MSS Mustang Cross Country
The smallish Manitoulin Secondary cross country team has been busy over these past couple of weeks, prepping for peak runs coming up and getting another race under their singlets. The team was up in Timmins for the Brother Samur X/C Race at Hershey Lake.
In the senior boys’ race, Brodie Pennie set a blistering pace setting a new course record of 20:13 leading from start to finish and winning by over a minute and a half! The senior boys was the only full team and they finished second to Theriault from Timmins. Teammates included T.J. Green, Alan Wilkin and Matthew Wilkin. The senior girls featured Maren Kasunich and Mackenzie Green who finished in front, one and two. Maren was three-and-a-half minutes in front of third place! Hats off to junior girls: Ava Corbiere, Mya Balfe, Emery Watson and the lone novice boy, Bazi Mara.
CUTLINE:The ‘Stangs x-country team.
Mustangs have wheels!
Not to say that the cross country runners don’t have wheels but the MSS Mustangs also have a mountain bike team! There is no NOSSA yet, in just their second year, but after this it will become an officially sanctioned sport in the Sudbury SDSSAA district. Coaches Ben Quackenbush, Bill Slaght and Caroline Black took relatively inexperienced team back on September 21st at Kivi Park in Sudbury. It is part of the Nickel Capital MTB Race series and was one of four races over the next four weeks. The first race was at Kivi Park in Sudbury, next week will be at the Walden MTB trails. The third race will be hosted by our local team right here at McLean’s Park (Assiginack) on October 5. The fourth race is back in Sudbury at the BioSki trails.
The MSS team had 11 riders able to travel to this week’s race to participate. They are very grateful that the team has received sponsorship from Manitoulin Transport, Breakaway Sports and the Dairy Farmers of Ontario MilkUP program. Most recently, the generous funding from the MilkUP program, specifically the dairy farmers of Manitoulin-West Sudbury allowed them to purchase some team race bikes and equipment.
At this point there were only boys that were able to be at this race but it is good to hear that there will be girls at their next race. Congratulations to the Novice riders, Isaac Quackenbush who was third overall and Jonah Balfe 4th, Thomas Redmond and Trey Smith. The Junior participants were Xavier Coleman – 9th, Tim Arabadzhyi and Riel Beam. Finally, the senior side included: Bradley Slaght (4th), Zack Bond and Connor Mandigo.
Another notable Islander at the race was Assiginack’s Dane Gibeault. Dane is from Manitoulin and works as a mechanic at Breakaway Sports in the summer. He attends LoEllen Park in Sudbury and he rode away from his competition with ease, winning the Junior category!
More mountain bike news!
Dane Gibeault also rode in the fourth race of the Walden Bush Pig Open. It is a 4-leg enduro race where riders tackle four different timed sections of trail and the lowest combined time over those sections is the winner.
Dane placed first for U16 riders and second overall among all riders beating out some very speedy competitors with a combined time of 22:01!
Hockey from away
Congratulations to Manitoulin’s Billy Biederman who is already six games into season in the NAHL for the most unlikely of locations Corpus Christi, Texas! Billy wears number 9 for the Corpus Christi Icerays in the North American Hockey League and he already has a goal and an assist in his young season. Incidently, Billy plays with fellow Sudbury Cub from last year, Pierson Sobush.
The NAHL is celebrating its 49th season in 2022-23, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 32 teams in 17 states from across North America. Unfortunately, if you wanted to catch his closest game on his schedule was in Hooksett New Hampshire some 1200km from here and that was the only game that far north, but they won it. Good luck this season, Billy!
Samuel Assinewai is playing a little closer to home. The cagey veteran is again suiting up for the Sudbury Cubs of the NOJHL. Last year he played in just 33 matches for the Cubs but had 45 points. In his two appearances thus far, Samuel has two goals and one assist. Have an awesome campaign, Samuel!
Tour de Meldrum
The annual Tour de Meldrum was started as a one-man effort way back when Dr. Dale Scott began his fundraiser for the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary. In the 20 plus years since its inception, the number of riders participating and the money raised over the years has been amazing.
Riders had to have had some of the most beautiful weather in all of those years this past weekend. The route was a little different this year because the Meldrum Bay Inn is closed. The ride was based out of Wolsey Lake Cottages in Evansville and rode out to Meldrum and back on Saturday for 110km. Then on Sunday rode to Providence Bay and back for a leisurely 80km. GGs diner hosted dinner for them on Saturday night. Congratulations to all the organizers, riders and sponsors!
A good sport is good for sports!
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