Message from the Upper School Athletics Director

Ms. Carla Di Filippo

Hello Gators,

Welcome to the spring edition of the Gator Zone! This is often a tough article to write as it signifies the end of a school year and this year, in particular, was special. The spring term saw over 350 students participate on 26 sports teams winning a total of seven CISAA championships (I鈥檇 like to give shoutouts to our U13 Tennis, U14 Softball, U13 Track and Field, U16 Tennis, U16 Ultimate, Varsity Badminton and U20 Ultimate Teams). As well, 蜜桃视频 qualified five teams for the provincial OFSAA championships! Recently, our rowers culminated their season at the CSSRA championships (high school national championships) in St. Catharines with two silver and one bronze medal! The countless hours of practice for our athletes, including the sacrifices they made and the personal growth they achieved, resulted in a resounding success we will remember for years to come. We could not be more proud of all of our athletes and coaches for their dedication and infectious spirit for our 蜜桃视频 Gators! It was a treat to watch the Gators play with pride and class this term, regardless of winning or losing. 

On Monday, May 29, we celebrated all of our spring MVPs and Coaches Award recipients. The spring assembly provided the Athletics Department the chance to honour our most prestigious awards: Athletes of the Year and the Sonia Labatt Armstrong Sportsmanship Cup. Congratulations to Taylor Lucas, Middle School Athlete of the Year, Maddy Evans, Junior Athlete of the Year and Beats Tura, recipient of both the Suzanne Curtis Memorial Trophy (Senior Athlete of the Year) and the Sonia Labatt Armstrong Sportsmanship Cup. and . Congratulations to all our award winners! 

Our teams would be nothing without the commitment and enthusiasm of our coaches. THANK YOU, COACHES for making athletics an experience many students will remember for a lifetime! A huge shoutout goes to Emma, our 2022-23 Gator Zone Editor, for all of your work this year. Your gentle nudges to meet deadlines was greatly appreciated! Thank you to Coach Lia, Athletics Coordinator, for your contributions this year to 蜜桃视频 Athletics. Your exceptional organizational skills, enthusiasm and passion for sports have been truly inspiring. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge two of the most dedicated, energetic and hard-working Sport Prefects: Piper and Beats. It was an absolute pleasure to watch you both go above and beyond this year on all things Gators! Your commitment to bringing to life the most engaging and fun athletic assemblies and organizing Gator Games (and so much more!), you both have greatly enriched our school’s athletic culture. Your contributions have made a lasting impact on our school community and we are grateful for your leadership. 

Have a wonderful summer and see you in September.

Ms. Di Filippo

Message from the JS Athletic Director

Ms. Anna Bartlett

We have reason to celebrate: 237 of our 267 students in Grades 1 to 6 were involved in at least one athletics team or squad this year! This is a new record and we look forward to many continued successes in the 2023-24 school year. 

For the first time in CISAA history, a U12 Ultimate league was formed. 蜜桃视频 was the only school to enter an all-girls team as they played against other co-ed schools. A highlight was losing to Toronto Montessori School 10-2 and coming back to beat them 7-6 by the end of the season. What an event to watch! 

Congratulations to our U12 Softball Team. Ms. Mastri, Ms. McIntyre and Ms. Simms-Brown worked effortlessly to build the skills and confidence of these students. As a result of the player鈥檚 hard work, they competed against other schools and had an undefeated season. 

The Track and Field Team were running, jumping and throwing their way to success. The students enjoyed pod-style meets where all 94 team members participated in every event.

Congratulations to the U10 Track and Field Team for placing second overall and to the U11 and U12 Teams for placing first overall! This is quite an accomplishment. A particular shoutout goes to those athletes who placed first in their events:

-Elyssa S. in 80m hurdles and long jump 
-Colleen S. in 80m hurdles
-Suki G. in shot put
-Emily T. in 1500m 
-Lucy I. in discus  
-Carol G. in discus
-Emma G. in 800m
-Daisy Q. in triple jump 
-Clara T. in high jump and triple jump 
-The Grade 6 4x100m Relay Team: Mikaela M., Casey C., Elyssa S. and Mila C. 

This season there were five Squads running. Having three separate Grades 1, 2 and 3 Multisport Squads allowed for a higher quality of programming so that each grade could be challenged in different ways. 

We were fortunate to have the expertise of our external coaches Emily and Aaliyah to support two Soccer/Basketball Squad Teams. This skill development our Grade 3 and 4 participants received will prove to be beneficial to our soccer and basketball program in the years to come. 

We want to wish our graduating Grade 6 athletes well as they continue in their healthy, active journeys into Middle School.

A final shout-out to Emma Wagnam and the Gator Zone writers for all of their work this year! 

We hope you have a wonderful and active summer vacation. 

Ms. Bartlett

Message from the Student Editor

Emma Wagman

Hey 蜜桃视频!

I can鈥檛 believe this is my final Gator Zone article! It has been an absolute pleasure being your student editor this year. I have been part of Gator Zone for three years now because I appreciate being able to honour and highlight all of our amazing teams and athletes through one of my favourite mediums: writing. The athletics community at 蜜桃视频 is truly unmatched and I am so grateful to have been able to write about it and share it with you. I want to thank my amazing team of writers who worked so hard this year to write amazing articles. A special thanks also goes out to Ms. D., Ms. Bartlett and Ms. Pink for your contributions to each newsletter. 

As with previous issues of Gator Zone, there is much to showcase! In this issue you will find several highlights of some of our incredible spring teams. The Gators cleaned up this season. As the year comes to a close, we should take some time to reflect on these past three seasons. Whether you tried a new sport, brought home hardware or met new teammates, there is much to be proud of. We celebrated the end of this spring term on Monday, May 29 during our last athletic assembly. Athletic assemblies have been a highlight of my experience at 蜜桃视频. From planning them while being a member of the Sports Council to watching them this year as a Grad, I always looked forward to the assembly at the end of each season. I鈥檇 like to give a special shoutout to Piper and Beats for all their hard work this year. 

Finally, I am pleased to announce Nicole Stanley as your Student Editor for the 2023-24 school year! The Stanley family Gator Zone legacy lives on (her sister, Victoria, was the 2021-22 Student Editor)! Nicole is a stand out volleyball player and there is no doubt in my mind that she will do a fantastic job next year. I am honoured to pass the torch over to you, Nicole. With that being said, I hope you enjoy the final Gator Zone issue of this school year. This is your student editor signing off!

