NOSSA
Two Manitoulin secondary track teams attended the annual NOSSA track and field meet. Held this year at the Laurentian track in Sudbury both Wikwemikong High School and Manitoulin Secondary athletes competed against the best in all of northern Ontario.
Starting with Wikwemikong High here are their participants: Novaleigh Peltier, Ian Dokum, Symone Peltier, Ferris Eshkawkogan and Donald Maiangowai. The Mustangs’ squad featured: Mackenzie Cortes, Marjorie Scott, Mya Otosquaiob, Austin Purvis, Beth Wiwchar, Marshall Maciuk, Alex Smith, and medalists Matt Redmond – 3rd in Javelin (just 46 cm from 1st), James Scott – 1st in 1500m, (ahead by 7 seconds). Congratulations to all competitors!
Fastball fun!
Get those ball gloves out ladies and gentlemen who are proponents of competitive fastball, the Manitoulin Fastball League will soon be starting up. Last year was a banner season for the league as it boasted an amazing nine teams in all. The two-time consecutive champion A-OK Raiders (Aundeck Omni Kaning). I’m sure they and the other dugouts will be ready for the challenge!
Rookie rocks!
Congrats to Kennedy Lanktree of Providence Bay, past Mindemoya Thunder and Manitoulin Mustang on her successful rookie season with the Laurentian Lady Voyageurs. Kennedy, at 5 foot 5 inches is a seriously tough competitive player with a scoring touch. In her first season she managed more than half a point a game with a team that struggled. She also contributed to the entire game as she is a 200-foot player. We are looking forward to her sophomore year where she will surely shine.
Mother and daughter compete trail race
When asked of their experience, Mom Heather Eismont and daughter Haylee Cress said, “It was amazing! The trail was beautiful and so challenging with so many hills and so much mud, it was crazy!” The long-time running partners competed in the 25km version at the Sulpha Springs Trail event.
Despite being pleased with their accomplishment the pair were in awe of the ultra-marathoners who completed the 200 mile variety! They started Thursday at noon and the cut off was Sunday at noon. The first place winner came in Saturday at noon. 28 entered this distance and 9 finished. Kudos to Heather and Haylee!
Travelling track club
Kudos to those athletes who travelled to Cambridge this past weekend to compete in an elite track and field event. The Brent McFarlane classic named after a former track and field athlete and coach is a well-known southern Ontario meet for mostly club teams. Congratulations to the following for putting in training and travelling energy to compete: Julian Wemigwans, Natalie Pitawanakwat, Victoria Trudeau, Sierra Pangowish and Francesca Pheasant. Victoria and Julian ran in the 400m Sprint, while Natalie, Sierra and Francesca ran the grueling 1500m race.
Greg knows soccer, too!
It’s difficult to keep the name of Gregory Trudeau-Paquet out of the paper as he continues to perform at a high level in his multi-sport career. He just keeps on winning! Last week he led his St. Charles College Cardinals to the SDSS high school soccer championship and of course potted an important goal to win the Sudbury city championship.
Post-season, season
A pair of Manitoulin hockey twins shone at another Elite tournament this past weekend. Carson Shawana and Sam Assinewai (no they’re not really twins but when it comes to hockey they are always together) earned a silver medal in Toronto in the Warrior Elite Series 2017. Once again they suited up for the Newport Elites, a summer hockey collection of top-notch skaters who were born in 2004. They had a great tourney winning games by scores of 8 to 1, 7 to 1, 5 to 2, 5 to 1 but in a closed championship game they dropped a 6-2 for challenge to the Pro Hockey Hofford team. The silver medal reward was a great consolation though as the skill level of these teams is very high. Great job guys!
Up and coming ball player
Hats off to Lyle Baibomcowai as he continues to play high-level fastball though still a relative youngster. This past weekend he was a huge contributor for his Oshweken Redmen in a top-notch tournament in Niagara Falls. Lyle launched a pair of home runs as the Redmen defeated a hometown Niagara Falls side by a 9-2 count. Keep up the hard work, Lyle!
Our condolences
Wiikwemkoong has sadly lost yet another great sportsman. The Island lost 48-year-old Alfie MacLeod to one of the worst of diseases, cancer. Alfie an original member of the Manitoulin Panthers midget team was a great defenseman and a pleasure to have in the dressing room. His humor and constant smile was always a welcome sight. His many friends comment on how much fun it was to be around him. He could light up a room with his presence. As a defenseman he was top notch: big, strong and tenacious. I knew Alfie from his school days and he was in virtually every sport going and was a wonderful positive spirit in the school. There was seldom a dull moment for those around him. He had some tough times when his mother Yvonne passed away young but with the help of brother Parker, family and friends he rose above his difficulties. You will be missed, Alfie, by many friends.
A good sport is good for sports
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