The winter term continues apace, with playoff basketball very much in the limelight. Congratulations to several SMUS teams on excellent performances at both the City and Island level.
Basketball
First, the Junior Girls, thanks to victories over Reynolds and Royal Bay, advanced to a City final versus BC No. 1 ranked Oak Bay. A slow start proved problematic, as the Breakers took full advantage of home court in capturing the title.
Charlie Anderson continued her excellent season, averaging 24 points per game and winning an All-Star nomination.
The following weekend, SMUS hosted the Island tournament. A set draw saw the Blue Jags placed on the same side as Oak Bay, with the two teams then battling tooth-and-nail at the semi-final level. Down 5 at halftime, SMUS was unable to close the gap, failing to convert several good scoring chances and losing the rebounding battle. Joss Olcen turned in a fine performance on defence. Anderson gained another All-Tournament award.
Happily, three wins, versus Alberni, Mark Isfeld and Claremont, did allow the Blue Jags to claim the third and final Island berth to the BCs, set to be held March 1-4 in Langley. A fine season of work should see SMUS highly seeded in the 16 team draw.
Meanwhile, the Senior Girls traveled to Courtenay for their own Island finals. The team, ranked BC AAA No. 1, went in as favourites and did not disappoint. Comprehensive wins over GP Vanier, Wellington and Mark Isfeld were nothing more than expected, thanks to a strong all-round effort. Makena Anderson won MVP honours, with Avery Geddes and Chioma Duru named as All-Stars.
SMUS now moves on to the BC Tournament, March 1-4 in Langley.
The Grade 9 Boys squad moved into the City final (to be played against Glenlyon Norfolk School at a later date) following wins against Oak Bay B and Oak Bay Grade 9 team. The latter game was extremely competitive, with Dani Pelyhe, Eliot Tait and Will Zielinski paving the way to a 60-45 triumph. There is every chance the two teams will meet again February 25 in the Island final, with Island berthing to provincials at stake.
A red-hot Junior Boys team, sitting at 6-6 overall in the first week of January, has played superbly well over the past month, going 18-1 in the process. In the City finals, the Blue Jags swept to the title, by virtue of impressive wins over Spectrum (67-50), Lambrick Park (56-42) and Oak Bay (45-34). Post Elliot Mairet dominated the inside exchanges while MVP Davis Hardy efficiently directed a balanced attack.
Then, in Nanaimo, SMUS continued its fine form, tripping up Royal Bay and then Nanaimo District Secondary to reach another tournament final. Despite missing key players to injury and illness, the remainder picked up the slack, putting on a second-half defensive clinic to beat Lambrick Park 59-45. MVP Wil Woods shot a blistering 8-10 from beyond the arc, while Laurids Goedde's dogged defending won him a place on the All-Star team.
The Blue Jags now head to the full provincial tournament, set for February 25-28 in Langley.
All that remains now for the Senior Boys is to continue their recent good form in what promises to be one of the most competitive Island AA tournaments in recent memory. As host of the event, the Blue Jags open on Thursday, February 23 at 2 pm versus Highland of Comox.
Spring Sports (Rugby, Soccer, Badminton)
On the rugby front, training for both the boys and girls teams continues apace, with exhibition play set to begin February 28. Much anticipated on their respective schedules are March 14 matches against St. Maximilian Kolbe High school from Ontario.
Likewise, Senior Girls Soccer preseason training gets underway this week, while Badminton concludes its own tryouts.
Athletes in the News
Finally, SMUS athletes and staff, past and present, have very much been in the news.
Congratulations are in order to no fewer than four current SMUS Field Hockey players. Indeed, Amanda Adams, Wynn Brown and Rebecca Stone have been selected by Canada U18 for a tour to France in April. Likewise, Kendyll Adams has been named as a reserve on the national U16 squad, set to travel to the Netherlands.
Tion McLeish '22, a cross-country and track athlete, was named a recipient of a 2023 Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame award. The Bate Family Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award is awarded to an undergraduate student from Greater Victoria who competes on a University of Victoria Vikes varsity team.
Alum Dan Bennett ’23, a golfer extraordinaire, was recently called up to represent South Africa on the GolfRSA Senior team. In his debut tournament on the Senior team, the African Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Dan finished tied for an impressive 7th place, and helped Team South Africa win the tournament.
Further kudos to Ed Fairhurst ‘97 and Bruce Kuklinski, who were recently named to the BC Rugby Hall of Fame. Fairhurst, a livewire scrum half and captain of the SMUS 1997 BC AAA championship side, then went on gain 57 senior caps for Canada, while playing in three consecutive World Cups. For Kukinlski, in addition to a sterling 30-year SMUS teaching career, the recently retired staff member enjoyed a distinguished run on the international referee circuit. He officiated numerous full international test matches in both 7s and 15s. Then, upon hanging up his whistle, he moved smoothly into a support and mentoring role at the local, provincial, and national levels. He further was, and remains, a citing commissioner with World Rugby, a responsibility which has taken him to several World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
Vivat!