Emma

Message from the Sports Prefects 

Piper Nixon and Beats Tura

What a year it鈥檚 been! Starting back in September, we were ready to go bigger and bolder than ever before. At the beginning of the year, we set clear goals to bring back the spirit at 蜜桃视频. It wasn鈥檛 an easy task by any means, but we were ready to take the challenge on!

We started off the year with a couple of Gator Days and a whole lot of song-parody announcements in Prayers. Middle School Gator Games was our first big event and a moment when the Sports Council really came together. Alongside our council and fellow Prefects, this year we were able to pull off a total of three legendary athletic assemblies that were full of dancing, messy challenges and 9:50 schedules. We brought back intramurals, where Houses competed in intense games of ultimate chicken, soccer baseball, benchball and tail tag. We had a couple of Tug O鈥� War showdowns in which the Grade 7s came out on top every time (the seniors are still bitter about this!) and the return of Hockey Day was better than we ever could have hoped for. The energy was contagious and that was the exact moment we knew we had accomplished what we set out to do back in those early days as Sports Prefects.

It鈥檚 a hard goodbye for us because athletics at 蜜桃视频 has given us both so much during our time here. We鈥檝e made friends and memories to last a lifetime. We are so proud of all of the athletes who represented our school with pride this year at numerous CISAA championships and OFSAA events. We are thankful for all of the support, energy and love our athletes received from the school. It鈥檚 not just any student body that floods the stands with green and gold during sports games or starts mosh pits after school-wide events. 

So, as we leave you with our final remarks, we鈥檇 both like to give special shoutouts to Ms. D. and the Sports Council for being our rocks and helping us organize and execute all of the events we threw this year. We have endless love for this school and will be sure to come back for Hockey Days long into the future. Keep the spirit flowing next year, HC! 

#RollGators

Piper & Beats

HC Rowing: Row Hard or Row Home!

Tara Prole

蜜桃视频鈥檚 Rowing Team has always been a highlight of the school鈥檚 athletics program, but this year鈥檚 team has surpassed anything we鈥檝e ever seen. Waking up very early in the morning every day to practise, our Rowers are dedicated and their hard work has truly paid off.

The on-the-water season kicked off with a memorable 16-hour bus journey to Oak Ridge Rowing Association in Tennessee, USA. Throughout this voyage, our determined Rowers immersed themselves in grueling training sessions, honing their skills and fortifying their physical prowess. Returning home, they seamlessly transitioned into a rigorous practice routine, commencing each day at the crack of dawn by embarking on the bus to Hanlan Point at 5 am, ready to push their limits and strive for greatness while rowing on the water of Lake Ontario.

Their hard work and perseverance did not go unnoticed at the regattas. This season, our Rowers demonstrated their exceptional talent with a total of four gold, five silver and eight bronze medals at our Canadian regattas! We’re so proud of our Junior crews, who brought home medals at each of our three Canadian regattas, including at the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association (CSSRA) National Championships. A special shout out goes to the JR women’s 8+, the JR women’s 4+ and the JR women’s 63kg 8+ crews! The Senior crews also made their mark, displaying their skill and determination while up against crews from all over the country, many of which have been rowing for twice as long as our athletes have! It has been an unforgettable season for our remarkable Rowers, who celebrated these huge accomplishments at their year-end banquet. 

Rugby 7s 

Lauren Cheng and Cheryl Chen 

Crouch, bind, set! Rugby 7s is a seven per side game with two seven minute halves. It is a contact sport that involves intense physicality as well as quick decision-making. Offensive players may only pass backward and their goal is to score tries (goals) while defensive players try to stop them by tackling.

Our Rugby Team began pre-season training in the winter, training hard to learn ball handling skills and basic tackling techniques. Once spring arrived, the official rugby season began! Many players came to try out鈥攊t was an exciting time. The team was committed and practised twice a week out on the Cohen Field. They learned new plays, techniques, as well as how to ruck, lift in lineouts and do scrums.

In just two weeks, the team had its first tournament at Trinity College School (TCS). Everyone was nervous and excited. The tournament was a massive learning experience with the team managing to win against Ridley College.

The following week, the team had a home tournament and played out on Cohen Field in the rain and mud. 鈥淭hat day is the highlight of my season,鈥� explains one team member. 鈥淚t was so much fun playing with my new friends and having the support of other 蜜桃视频 students. (Plus we beat Bishop Strachan School!).鈥�

Wednesday, May 24 was the day of the CISAA finals. The team had improved exponentially over the season and were confident in their abilities. They came away with a win against Bishop Strachan School and Ridley Colley, and a loss against Hillfield-Strathallan College, placing fourth overall in the league! The final moments upon leaving TCS were filled with emotions and pride. The team thanked the incredible coaches for their guidance and gave each other shoutouts. 

Nothing hones trust and community like rugby does. Senior Schools students who are interested in rugby are encouraged to join the team next year; it will be an amazing time!

Return of the Grade 9 Triathlon

Isabel Snare

For the first time since 2020, the legendary Grade 9 Triathlon was back! This spring, Grade 9 students were tasked with planning, training for and racing in a swimming, rowing and running triathlon. This 蜜桃视频 right of passage, which was temporarily put on pause for the past two years as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, is an opportunity for students to practise resilience and self-reliance while physically challenging themselves.

For the entire month of May, Grade 9 students spent each Health and Physical Education class creating and fulfilling a detailed, personalized training plan. Each class, they had to train in at least two of the three events and were required to use their time wisely in order to properly prepare for race day. Participants had the ability to choose between four levels of challenge鈥擝ronze, Gold, Silver and Platinum鈥攊n order to challenge themselves according to their competency in each sport, aiming for a total race time of around 60 minutes.

The current Grade 11s and 12s had to participate in a modified triathlon when they were in Grade 9, in the midst of the pandemic. They were required to come up with three fun activities they could partake in within the comfort of their home and neighbourhood. This year, in order to allow the Senior School students to experience the real deal, they were given the chance to participate alongside the Grade 9s.

On race day, everyone was able to complete their races and felt firsthand the effects of leading a healthy and active lifestyle. Everyone was rewarded at the end with freezies, a 蜜桃视频 Triathlon 2023 pin and the incredible sense of accomplishment that comes with hard work paying off.

