The Iron Women have an exhibition match against Gleneagle this Friday, then host the Island championships on Wednesday, May 24.

 

The 1st XV defeated their rivals from St. George’s School 10-5 last Friday in a tight defensive battle that left both teams nursing bumps and bruises over the weekend. The boys have been well-travelled this spring, with several members of the team travelling to the UK for the Rugby School International Sevens in March, and the entire squad visiting Washington, DC for the Gonzaga Rugby Classic, where they placed fourth following a close defeat in the semifinals at the hands of the host team, which is the top-ranked high school team in the US.

 

The senior boys will be looking to defend their AAA provincial title at the BC championships in Abbotsford on May 31-June 3.

 

After winning the North Island title on April 27, Shawnigan’s badminton team travelled to Nanaimo on Friday, May 5 to compete in the Vancouver Island championships. The team battled hard against the Island’s top teams, and missed qualifying for provincials by just one point. Ashley M. finished the tournament undefeated in singles play, and the unstoppable doubles team of Diana L. and Charlene K. had the most victories.

 

The tennis team also narrowly missed qualifying for provincials, with one match making all the difference at the Island championships hosted by Brentwood College School on Monday.

 

“It was the most competitive fighting chance we’ve had in a long time,” said head coach Mrs. Andi Conroy. “The competition is so hot on the Islands right now.”

 

Shawnigan has a very young team, and Mrs. Conroy is excited about the prospects for years to come. She calls Grade 9 student Noel T. “one of the greatest gifts to the tennis program.” Celeste C. (Grade 9) and Yoyo L. (Grade 8) are “two top girls who compete with any school’s No. 1.”

 

That doesn’t mean Shawnigan won’t miss graduating players Ben B., Ashley M. and Greg Z., who have been part of the tennis program as long as they have been at the School. With the interschool season now finished, Shawnigan will move into internal school championships.

 

Shawnigan’s senior girls soccer team went 3-1 to finish third as the host team of the North Island championships on May 8 and 9 to qualify for Islands in Courtenay on May 15 and 16. Coach Ms. Mariel Solsberg was pleased with the result, which shows that Shawnigan is peaking at the right time.

 

“It’s a really talented group of athletes,” she said. “The switch flipped in our warm-up game prior to the championship. They reached the next level. All the things we’ve been working on fell into place.”

 

The team’s goal for Islands is to qualify for the provincial tournament in Victoria on June 1-3.

 

“If we play the way we did at North Islands, we have a chance,” Ms. Solsberg said.

 

In recent weeks, Shawnigan has competed at regattas hosted by the Maple Bay Rowing Club and Brentwood College School. Brentwood’s is one of the largest school sporting events in North America, and was fortunate enough to have beautiful, sunny weather this year. We are gearing up to host our own regatta this weekend, followed by the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Championships in St. Catharines, Ont. on June 2-4.

 

Shawnigan finished third out of eight at the Independent School Athletic Association championships at the Squamish Valley Golf Club on May 7-9, with Adam H. finishing third among individual golfers. Coach Mr. David Hyde-Lay commended his young team, which includes two Grade 9 golfers. “I’m thrilled with where we stand,” he said.

 

The defending Island and provincial champions, Shawnigan will host the Island AA championships on May 24 and the provincial championships on June 5-7, both at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club.

 

The whitewater kayaking group from our Outdoor Pursuits program participated in the Cowichan River Youth Kayak Festival — the largest whitewater festival for youth in Canada — on April 21-23. Nine students from Shawnigan were among 65 participants from different schools and private groups from across BC, braving rain and cold temperatures to put their kayaking skills to the test.

 

Although the Canadian Sports School Hockey League season ended in early March, the League has been gradually announcing its award winners since then. Congratulations to Shawnigan U18 Prep players Jonatan R. and Conor R., who were selected as finalists for Most Sportsmanlike Player and Top Defenceman, respectively.