The fall sporting season gained momentum on a number of fronts, with many teams in action.
All took advantage to develop their skills and game plans, as well as get a better sense of the level of performance that will be required come playoff time.
Cross Country
For the past few weeks, the Junior School Cross Country team has been practising for the race season. Our first race was held at Windsor Park and the team returned some impressive performances. Max and Remy battled hard for top-six finishes in the Grade 5 Boys category. Clara (2nd, Grade 4 Girls), Amelia (4th, Grade 4 Girls) and Alex (2nd, Grade 4 Boys) also ran successful races.
The second race of the season was held on the wood chip trails of St. Margaret’s School. With our Grade 5 athletes attending a field trip, it fell to Clara (1st, Grade 4 Girls), Amelia (7th, Grade 4 Girls), Ava (11th, Grade 4 Girls) and Lisa (16th, Grade 4 Girls), to inspire our younger runners, and what a great job they did! In the Grade 3 Boys race, Rhys produced a dazzling sprint finish to clinch second place, while Tristan finished in fifth. In the Grade 3 Girls race, Lauren impressed with a fifth place finish.
Congratulations to all participants for a wonderful start to the season. The next race is at Beacon Hill Park on Sept. 30.
Field Hockey
The Senior Girls Field Hockey team split a pair of league match-ups, falling to Oak Bay before edging past Glenlyon Norfolk School 1-0 thanks to a Suzie Stone strike late in the second half. Then came two highly competitive exhibitions versus provincial powers Shawnigan Lake School and York House. Goalie Jessie Cheng continued her fine play, with Lauren Fracy the pick of several promising Grade 9s. Jenna Coward was dangerous in attack.
The Girls Development side enjoyed three games, defeating GNS 1-0 and Reynolds 3-0, before losing 4-2 to Oak Bay.
Soccer
Senior Boys Soccer travelled to Vancouver for the ISA tournament. Opening day wins over host St. George's (2-1) and Shawnigan Lake School (5-1) had the team well placed to reach the final. Alas, a somewhat unexpected 2-1 loss to West Point Grey denied SMUS the chance to play in the championship game.
The Blue Jags did bounce back to claim the bronze medal, with Will Kinahan's goal the sole marker in a rematch versus St. George's.
At the Junior Boys level, the week away from the practice field for outtrips may have factored in a loss to GNS. Credit to the hosts, who absorbed plenty of pressure before securing the victory via a superb 35-metre volley two minutes from full time.
Volleyball
Three volleyball teams played multiple league and tournament games all over the Island. The Senior Girls, despite the fine efforts of Marina Fabris and Claudia Murr, dropped a three-set encounter to Esquimalt. Then, in the Dover Bay Invitational held in Nanaimo, SMUS won two of six matches. Libero Ines Wang, middle Katie Rothwell and setter Liz Hyde led the way in strong efforts versus Belmont, John Barsby and Brentwood.
The Junior A Girls, behind strong serving runs from Skye Farish and Alienor de Nanteuil, swept all four of their games versus Stelly's and Royal Bay.
The Girls Development team, sparked by Grace Plamondon and Ella Jones, closed its week in style in splitting a pair of games against Spectrum, and then defeating Brookes Westshore.
On the Senior Boys side, a relatively young squad performed well in league action versus Lambrick Park, Mount Douglas and Reynolds. Then, in the Camosun College Invitational, SMUS enjoyed wins over Highland and Royal Bay before falling 18-16 in the third set against Mark Isfeld. In the end, thanks in part to the fine play of Karter Fry, Ben Beattie and tournament All-Star Kyle Stenberg, a sixth-place finish and honorable mention in the latest provincial poll represented a good return.
Still to start their respective seasons are the Senior cross country and rowing teams, with racing for both to begin in the coming days.
Vivat!