2023 OFSAA Ultimate

Andi Meyerowitz

This year, approximately 20 蜜桃视频/Crescent School students came together to form the U20 HaverCrest Ultimate Team. With some prestigious coaches including Ms. Di Fillipo, Mr. McCulloch and Mr. Fink from Crescent, the team was excited to start a new season. 

In order to make OFSAA, we needed to win CISAA first. Our first game was against Branksome/Royal St George鈥檚 College and our second was against Upper Canada College/St. Clements School. Both were talented teams, but HaverCrest was ready to put 100% of our effort onto the field. By the end of the tournament, we pulled  away with a close lead of 8 to 7 in both games and we walked away as CISAA champions! We were more than thrilled to qualify for the OFSAA Championship in Burlington the following week. 

The tournament kicked off with a banquet, where we fuelled up for our upcoming matches. Our first day started with two intense losses against some extremely talented teams, including the reigning OFSAA champions and recent national champions. Soon after, we were able to pull away with two wins to qualify for the top 8. 

Our second (and final) day was super exciting. We lost our first game against our neighbours at North Toronto Collegiate Institute, but came back to win our next two games. One of these wins was against St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School, one of the teams who beat us on our first day of the tournament 15-2, so we were really happy to see our improvement!

To summarize, after two long days of running, throwing, catching and laughing, the HaverCrest U20 Team was able to pull away with a 5th place finish at the 2023 OFSAA Championship, which is the best the HaverCrest team has ever done! From winning our CISAA semis and finals by one point, we were so happy to have improved so much and break a new HaverCrest record. 

OFSAA Soccer

Sarah McQuillen Young

One season is simply not enough! After winning the CISAA championships, the Varsity Soccer Team was not ready to end their season. In the fall, the U20 Soccer Team went undefeated. Throughout the whole season, the team would constantly ask Ms. Foster if we could go to OFSAA. Thanks to the hard work of our coaches, Ms. D., and the persuasive power of our Grads, the team secured a spot at the OFSAA championship in Grimsby, Ontario.

Throughout the spring, we trained during early morning and after school practices. Without any CISAA teams having a spring team, 蜜桃视频 played two schools they were unfamiliar with: Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute and De la Salle College. Through pouring rain at Downsview Park, the Gators emerged victorious against Lawerence Park with a score of 2-0! Under sunny conditions, the team pulled off a 7-2 win versus De La Salle. 

With OFSAA occurring right in the middle of exam week, the whole team rescheduled their final exams. There’s nothing this team would not do to play! Grade 12 Natalie Chisolm says 鈥淚 am so excited to play with this team again, we are going to kill it!鈥� The team is eager to get to Grimsby for great competition (and to get the OFSAA merch)! Led by our captains Sarah Flood, Hailey Chapman and Natalie Chisolm, we are excited to see how this dedication and hard work pays off at OFSAA. 

U14 Softball

Hayden Blakely

Picture this: it鈥檚 a sunny afternoon with the heat rising and you鈥檙e standing in the outfield, sweat beading on your upper lip and adrenaline pumping through your veins. You hear the clink of the ball colliding with the bat and you look up to see it heading straight for your glove. Suddenly, it starts to veer off course and you have to jump. With a lunge to your left, the ball lands perfectly in your mitt and that鈥檚 game. This is the kind of energy and monumental gameplay our two U14 Softball Teams saw this season. They fought hard and ran those bases like no other and, with double the talent, they couldn’t be stopped.

To be able to have two teams in action this season was a great honour and we couldn’t be more proud of our U14 Gators for giving it their all. Even harsh weather and some slide-prone grass didn鈥檛 scare our U14s away. They had quite an impressive season, one that will go in the HC sports books forever. Our first team won gold in the CISAA finals and the other U14 team received bronze at CISAA, a truly awesome feat. We can’t wait to see what these young and determined athletes bring to the table in the future of their softball careers. Congratulations to the teams on a trailblazing and electric season!

Message from the Upper School Athletics Director

Ms. Carla Di Filippo

Hello Gators,

Our winter season was action packed with more than 400 students in the Upper School playing on 25 sports teams. Wow! There is nothing better than walking by a gym, a pool or a rink to witness the hard work and teamwork first-hand. A highlight for me was the reemergence of the HC Squash Team. The team competed at various tournaments with an end of season CISAA championship right before the March Break. At the finals there were four divisions and HC won three of them! Thank you to Maya Askari and Sienna Grossi for starting this team again!

It is difficult to write about the winter term without mentioning the most wonderful day of the year: Hockey Day. The spirit on display during this day can only be experienced. It represents everything that is 蜜桃视频 and the love our students and staff have for each other and this special community. Although it was tough to give up 鈥淗ewie鈥� (the nickname for the Hewitt Cup, which is won on Hockey Day), the pride, positivity and support on display during this day is second to none. 

Congratulations to our Senior Volleyball Team, who competed in the OFSAA provincial championships, and to our rowers, who returned to Tennessee for their intense training camp. I鈥檇 also like to compliment all our athletes and coaches who displayed courage and determination this past winter. It is such a treat to be able to watch the growth, competitiveness and fun that is on display during games.  

On March 30, we celebrated the accomplishment of our winter athletics season at an awards assembly. It was here that each team announced their MVP and Coaches Award for the term. As well, two major awards were given out: The Caney Cup (swimming) and The Mingay Award (volleyball). View the full list of award recipients . 

I am looking forward to some sunshine and grassy fields this spring! 

Ms. Di Filippo

Message from the JS Athletic Director

Ms. Anna Bartlett

For the first time in Canadian independent school history, 蜜桃视频 sent their all-girls hockey team to a U12 boys hockey championship. This exceptional crew of hockey players skated out on the ice against Pickering College and Crestwood School. 蜜桃视频鈥檚 team scored 10 goals and came out undefeated in the tournament. It was very impressive! 

Our Grade 4, 5, and 6 athletes had over 70 team members learning to play volleyball. Our three under 10 teams went to Bayview Glen, where they had a fun day of friendly competition. The four U11 and U12 Volleyball Teams were also eager to compete and worked on developing their forearm pass and serving skills this term. There is no doubt the development in Junior School strengthens their passion and love for the game as they move on to the Upper School.

