Saints search for glory road back to OFSAA
[attach]2232[/attach]It’s that time of year again.
Back to school and the Town Crier is going to give you the top teams that have the chance to bring home gold for Riverdale-East York’s six secondary schools.
As students march out their front doors bright and early for another academic year, a good lot of them will have athletics on the brain. It all starts in the fall with girls basketball, boys football, girls field hockey, rugby sevens, golf, tennis and boys volleyball.
Once the games continue into winter the seasonal change brings with it boys basketball, girls volleyball, curling, hockey, alpine skiing, snowboarding and swimming.
Moving into the spring, baseball, cricket, lacrosse, rugby, girls slo-pitch, soccer, girls softball, co-ed volleyball and ultimate Frisbee get under way.
Here are your local schools and the teams that had phenomenal 2009-10 campaigns.
Danforth Collegiate
TDSSAA
The football team is back and many a Redhawk is looking to venture out onto the gridiron to compete in the varsity development league.
Look for Michael Furac to make some noise on the tennis court with doubles partner Mohitul Mohammed.
A strong showing in boys baseball last year led the team to the quarter-finals against Forest Hill, where they lost a close match 4-3.
East York CI
TDSSAA
After a hailstorm in 2009, Northern Red Knights pelted the Goliaths’ senior football team in the south region final. Expect the navy and gold to exact biblical revenge on their adversaries in 2010.
Another team seeking retribution will be the girls senior softball team, who were denied city supremacy last year by Leaside Lancers.
Senior boys AAAA soccer will be returning from the TDSSAA winners’ circle as they beat West Hill in last year’s city final.
Eastern Commerce CI
TDSSAA
The age-old basketball rivalry between Oakwood and Eastern Commerce will begin anew as the two top TDSSAA contenders at OFSAA last season will look for a rematch in 2011.
After being ousted in the South Region final 46-40, the senior girls basketball crew will look to rebound against Northern SS. The Red Knights halted Eastern’s OFSAA advance in a backdoor qualifier 45-32.
Track and field saw success as Javon Bryce scored bronze at OFSAA in midget high jump. James Sylvester hopped, skipped and jumped his way to a silver medal and teammates Samantha Hill and Ojore Obi-Egwale put in good showings.
Metropolitan Preparatory Academy
SSAF
They were the Small Schools Athletic Federation under-20 champions of boys basketball, beating Mississauga Private School handily 73-42.
The boys under-20 volleyball team also dominated the SSAF with a 9-1 record during the regular season, but lost the championship to Yorkland.
Finally the girls soccer team faired well, finishing fourth in their league and second in the playoffs, losing in the semifinal to Town Centre Montessori Private School 2-0.
Monarch Park CI
TDSSAA
A joint football venture with Eastern Commerce this season proved to be fruitful as the Lions are coming back for another season of the gridiron.
The varsity rugby team lost 15-10 in a heartbreaking final against Jarvis Bulldogs in May. The Lions will come back with pride for the upcoming 2011 campaign after a 4-2 in 2010.
St. Patrick CSS
TDCAA
The big sport for the green, silver and gold this past year was boys soccer, led by Tanner Ford and Brandon Hutley. Though the team finished with a 1-1-3 record, the crew plans to compete against south division rivals Neil McNeil and Marshall McLuhan.
St. Patrick’s has a tough crew when it comes to cross country runners and don’t be surprised to see the troupe venturing into city championships.
