It is hard to believe that another year of Athletics has come to a close for all the Mount Douglas athletes, parents, sponsor teachers, and coaches. Although this year started with a shortened Fall Season, it did not take long for all our athletes and coaches to get back to doing what they love to do best – play sports. It is always a joy to reflect back on the year in sports, and all of Mount Doug’s talented student athletes should look back on the 2014/2015 year of sport with great pride as The Rams had an outstanding year in the gym, pool, on the field, track, trail, on court with numerous City, Island, and BC Championship appearances.
The Spring Season of play resulted in some outstanding achievements:
- On the soccer pitch, the Junior Girls’ finished the year with 3rd place in the Lower Island Championships, while the Senior Girls’ finished 6th in the Lower Island Championships, just missing out on moving to the Island Championships.
- On the badminton court, the grade 9 boys’ and girls’ teams won their division and the grade 10 boys won their division. At the senior level, the badminton team came 2nd in the Island Championships, earning a berth to the BC Championships in Kamloops, where they moved up three spots over last years’ finish coming in 13th in the Province.
- On the rugby pitch, the Senior Girls’ continued improving their game, finishing 7th this year in the South Island Championships.
- Track and Field had an outstanding season, with top ten finishes for team events and BC Provincial Championship records being set. The team finished 3rd in the Lower Island Championships, earning a berth at the Island Championships,
where they finished 4th overall. This meant the team was off to the BC Championships where they had a fantastic meet. The Senior Boys’ finished 4th in the province, while the overall team score placed Mount Douglas in the top ten of the province at 8th place. Individually, Cassidy Steen won bronze in the junior steeple chase, Francis Abrill finished with silver in the Senior boys pole vault, Lindsey Frederiksen won gold in the Junior girls hammer throw, and, not to be outdone, Sam Willett won gold in the Senior boys’ hammer throw. Both Lindsey Frederiksen and Sam Willett not only won gold in the hammer throw, they also set new BC Provincial Records while doing so. What a way to cap off a superb season of sports at Mount Douglas and it continues to feel that Mount Douglas Athletics is growing stronger every year.
Of course, none of this could be possible without the tremendous efforts of our many staff, coaches, parents, and invaluable teacher sponsors. Without this support, Athletics at Mount Douglas are not able to happen and so many great moments of team bonding, friendships being formed, personal bests being set, and winning moments could not happen. To all Mount Doug students, please take the time to thank your coaches and sponsors; it takes so little effort, but it means so much to those people who give so much to you. Also, many thanks go out to all of our great Mount Doug parents. Be it driving, cheering, fund raising, healing or laundering, we could not do it without you.
To all our graduating grade 12 athletes, thank you so very much for all you have given to Mount Doug Athletics. It is a testament to your commitment and dedication that this was such a tremendous year. Congratulations to those who are moving on to post-secondary institutions with athletic scholarships; Byron MacKinnon, Seye Farinu, Morgan Pearse, Pato Vega, Easton Garard, and Joe Clarke. For all graduating athletes, you have helped create a legacy of excellence and sportsmanship that will endure long after your high school exploits become a distant memory. Please try and find the time in the exciting years ahead to remember your roots and come back to Mount Doug and support the next herd of Rams. We look forward to seeing and hearing you cheer on the purple and gold for years to come. If you want to do more, please step up and join the long list of Mount Doug Alumni such as Coach Townsend, Mrs. Wirtanen, Harrison Mar, or Mr. Hazelton to name a few, who have come back to coach at their alma mater.
To all returning Mount Doug athletes, on behalf of all of your coaches and sponsors, enjoy a well- deserved rest this summer but don’t get lazy. While you are lounging on the beach, your competition next year may be out training. Have a fun and fit summer break. To all our incoming grade 9 students, be ready to begin the season right away as the first week of school will be full of important announcements and meetings. If you think this year was exciting, wait until the year ahead. With the athletic talent we have returning, combined with the exciting future stars joining us, the 2015/2016 year in sport at Mount Douglas looks like it might be one of the most successful and exciting this school has ever seen. Let us enjoy the summer and come back dedicated to better Mt. Douglas Athletics for next year.
Go RAMS
Mr. Meldrum, Athletic Director