Our Under 12 Swim Team trained hard and swam their way to victory at the CISAA U14 Swim championships. Some were learning new strokes for the very first time while others turned up ready to show off their skills. Special shout outs go to Kacelyn Luk and Kaley Yan for coming first in 50m freestyle; to Victoria Xiong for coming first in the 50 m butterfly; and to Anh Le for coming in first in breaststroke!

This season the Junior School gym was filled to the max with students in Grades 1 to 3 participating in multi-sports. Some of this dedicated group of students even practised on Friday after school. This program worked to build their physical literacy.

Ms. Bartlett

Message from the Student Editor

Emma Wagman

Hey 蜜桃视频!

I am pleased to introduce the Winter 2022-23 edition of Gator Zone. In this issue, you will find exciting articles about new and reintroduced teams at 蜜桃视频, incredible staff and student highlights, and, of course, Hockey Day news. A common theme you might observe throughout this issue is the strength of the 蜜桃视频 Athletics community, which was taken up a notch from the fall term.   

The beauty of the lengthy winter season is that athletes are given the opportunity to cultivate lasting, meaningful relationships with teammates and coaches over the course of the season. I was able to watch and scorekeep for many games this season and I could feel that the energy was unmatched!

I would like to give a massive shout-out to our Sports Prefects, Piper Nixon and Beats Tura, along with their extremely hardworking Sports Council and all of our student leaders for putting on a legendary Hockey Day this year. Keep on reading to find out just how legendary it was. I would also like to thank Ms. D, Ms. Pink, Ms. Bartlett and my amazing team of writers for their contributions.

With our spring season already in full swing, I would like to provide a warning to my fellow Gators: the spring season goes by fast! Savour each game and  practice and end on a bang! I can鈥檛 wait to see all that our Gators accomplish this season.   

Emma

Message from the Sports Prefects聽

Beats Tura and Piper Nixon

We cannot believe yet another term has gone by! We are both blown away by the constant support and spirit shown here every single day. We thought there was no way we could top our fall term, yet here we are! Winter was an exciting time! From OFSAA champs, all the way to the most legendary Hockey Day in history, this term has been one for the books.  

In December, we had our second Gator Day of the year where our U20 Volleyball Team took on Holy Trinity School. They set. They spiked. They conquered. We had Gym C filled to the brim with fans and Ms. Virc even busted out some exceptional dance moves (the new face of HC volleyball?)!

The year 2023 has also become the year of 鈥渆pic hype videos.鈥� Our Gators channelled their inner Steven Spielberg and made some pretty insane promo videos. From Gator Day to Varsity Hockey recaps, all the way to HCSN interviews, the media has gone crazy!  Be sure to check them out on Instagram and . 

We鈥檇 like to give a shout out to all of our volleyball teams who were dominant all season. Congrats to our U13 D2 and U16 D1 Volleyball Teams for being CISAA champs, and to our U20 Volleyball Team for competing at OFSAA. We can鈥檛 forget to mention our incredible swimmers. Who knew 蜜桃视频 was so aquatic? (I guess we are Gators after all!) This term, we had the honour of celebrating not just one, but multiple OFSAA medalists. Our Junior Swim Team demonstrated their strength by becoming OFSAA champions, and our U20 D2 Hockey Team exceeded all expectations in their inaugural season, earning a silver medal in the CISAA championships! We couldn鈥檛 be more proud of all our athletes this term. 

Last, but not least, we would like to discuss Hockey Day 2023. Never before have we seen the Mattamy stands so packed with green and gold. The fans were electric and the vibes were impeccable. It鈥檚 a day that none of us will ever forget, for those of us both on the ice and in the crowd. Although we may not have brought home the Hewitt Cup, the entire day was about so much more than just the scoreboard. The overwhelming support and positivity from our community was truly remarkable, even in the absence of a win. It just goes to show that 蜜桃视频 is like no other. The community we have here is unmatched and, with our last term right around the corner, we encourage you all to go out and support, or try, something new! 

We are so excited for (in our humble opinion) the best term of the year. Let鈥檚 go make the most of it this Spring, HC!

#RollGators

Beats & Piper

The CAIS Basketball Tournament

Natalie MacGregor

In November of 2022, the U20 D1 Basketball Team ended their season with an exciting and tough tournament: the CAIS Basketball Championship hosted at Bishop’s College School. The team made a long journey by bus to Sherbrooke, Quebec, during which time they spent their time strategizing and bonding as a team. With many of the original members of the team unable to make the trip, two talented players from the U16 D1 Team鈥擟adyn Rosenzweig in Grade 9 and Ashley O’Driscoll in Grade 10鈥攚ere called up to join the roster.

The Gators started off the championship against some tough competitors: Ashbury College and the Sacred Heart School of Halifax. They put up an extremely strong fight in both games, but unfortunately fell behind and lost both games by just a few points. It seemed like a disappointing day for the team, until it was announced they had scored enough points to compete in a consolation match! It was the end of the day for the team, and they spent the night enjoying some of the fine cuisine of Quebec, bonding closer as a team and mentally preparing to continue to fight in the upcoming games.

The team was up bright and early the next morning with their spirits alive and ready to take down any team in their way. They played in the consolidation match and came out on top! They scored just enough points to be able to move on to the semi-finals, and the fight continued. The Gators faced St. Albert in a very tight game, but their teamwork prevailed and the 蜜桃视频 team moved on to the finals!

The final game the team played during the 2022 fall season was a rematch against Ashbury College. The team put everything they had onto the court and the score was extremely close, making it a very nerve-wracking鈥攜et exciting鈥攇ame for anyone involved. Unfortunately, during the last quarter, the other team came out on top by just a few points. Despite some tough competition, the 蜜桃视频 Gators achieved a well-deserved second place in the tournament. It was an absolute rollercoaster ride for the team, with several victories and defeats. Congratulations, Gators, and get excited because the future of basketball is looking bright!

Hockey Day 2023: Supporting our Community On and Off the Ice 

Hayden Blakely 

Ask any 蜜桃视频 student what the best day of the year is. Without a doubt, the answer you will get is Hockey Day. Hundreds of screaming fans and a sea of green and gold ensures a good time for all students in Grades 4 to 12. 

