News

Summer Sport Begins

Optimism on the fields and courts
 
April showers haven't dulled the excitement for Shawnigan's term three athletic ventures. 
 
With upcoming events including a Colts rugby tour to San Francisco, the Shawnigan Regatta, and the girls Provincial Rugby Championships on home turf, Shawnigan teams are laying the groundwork for a productive and fun term of sport.
 
 
Rugby
 
The 1st XV enjoyed home field advantage for a highly anticipated matchup against Oak Bay High School on Friday.  The first rematch against Oak Bay since last year's Provincial final, the game saw Shawnigan's returning seniors score a measure of revenge in a well-played, physical contest.  "There's a lot of parity in our league right now," says Shawnigan Head Coach Jeff Williams, adding, "They were good, but we were able to wear them down in the end."
 
 
The 2nd XV strapped on cleats for the annual Scrumfest at Claremont High School, earning morale-boosting wins over Alberni and Kitsilano.  Returning home, the team hosted a touring side from New South Wales, learning valuable lessons against this poised Australian group.
 
 
The Girls XV enjoyed a strong start to the year with a 71-22 victory over Port Alberni. Facing Port Alberni's strong pack, Shawnigan was forced to make key tackles and work hard to get the ball back.  Fortunately for Shawnigan, forced errors led to opportunities which the girls took advantage of.  Gerry A. led Shawnigan's offensive outburst with four tries and eight conversions.
 
The girls also earned a well-fought win over Mark Isfeld, thanks in part the solid defensive play of Maddie N.  Eight girls played their first competitive game against Isfeld, with winger Lucy C. notching the winning try late in regulation time. 
 
Finally, the girls faced touring Fielding High School on Wednesday, falling to the New Zealanders three tries to none.  Coach Dani Robb says the matchup was still inspiring, with a Shawnigan team that refused to give up, particularly late in the game when the score seemed out of reach.  "It was actually a great game," says Coach Robb.  "The girls went to war for each other."
 
Click here for an update on the Vancouver Island girls rugby sevens championship.
 
 
The Colts, meanwhile, have earned several comprehensive victories early in their season, including during a visit to Claremont's Scrumfest.  The squad heads to California over the Easter Break for a cultural and competitive tour. 
 
 
Soccer
 
Shawnigan's two girls soccer teams have both enjoyed optimistic starts to the season, with huge turnouts and great depth for both squads.
 
The senior girls competed well at high-level tournaments at UBC and UVic.  Playing against strong teams from the North Island and Greater Vancouver, Shawnigan earned a .500 record in both events, showing encouraging defensive structure even in the narrow losses to academy sides. 
 
The junior girls opened their regular season with a courageous performance at Brentwood.  With a number of players facing their first competitive action, the girls worked hard to keep Brentwood's talented forwards at bay, ultimately falling 1-0 in a close-fought finish.  The girls responded with an impressive 4-0 win over Gulf Islands the next week, with Allison M. earning Athlete-of-the-week honours for her contributions. The juniors head to their ISA Championship April 26-27 in Victoria.
 
 
Rowing
 
Shawnigan rowers took to the waters of Quamichan Lake to compete in the annual Maple Bay Regatta on Saturday. Weather conditions were not ideal for many to be taking their first racing strokes, but all the athletes had a great time battling down the wavy race course before the regatta was eventually called as races could not be completed safely. Although there were many highlights from the shortened day of racing, two standouts were the Junior B Boys (U17) 8+ (Matthew H., Gunnar P., Alexander R., Daniel D., Liam M., Gregory H., Jerry C., Benedikt H., and Daniel M.) and the Junior A Girls (U19) Lightweight 2x (Nicole L. and Jaden B.) who both won their events.
 
 
Cross Country
 
Sunday marked the final race in the Island Race Series.  The series saw Shawnigan athletes produce some tremendous performances and also enjoy a new experience competing in community running events. 
 
After the eight-race series, Shawnigan Lake School finished 6th overall out of 61 running clubs. 
 
Individual results:
 
Aslan F: Second in his age group.
Roham M: Third in his age group.
Angelina H: Second in her age group.
Nicole S: Third in her age group.
Lauren N: Fourth in her age group.
 
 
Field Hockey
 
The Grade 8 field hockey team enjoyed their very first game on Saturday, with an encouraging start.  Coach Andi Conroy says she is excited for the future after watching the team bond well while developing key skills. 
 
The team will play in the Cowichan Spring League, with games every Saturday in Duncan. 
 
 
Tennis
 
Despite an abundance of rain, the competitive tennis team continues to prepare for the season.  The group competed at the Brentwood Doubles Invitational over the weekend, with some encouraging results, including:
 
Pol H. & Nathan K. finished 3rd overall.  
Owen Q. was a finalist in the top group consolation
Faline Y. & Jessie L. won the third group
 
 
Badminton
 
2019 has seen the relaunch of Badminton as a summer term sport, thanks to the energy and leadership of dedicated student-athletes with a passion for the game. Shawnigan posted a win in the first competitive effort against Duncan Christian School on April 9th, and will battle ISA and North Island teams in tournaments slated for April 25th. 
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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.