISAA opponents while developing their skills. The two U11 teams had sound seasons, while both U12 teams went undefeated. In the intramural Year 6 soccer league, overseen by Dr. Baxter using a student-driven model, the students ran the drills and teams played each other. Each team chose a name, designed a logo and had T-shirts made accordingly. Meanwhile, the U13 white team finished fifth in the league.

In field hockey, the U13 team played in an exhibition league, travelling to Ridley College in Niagara to compete. Most players were picking up hockey sticks for the first time and had an excellent opportunity for growth and development.

“I want to give a big thank you to all of our coaches for their leadership,” says Altomare-Volokostas.

Upper School Sports

Five Upper School teams claimed spots in CISAA championship games. The varsity volleyball team was undefeated until losing to St. Mike’s in the final and the U14 volleyball team also lost to St. Mike’s in its final. Both the U16A and U14 soccer teams earned berths in the final but were defeated. The varsity football team fell 9-6 to St. Andrew’s.

“St. Andrew’s scored in the last minute to win the game, so it was a tough one,” says Dave Brown, athletic director for the Upper School.

Other teams made good showings at the CISAA tournaments. The U16 volleyball team lost in the semifinal to St. Mike’s, as did the junior varsity football team. The cross-country team came in second with five individual athletes qualifying for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships, where David Jiang placed third in the senior division. The novice cross-country team placed tenth in the province. U16B soccer earned a spot in the playoffs after a long drought, and the junior varsity soccer team earned its first points in a number of years.

In rowing, the four with coxswain went to the prestigious Head of the Charles regatta in Boston and qualified for a return in 2024, something only 50 per cent of the entrants achieve.

The U14 flag football team played an exhibition year as a way for UCC to gauge interest in the sport. The team was undefeated and won a tournament.

“Across the board, our programs look very strong and I’m quite hopeful for next year,” Brown says.

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