With Piper Nixon and Beats Tura leading the team as our Team Captains and Abby Smith, Brianna Livingstone and Scarlett Nowakowski as our Assistant Captains, the Gators couldn’t have looked better out on the ice. It was a game full of action with every shot on the net matched by oohs and ahhs from the crowd. Although Bishop Strachan School won by a score of 3 to 2, our D1 Hockey Team put up an exceptional performance. Twenty minutes after the game was called, you could still hear the cheers and laughter coming from the 200-plus students waiting for the Hockey Team to come out for one last applause, a real indication of just how much spirit and support we students give to one another. When I think about past Hockey Days at 蜜桃视频, I never dwell on the score or the end result. What really resonates is the sense of pride I have when surrounded by so many peers all cheering our lungs out. 

Piper Nixon explains that the overwhelming support she felt on Hockey Day was the greatest honour for her, which is why it was immensely important to her that we bring that sense of support to those who are struggling. This led Nixon and a group of Grade 12 student leaders (Beats Tura, Sophie Hodgson, Abbey Mckee and Madison Cunningham) to start Hockey for Health, a partnership with Children’s Help Phone to raise money and awareness around mental health resources for youth. Not only did this fundraiser raise money and attention for the organization, but it also brought joy to those who supported the cause, adding to how special Hockey Day is. 

Hockey Day this year was a tough and challenging game, but our Gators fought hard out there and left it all on the ice. It was a truly remarkable game and, even though Hewie may be on vacation, Hockey Day and the sense of community it brings will always belong to the 蜜桃视频 Gators. 

A New Generation of Hockey Gators 

Sarah Botha and Sarah McQuillen Young

Hockey has been a core element of the 蜜桃视频 community and spirit since the early days of sports at 蜜桃视频. Hockey is a sport that brings students together across all grades, whether they are on the team or cheering on the team on Hockey Day. With the overwhelming number of players eager to become a part of the 蜜桃视频 Hockey Team this year, a D2 team was formed! The team brings together students from Grades 7 to 10, both on and off the ice. 

In January, the D2 team ventured to Buffalo alongside the Varsity Hockey Team to play Nichols School. The team crushed their opponents in an intense game with a final score of 4 to 1. This was a big win for them as they lost to Nichols School this past December in a close game. Marlowe Andrews, a Grade 8 defender, said the Buffalo trip was her favourite memory on the team this season. The team bonded over this win with a fun trip to Target. 

Sarah Keddie, Captain of the D2 Hockey Team, has great advice for anyone looking to get involved in hockey at 蜜桃视频. She said: “You should definitely give it a chance because it is an amazing environment and a great way to make friends in other grades.鈥� Even if you’re not a hockey player, coming out and supporting your friends is a great way to experience the spirit at 蜜桃视频. 

With the two teams consisting of strong players, the future of 蜜桃视频 hockey is bright. We are excited to see these players continue their hockey careers at HC. Get ready to see these D2 Gators on the ice next year at hockey day to bring Hewie home!

Building Community Through Squash: The Heartwarming Story of Our School鈥檚 Revived Team

Eshal Shakir

Everyone hold on to your rackets and get ready to squash some athletic records! We鈥檝e got some exciting news to serve up. 蜜桃视频 has just revived the Squash Team and, no, we are not talking about the vegetable! Squash is like tennis, but played in a smaller court with a bouncier ball. But don鈥檛 let that fool you, this sport is no joke. It requires fast reflexes, strategic thinking and a healthy dose of competitiveness. In squash, the fundamental concept is to continuously strike the ball against the front wall until your opponent fails to return it, either by allowing the ball to bounce twice or hitting it out of bounds. 

Maya Askari and Sienna Grossi revived the Squash Team this year because they are both passionate for the sport and wanted to play it more, aside from just outside of school. The final 蜜桃视频 competitive Squash Team was composed of 16 players and had a very successful season. At the finals, there were four divisions and HC won three of them! Mr. Adams and Mx. Curtis were the coaches for this overachieving team filled with helpful and encouraging students who support each other, especially because many team members are new to the sport. The team hopes CISAA will make this sport an official league next year.

For those of you who missed out on playing squash this season, there will be plenty of opportunities in seasons to come. What really made this year鈥檚 team special was the sense of community, support and drive that developed among the players as they began to love the sport. So grab your goggles and dust off your rackets and get ready to unleash your inner squash superstar. It’s time to make your mark on the court and show everyone what 蜜桃视频 is made of. Let’s squash the competition!

Jasmine Ke: Middle School Athlete Spotlight

Abby Smith

Jasmine Ke is a stellar player on 蜜桃视频’s Varsity D1 Hockey Team and was the only Middle School student on the team. Jasmine learned to skate when she was three years old and started playing hockey at four years old. Initially, her parents wanted her to be a figure skater, but she disliked the skates. So, her coach brought her a pair of hockey skates and, after skating once in them, she said it felt incredibly natural. From there, her hockey journey commenced. 

Jasmine plays for the Mississauga Senators, an all-boys hockey team, and dominates on and off the ice. She remarks her favorite part of hockey is the fast pace and the sense of team building it promotes. When asked what advice she would give others considering playing hockey, she says: “Regardless of your age or personality, no one cares as long as you’re willing to improve yourself and your skills while also helping others. This is the only way to truly enjoy the sport or any other sport, for that matter.” She believes that even if you don’t play hockey, sports are generally beneficial, as it is not just about “winning gold every day.” Sports are a fantastic way to meet new people. Jasmine is a dedicated, hard-working and passionate athlete and is a significant contributor to the 蜜桃视频 athletic community. The future is bright for this excellent Middle School athlete!

Staff Highlight: Mr. Nichols

Andi Meyerowitz

Here at 蜜桃视频, we are surrounded by hundreds of students that have talents like no other. As much as we love to show off our amazing 蜜桃视频 talents, there are a group of people we don鈥檛 highlight so much鈥� our staff! Mr. Nichols, VP of Experiential Education and Innovation, attended and competed in the World Championships for triathlon in Abu Dhabi this past November. Mr. Nichols competed in his 鈥渟weet spot鈥� distance, which is the Olympic distance of a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike and a 10 km run! 

