News Detail
Summer Sports Roundup
For many Shawnigan student-athletes, sports don’t come to an end when school wraps up in June. Several of them move on to regional, provincial and national teams, attending training camps and competing in tournaments across BC and Canada, and around the world. Our alumni also continue to make us proud in a wide variety of sports.
Rugby
The BC Provincial Regional Championships were loaded with Shawnigan students, playing for several different teams. The Vancouver Island Crimson Tide won both the boys’ and girls’ U19 titles, with alumni Massimo Ruben ’26, Simroy John ’26, Greg Putterill ’26, Easton Sangris ’25, and Cole Mekelberg ’25 suiting up for the boys – who counted Mr. Clay Panga and fellow alumni Ollie Nott ’13 and Ciaran Breen ’19 among their coaches – and Amelia Handysides ’26, Sophie Hayes ’26, Gwenlili Jones ’26, and current student Briar T. playing for the girls.
The U17 girls’ final featured current Shawnigan students on both sides: Stella F., Eliza H., Evelyn W., Emma N., and Freya C. represented Vancouver Island, and Chloe B., Lily B., and Hunter H. played for the Vancouver Wave. Tuma H., Seamus R., Rheo L., Henry T., and Landis F. helped Vancouver Island to the U17 boys’ championship.
Teifi D. also helped Vancouver Island to gold in the U15 girls’ tournament, and Mason S., Rowan C., Torin K., and James H., were members of the silver-medal Vancouver Island team that was coached by Mr. Adam Holloway and Mr. Matt Clinton-Baker.
Three current students – Briar T., Emma N., and Evelyn W. – joined 2026 grad Amelia Handysides at the Rugby Canada women’s West Development Camp, which was held on the Shawnigan campus.
Greg Putterill, Massimo Ruben and Simoy John from the Class of 2026 played for the BC Bears U19 men’s team, while Amelia Handysides, also from the Class of 2026, played for the U19 women’s team, alongside current students Briar T., Gwenlili J., and Sophie H. Landis F. and Tuma H played for the BC U17 boys’ team, and Chloe B., Eliza H., Emma N., Evelyn W., Lily B., and Stella F. played for the U17 girls’ team.
Harry P., Mason S., Torin K., Charlotte G., and Teifi D. participated in BC Rugby U15 camps.
Egan K. joined Alberta’s U17 team for a tour of Ontario.
Peter D. and Henry B. helped Newfoundland and Labrador win the U19 Atlantic Rugby Championship
Current student Henry B. joined grads Cohen Huisamen and Logan Jones with the Dog River Howlers in Argentina, along with coach Mr. Clay Panga. Logan also committed to play with the University of Victoria Vikes for the coming season.
Most recently, 2026 grads Greg Putterill and Simroy John joined Nissa Rugby, a French D2 team based in Nice, for the 2026-27 season.
Rowing
Two current students brought home several medals from the BC Rowing Championships: Jack P. placed first in the U17 men’s single and second in the U17 men’s quad, and Isabella P. finished first in the U18 women’s coxed four, second in the U18 women’s eight, and third in the U19 women’s single. Alum JD Pickens finished first in the open men’s quad.
BC Summer Games
Jack P. also rowed in the BC Summer Games, collecting three gold medals and one silver. Other Shawnigan students in the rowing competition included Henley D. and Christian P. Camryn S. was a member of the Zone 6 team that claimed silver in girls’ volleyball.
Ice Hockey
No fewer than five Shawnigan ice hockey players attended Western Hockey League training camps before returning to school this fall: Donagh E. and Carson P. (Calgary Hitmen), Max H. (Red Deer Rebels), Sean M. (Spokane Chiefs), and Owen V. (Portland Winterhawks).
Alumni accomplishments
• Casey Crowley ’15 earned her 50th cap with the New Zealand national women’s field hockey team (a.k.a. the Black Sticks)
• Gabe Dyer ’23 rowed to bronze in the men’s four with Team Canada at the FISU World University Championships
• Jonty Nicholas ’24 attended the Rugby Canada U20 camp at Shawnigan
• Eloise Blackwell ’08 helped Blues Women win their third straight Super Rugby Aupiki championship, and now has the second most first-class games played in New Zealand rugby history
• Dylan Compton ’23 attended the Colorado Avalanche development camp, and is transferring from Northeastern University to the University of Wisconsin
• Ben Berard ’17, who played last season with the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, has been invited to attend the Canucks’ training camp this fall
• Aaron Trotter ’20, who played last season with the University of St. Thomas of the NCAA, has been invited to the New York Islanders training camp
• Ava Ference ’23 and Team Canada won the gold medal at the 2026 FISU Rugby Sevens world university championships
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 12 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
