News
Sports Update
The third term is in full swing at Shawnigan, bringing with it a very full athletics calendar. This is a very exciting time for our athletes and coaches, as they (like much of the rest of the world) haven’t seen inter-school spring competition since March 2020. This means that, for many of our athletes, this is their first taste of competition in these spring sports. Please find below just a small sampling of all that has been happening in the past few weeks!
Following their strong showing in the CSSHL playoffs in March, the U18 Prep Hockey team was invited to participate in a prestigious international tournament in Calgary called The Macs. “First held in 1978, the tournament features teams from across Canada, the United States, and Europe,” explains Paul Morris, one of the team’s coaches. “This year, however, the only international teams were from Chicago, IL. The tournament was rebooted this year after a few years away due to the pandemic.” Shawnigan’s athletes represented the School well, and their hard work and positive attitudes resulted in the team earning the “Most Sportsmanlike Team” award, following in the footsteps of the girls’ field hockey team who won a similar award at this provincials in the fall. Congratulations to Dylan C., who was named a tournament All-Star!
Soccer coach Mariel Solsberg shares an update from the senior girls’ soccer team’s recent participation in the UVIC Vikes Sales Spring Classic Senior Girls Soccer Tournament: “Our Shawnigan Lake Gold team played their first game as a group to warm them up for regular season play. After a tough loss in our first game on Thursday against Lambrick Park Secondary School, we were put on the B side right away… but then went on to win against every team after that including Kelowna Secondary School and Ecole Ballenas Secondary. We played Brentwood College School in the final of the B side and won!” Congratulations to Mikayla B. for receiving tournament MVP honours!
Last weekend, Shawnigan’s rowing team loaded up the rowing trailer and headed to nearby Quamichan Lake for the annual Maple Bay Regatta. This is one of the first high school regattas of the spring season and is a particularly good opportunity for novice rowers to gain racing experience. Weather-related delays and even cancellations are always a possibility at a rowing regatta, and unfortunately that was the case at this year’s Maple Bay Regatta, with some severe weather affecting the schedule. Even with a few cancelled races, the weekend provided valuable experiences for our newest rowers and they are all excited for their next opportunity to race! Next up is the Brentwood Regatta, taking place at the end of April.
Rugby coach Shannon Atkins shares, “Last Thursday, the girls’ rugby team played our first game of the season, and what a beginning it was! Royal Bay Secondary School was the perfect host, supplying fruit in our dressing room, having the most remarkable land acknowledgment that I have ever attended, and providing a pizza party with player recognition awards after; thanks to Ray Barkwell for making this all happen.
We were hesitant to play this game as we have so many players who have never played a rugby game, yet we were high in spirit as the kick-off happened. It only took a few minutes for us to look and feel quite comfortable on the field. As the game progressed, the players got better and better, resulting in a 65-0 victory for the Shawnigan Ironwomen. Captains Denise B. and Anna P. led the team with composure. Although it was her first game with Shawnigan, experienced rugby player Ava F. was the conductor on the field. With her three tries and five conversions, she was named player of the game. Rookie Arnica B. bowled over the opponents to score three tries as well, while Charlotte C. added two. To round out the scoring, veterans MacKinley B. and Hannah T. had a try apiece, while newcomer Sarah H. added another try.”
Following this convincing win, the team played their home-opener against Cowichan Secondary School on Tuesday, an event that was honoured with a school-wide “Black and Gold” dress up day and a crowd of supporters at the fields. It was a hard-fought game, resulting in a solid 15-10 win for Shawnigan.
The boys’ rugby program has had a busy first three weeks of competitive play. The Colts (Grade 10s) and 2nd XV kicked off their seasons right after Spring Break with games at home against St. Michaels University School. The following day Head of School Larry Lamont shared, “It was very competitive play with so many parents, coaches and staff supporting. The first five minutes of the Colts’ game produced some of the best rugby I have seen at Shawnigan.” This was followed a few days later by a trip to Vancouver by the Colts, 1st XV and 2nd XV, where all three teams played a series of tough games against strong St. George’s School sides. Most recently, the 1st and 2nd XV played against Gonzaga School, a talented touring team from Washington, DC.
We look forward to continuing to cheer on our athletes as the season progresses!
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Soccer coach Mariel Solsberg shares an update from the senior girls’ soccer team’s recent participation in the UVIC Vikes Sales Spring Classic Senior Girls Soccer Tournament: “Our Shawnigan Lake Gold team played their first game as a group to warm them up for regular season play. After a tough loss in our first game on Thursday against Lambrick Park Secondary School, we were put on the B side right away… but then went on to win against every team after that including Kelowna Secondary School and Ecole Ballenas Secondary. We played Brentwood College School in the final of the B side and won!” Congratulations to Mikayla B. for receiving tournament MVP honours!
Last weekend, Shawnigan’s rowing team loaded up the rowing trailer and headed to nearby Quamichan Lake for the annual Maple Bay Regatta. This is one of the first high school regattas of the spring season and is a particularly good opportunity for novice rowers to gain racing experience. Weather-related delays and even cancellations are always a possibility at a rowing regatta, and unfortunately that was the case at this year’s Maple Bay Regatta, with some severe weather affecting the schedule. Even with a few cancelled races, the weekend provided valuable experiences for our newest rowers and they are all excited for their next opportunity to race! Next up is the Brentwood Regatta, taking place at the end of April.
Rugby coach Shannon Atkins shares, “Last Thursday, the girls’ rugby team played our first game of the season, and what a beginning it was! Royal Bay Secondary School was the perfect host, supplying fruit in our dressing room, having the most remarkable land acknowledgment that I have ever attended, and providing a pizza party with player recognition awards after; thanks to Ray Barkwell for making this all happen.
We were hesitant to play this game as we have so many players who have never played a rugby game, yet we were high in spirit as the kick-off happened. It only took a few minutes for us to look and feel quite comfortable on the field. As the game progressed, the players got better and better, resulting in a 65-0 victory for the Shawnigan Ironwomen. Captains Denise B. and Anna P. led the team with composure. Although it was her first game with Shawnigan, experienced rugby player Ava F. was the conductor on the field. With her three tries and five conversions, she was named player of the game. Rookie Arnica B. bowled over the opponents to score three tries as well, while Charlotte C. added two. To round out the scoring, veterans MacKinley B. and Hannah T. had a try apiece, while newcomer Sarah H. added another try.”
Following this convincing win, the team played their home-opener against Cowichan Secondary School on Tuesday, an event that was honoured with a school-wide “Black and Gold” dress up day and a crowd of supporters at the fields. It was a hard-fought game, resulting in a solid 15-10 win for Shawnigan.
The boys’ rugby program has had a busy first three weeks of competitive play. The Colts (Grade 10s) and 2nd XV kicked off their seasons right after Spring Break with games at home against St. Michaels University School. The following day Head of School Larry Lamont shared, “It was very competitive play with so many parents, coaches and staff supporting. The first five minutes of the Colts’ game produced some of the best rugby I have seen at Shawnigan.” This was followed a few days later by a trip to Vancouver by the Colts, 1st XV and 2nd XV, where all three teams played a series of tough games against strong St. George’s School sides. Most recently, the 1st and 2nd XV played against Gonzaga School, a talented touring team from Washington, DC.
We look forward to continuing to cheer on our athletes as the season progresses!
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 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