Mr. Nichols has been doing triathlons for eight years. In 2019, he had a lot of success in his races and planned to qualify for the World Championships in 2020. Just shortly after he committed to qualifying for the 2020 World Championships, the world shut down faster than anyone could have imagined. Fortunately, triathlon racing is completely outdoors and therefore could operate some smaller events within Ontario. Mr. Nichols continued to race in smaller events throughout Ontario in 2021 and was able to gain a qualifier spot for the Olympic distance World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

In my interview with Mr. Nichols, he explained that he does triathlons to better his overall health and he truly has a love for the sport because of the experiences and connections he has made along the way. After he committed to the race in Abu Dhabi, he trained for the next year. A typical week of training was around 20 hours consisting of three swims, three to four bike rides, and three to four runs. His training through the COVID-19 restrictions was driven by self-motivation and his passion for fitness and training. 

In November 2022, Mr. Nichols travelled to Abu Dhabi to represent Team Canada. Surrounded by other triathletes, Mr. Nichols gained a deep appreciation for the people around him and the championship elevated his appreciation for this sport. Mr. Nichols had two goals for this race: to complete the race and to achieve a personal best time. After an over two-hour race, Mr. Nichols crossed the finish line with a massive smile across his face when he realized he had accomplished both his goals.

At the end of my interview with Mr. Nichols, I asked him what he would tell others who are passionate about something like this. He encourages others to, 鈥淔ind something you love that you can push yourself to do.鈥� He says, 鈥淐ompete to be your best self, not to win鈥� and to: 鈥渢rain for the bad days.鈥� Mr. Nichols’ training was not always perfectly smooth sailing, but it’s the hard work and dedication that helped him continue on the journey and succeed. Congratulations, Mr. Nichols! 

Message from the Upper School Athletics Director

Ms. Carla Di Filippo

Hello Gators,

Our first full fall season since 2019 is in the books and we could not be more proud of the athletes and coaches who wore our green and gold. From the newly formed Flag Football Team to the swimmers in the pool and the athletes in our gymnasiums, the 蜜桃视频 spirit is thriving. Leading the way are two of the most energetic, Gator-loving, bleeding green and gold Sport Prefects in Beats Tura and Piper Nixon. Thank you, Piper and Beats, for leading us with pride and passion. 

Get your brooms out because this fall 蜜桃视频 experienced our very own 鈥渟weep鈥� of CISAA soccer. Ratcliffe Field was full of excitement as all three Soccer Teams (Senior D1, U15 D1 and U14 D1) won the CISAA Championships. There is almost no better feeling than walking outside to Ratcliffe Field to see (and hear) it packed with students dressed in green and gold cheering on their friends. The U13 Basketball Team also came out as CISAA champions after an undefeated season and our Senior Field Hockey Team competed at the provincial OFSAA championships. Shout out to Emma Wagman, who competed at OFSAA Cross Country last week and finished in the top third of runners! We also hope the Senior Basketball Team has a lot of fun at the upcoming CAIS National Basketball Tournament in Sherbrooke, Qu茅bec, from November 23 to 26.  

It has been a busy and rewarding fall. Congratulations goes out to all of our athletes and coaches who displayed courage and determination this season. Your effort at practices and games, your growth through wins and loses, and your love for 蜜桃视频 is why we play. 

On Thursday, November 17, we celebrated the accomplishment of our fall athletics season at the Awards Assembly. At this event, each team announced their MVP and Coaches Award for the term. As well, two major awards were given out: The Friedland Cup (soccer) and The Doritty Trophy (field hockey). You can view the full list of award recipients . 

I look forward to the winter season!

Carla Di Filippo

Message from the JS Athletic Director

Ms. Anna Bartlett

Athletics at the Junior School was at full capacity with 204 Grade 1 to 6 students participating. As it is the first fall season since 2019, this聽group of students were spreading the Gator spirit as they competed in the CISAA.聽

Congratulations to our largest team to date鈥�120 students participating in cross country from Grades 1 to 6 (read more in the story 鈥淛unior School Cross Country鈥�) and to our U12 Swim Team for winning the Bishop鈥檚 Cup. For the first time ever we were able to offer five Basketball Teams, who utilized the new gym and built the skills needed to successfully compete against the other independent schools. We also had four Soccer Teams, who showed their dedication and commitment throughout the season. 

I am honoured to work with a group of coaches who deeply care for the girls and their development. I look forward to what鈥檚 to come with winter athletics!  

Ms. Bartlett

A Message from the Student Editor

Emma Wagman

Hello 蜜桃视频 and welcome to the fall 2022 Gator Zone newsletter! It is my pleasure to be this year鈥檚 Student Editor. As a graduating student reflecting back on my time at 蜜桃视频, sports shines through as one of the most integral parts of my experience. Many of the memories I will take with me in my life after graduating took place on the court, field or on long bus rides to and from away games. I鈥檝e tried nearly every sport 蜜桃视频 has to offer, which has guided me to find my true passion in running. 

This year, the Gators started off stronger than ever. In all my 14 years at 蜜桃视频, I鈥檝e never seen so much enthusiasm around athletics. Although HC has always been a leading school in athletics, we鈥檝e taken it to the next level this year with the help of Ms. D, the Athletics Department and our Sports Prefects Piper and Beats. The Gator Zone Team and I are excited to give you insight into some of the highlights of our fall season. In this issue you can find staff and student highlights, an exciting new addition to the fall sports roster, Gator Day highlights and more! I would like to congratulate all athletes who participated in sports this season, whether it was inside or outside the ivy walls. It has truly been an amazing start to the year and I cannot wait to see what the winter season has in store! With that, I hope you enjoy the first Gator Zone issue of the year.

Emma

Gators Are In the Zone: A Message from the Sports Prefects

Beats Tura and Piper Nixon

As our fall term comes to a close, we want to take a moment and reflect on all the incredible things 蜜桃视频 athletics has accomplished so far. As the Sports Prefects for the 2022-23 school year, we are blown away by the dedication, talent, sportsmanship and spirit that was brought to every game. This fall term can only be described as FAN-tastic! Whether it’s staying after school to watch basketball games or making signs during lunch for our athletes, the spirit this year has reached a whole new level. 

In October, we hosted this year鈥檚 first Gator Day, where our U20 Soccer Team took on our rivals, the BSS Bobcats! Despite the cold and the rain, our athletes not only managed to come out on top with a 3 to 0 win, but we also had students from all grades come decked out in green and gold, cheering on until the very end. 

What鈥檚 more, our teams (respectfully) cleaned up the competition this season! U20 Varsity Field Hockey and U20 Varsity Basketball qualified for OFSAA, U14 Soccer and U13 Basketball were CISAA champs, and U20 Flag Football had an amazing first season! We鈥檇 also like to give a massive shoutout to our rowers, who had an outstanding performance at the Head of the Charles Regatta. #ProudGatorMoment 

In addition, new this year was our House Games competition. On Tuesday mornings, all 10 蜜桃视频 Houses competed in an ultimate chicken throwdown, which we must say, was nothing short of 鈥渦ltimate.鈥� Never in our time at 蜜桃视频 have we seen such grit and determination. Each House left everything they had on the Ratcliffe Field and we could not be more proud. A huge congratulations to the Francis Ridley House for being crowned the 鈥淯ltimate Chicken Champs鈥� for the 2022-2023 school year. 

The school spirit this year has truly blown us away and we can鈥檛 wait for what鈥檚 in store for the rest of the year! Stay tuned for more Gator Days, House Games and a Hockey Day like you鈥檝e never seen before. Get excited because we鈥檙e just getting started, HC!

#RollGators

Beats & Piper

New sport at HC鈥擣lag Football

Andi Meyerowitz

Ready, set, HUT! 蜜桃视频鈥檚 first ever Flag Football Team has been in play all season. As the fall semester comes to an end, we start to recognize how exciting it is to have new sports at 蜜桃视频. I have been on several HC sports teams, however this season has been the most exciting for me. I like to call myself an NFL fan who watches the Cowboys sometimes, but in no way was I ready for the adrenaline and excitement that came with playing this game. With three Toronto Flag Football League (TFFL) coaches and some prestigious 蜜桃视频 teachers who were as excited to play as we were, the season was underway. 

Tuesday, September 13 was our first tryout. Walking onto Cohen Field to play a sport I鈥檝e never played on a field I’ve only ever seen from a distance was quite nerve racking. Flag football, like many other team sports, requires co-operation, teamwork, determination and, most of all, excitement. With 80 sign ups for tryouts, which broke a 蜜桃视频 record, the adrenaline was rushing through all of us. 

After just one practice, we were ready to face our rivals BSS in an unfamiliar and quite confusing sport. Four quarters, a whole lot of timeouts and many questions later, the Gators pulled away with a small 6 to 0 win. My favourite part of the game is hanging out with the three other grades on the team. I enjoyed getting to talk to some people I鈥檝e never met before and rekindling friendships with some people I haven’t seen since last school year. Moreover, listening to the TFFL coaches talk about the game with the level of knowledge and experience they have was truly game-changing. They were so far away from the level that we were at, but in no way did they alter the way they helped guide us through the game.

Just a few weeks later, the Gators played BSS once again for the playoffs. Stakes were high, the sun was out, stress was there and we were ready. Over these last few weeks, my teammates and I have grown into the flag football players that we are (take that with a grain of salt). My favorite part of the game is kickoff. Switching gears from fall soccer this year gave me the opportunity to have the role of kicker. At the beginning of the game (or at half), the football is placed on the tee and I get to kick it as far and hard as I want. Once the ball is kicked, the game is in full swing. One touchdown HC made in the first five minutes was an awesome running play by our lead scorer Emma Tam (Grade 10). The adrenaline was high and we all had huge smiles on our faces. The Gators ended up taking the win of that game, and we moved into the CISAA championships against the number one ranked team: Crestwood Preparatory. Although we ended up losing against them, it was a great game and we scored the first touchdown that had been against Crestwood all season.

We walked away with smiles on our faces, excited for next year’s season. Saying goodbye to our coaches was sad, but we promised them they鈥檇 see us next year. The first year of flag football at 蜜桃视频 was quite the experience. A new sport, with new people and coaches, taught us all more about teamwork and hard work. I may be biased, but next year, come out and try out! Aside from it being a learning opportunity, it was so much fun and I am so glad that I got this opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.

Fall Rowing at HC!

Aimee McCurdy-Franks and Ella Carrique

We鈥檙e back, HC! For the first fall Rowing season since 2019, the Gators certainly brought their A-game! We sent out a boat of four rowers and a coxswain to Boston鈥檚 prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta, the largest international rowing regatta in the world. The competition was fierce, with many highly experienced crews coming from all over the world. Our girls fought hard and came out strong, placing 28th out of 90 boats in their race! A huge congratulations goes out to Rachel Dirks, Isabella Janczewski, Julia Aitkens, Hadley Michael and their coxswain Kate Newton who steered an amazing course!

Earlier in the season, our fall Rowing Team competed at the Head of Trent Regatta in Peterborough, where they took home gold! This was their first race together as a crew and they definitely showed up. These girls trained vigorously, meeting for practices almost every morning down at Hanlan Boat Club, accompanied with sessions on the rowing machines and in the fitness center with Strength and Conditioning Coach Mike Haddock. We are so proud of this season鈥檚 results and we hope this sets the stage for the upcoming winter and spring seasons. 

In September, we held two try-it rowing weekends where curious students interested in the Rowing Program had the opportunity to learn more about the sport. They spent a day at 蜜桃视频, trying out the different components to the winter training. On the second day, they met at the boat club and tried out a variety of aspects involved in the spring training. 

We would like to congratulate Michael Greig on being promoted to the position of new Head Coach of the Rowing Team. Congrats Michael!

Good luck to everyone who is trying out in the next few weeks and we look forward to the upcoming season!

Junior School Cross Country

Kendall Oravecz and Sarah Botha

蜜桃视频 Junior School athletics is back and better than ever this year! With 蜜桃视频 hosting their first cross country meet in six years, and the U9鈥檚 attending their first away athletic event of the year, the Junior School Cross Country Teams did not disappoint. The U9 Team, which consists of 52 students in Grades 1 to 3, travelled to Crestwood Preparatory School for a fun run for their first away meet of the year. They were pumped to go to Crestwood on a bus and they had a lot of fun keeping the Gator spirit alive. The U12 Team, which includes students in Grades 4 to 6, had 70 Junior School students sign up. The U12 Team attended four meets this season, including the recent meet the 蜜桃视频 Junior School hosted. 

蜜桃视频 was finally able to host a meet after the renovations in the Junior School and the participation was unmatched with 70 students in Grades 4 to 6 signing up for the U12 Team. The route at HC had the runners going up and around Cohen Field and through the Lisa Hardie Trail. 蜜桃视频 placed very well, with the U10 and U12 Teams coming in second overall. In Grade 6, Emily Toma placed second overall and Leigh Silber in Grade 4 placed fourth. Although it was a rainy and cold day, the 蜜桃视频 runners kept their spirits up as they persevered! This meet is the first of many to come in the years ahead. The Junior School Athletic Director, Anna Bartlett, is hoping to host an annual cross country meet and will invite more schools in the coming years. Way to go Gators!

Gator Day

Aly Donoghue and Shira Levine

The fall, Gator Day was most definitely one to remember! Although the rainy weather wasn’t ideal, it didn’t stop 蜜桃视频 fans from getting decked out in green and gold and coming out to support the U20 Soccer Team. 

The 蜜桃视频 Sports Network Club reported, 鈥淭he Gator signs were high, the green and gold was bright and the HC team did not disappoint.鈥� Playing BSS certainly added to the excitement of the day due to the intense rivalry between the two schools. Natalie Chisolm, who scored one of the goals for 蜜桃视频 said, 鈥淲e played BSS, who we thought was competition, but they didn’t stand a chance.鈥� 

The beginning of the game started off slow, but the Gators offense was just too much for BSS as goals by Sarah McQuillen Young (Grade 10), Mackenzie Johnson (Grade 11) and Natalie Chisholm (Grade 12) sealed the 3 to 0 victory. Well done, Gators!

All in all, Gator Day 2022 was a huge success. We loved being able to show our 蜜桃视频 spirit and support our Soccer Team, who finished the season as CISAA champions. We are looking forward to the next Gator Day in the winter season.

Go Gators!

New Gator Gear 

Izzy Tubbe and Lauren LaCalamita

Whether you鈥檙e on the field or in the classroom, the new 蜜桃视频 athletic wear will follow you wherever you are on campus. You have probably noticed our new Gator logo all throughout the school, located in both gyms, on the windows outside the Athletic Wing, on the wall inside the Athletic Wing and outside the pool viewing area. With this new logo, an addition to the uniform was vital. We are so grateful that we were able to introduce two new items: the first is an athletics quarter-zip and the other is a Nike track jacket! The quarter-zip has the new logo on the front along with 鈥溍厶沂悠� Gators” stitched on the back. Guess what? This quarter zip can also be worn inside the classroom. It gives you the perfect chance to stay warm and cozy on the field, at the rink, in the gym, down by the water or at your desk. 

The Nike track jacket is perfect for rainy days or cool mornings and is the best piece of clothing for any sporting event. Although most athletes despise playing and practising in the rain, this track jacket is the perfect solution. It keeps your uniform safe from any wind or water! 

There are also other forms of merchandise with our new logo, including socks and warmup shirts, which are available for athletes on teams. This is the perfect way to show off your HC pride and spirit as a student athlete! So Gators, when you place an order for your winter athletic uniforms, don’t forget to order these exciting new items as well! 

Senior School Spotlight: Natalie Chisholm

Abby Smith and Kaitlyn Dean

Natalie Chisholm is a Grade 12 student who plays on 蜜桃视频’s U20 Soccer Team. She started playing soccer at the age of four in the North Toronto Nitros house league program and immediately fell in love. It has always been her favourite sport to play, watch or even talk about. When reflecting on her time playing soccer, Natalie says, “I love the environment around the sport and the community it creates, and I am so happy that I stuck with it for all this time.” In addition to playing on the school team, she plays soccer outside of school for the North Toronto Nitros, IModel 2005 girls team. 

As her 蜜桃视频 soccer career comes to an end this fall, a highlight from this season for her was Gator Day against BSS. Natalie remarked, “Though it was only the second Gator Day for the U20 Soccer Team ever, it felt like it was a long-held tradition already.” 蜜桃视频’s spirit during Gator Day was unmatched. Natalie said, “the team had so much fun, and so did I!” 

Natalie is a leader on the field and helped lead the team to victory by scoring a goal. Gator Day was a highlight for all the athletes and the entire school. Natalie ended the interview with a message to anyone considering playing soccer in the future: “Try out for the Soccer Team! The coaches are incredible; even if you don’t play, give it a chance! You never know!” Her words of wisdom can help inspire any athlete considering trying out for a team. As we had into the winter season, we hope students consider putting themselves out there and trying out for whatever sport it may be! You never know what might happen.

Staff Highlight: Ms. Dos Santos

Carol Rong and Dana Copeland

Ms. Dos Santos is someone you may have seen in the halls, but who exactly is she? Well, that’s certainly a big question. As a new faculty member, Ms. Dos Santos is the full time Administrative Assistant to the VP of Strategic Innovation and Design. The long title consists of helping oversee HC-X and Forum for Change, managing volunteer hours, completing vulnerable sector checks, as well as scheduling meetings. Prior to her full-time position, Ms. Dos Santos helped coach many 蜜桃视频 sports teams including the U16 Ultimate Team, the U16 D2 Volleyball Team and the U14 Cross Country Team. Being a coach interested Ms. Dos Santos to work at 蜜桃视频 full-time because she particularly enjoyed the environment fostered by those she worked with. 

Outside of school, Ms. Dos Santos is also an Ultimate player who has represented Team Canada at Worlds and plays with the Toronto 6ixers, the top women鈥檚 club team in Canada! Ms. Dos Santos started playing recreationally in Grade 9 and joined her first club team in Grade 10. At the most recent North American Nationals that took place in October 2022, her team placed third. Additionally, this past summer, Ms. Dos Santos represented Team Canada at the World Games Championships in Alabama. On top of all those amazing achievements, Ms. Dos Santos was awarded the Canadian Junior Female Athlete of the year in 2017 and the North American Breakout Player of the Year in 2018. She was awarded the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Runner Up and the 2022 All-club Women鈥檚 First Team, meaning the best seven-women line in the division.

As an extremely accomplished athlete, Ms. Dos Santos wants to tell younger athletes that it鈥檚 never too late to start a new sport. Always play and practise as much as possible and get involved in the junior programs. Most importantly, take advantage of meeting new people in the sporting community. If you want to learn more about Ms. Dos Santos and all the impressive things she does, certainly don鈥檛 hesitate to talk to her!