As the spring season of play has just finished and the close of another school year approaches, I have the pleasure of reflecting upon another fantastic year of high school sports at Mount Douglas Secondary. All of Mount Doug’s talented student athletes should look back on the 2013/2014 year of sport with great pride as The Rams had an outstanding year in the gym, pool, on the field, track, trail, court, or rink with numerous City, Island, and BC Championship appearances. Whether it was the precedent setting third consecutive win of the Varsity Football Championship (something not done since 1996-1998), our swim team setting a new provincial record in the 200 Medley Relay, going to the BC Championships for badminton, having Junior Girls’ Volleyball go on to the BC Provincials, the introduction of girls’ rugby, the emergence of a Junior Girls’ Soccer team that went on to place 5th at the Island Championships, the Girls’ Field Hockey Team going to the BC Championships, or the Track and Field team fielding the largest team in year, qualifying 36 athletes at the BC Championships, and winning a gold medal in the hammer throw, all the athletes, students, coaches, sponsors, and parents should take great pride in this year’s athletic accomplishments. There is a true feeling that Mount Douglas Athletics is growing stronger every year.
In addition, this year saw over 300 individual students and over 480 participating on one of our 32 teams, it was yet another great year in terms of involvement. Apparently Mount Doug athletes have taken it to heart to be involved in Athletics at Mount Doug. Of course, none of this could be possible without the tremendous efforts of our many staff and community coaches and our invaluable teacher sponsors.
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 Marcus Davis, Callum Duke, Christian Krause, Sheldon Mack, Ashton MacKinnon, Rosie Moulton, James Nicholas, Aarmin Purewal, Julian Luis, Caileigh Filmer, and Carly Sangha who are moving on to post-secondary education with Athletic scholarships. 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 or Mr. Hazelton to name a few, who have come back to coach at their alma mater. A special thank you goes out to Mr. Anderson and Mr. Griffin who are retiring this year and have contributed so much to Mt. Douglas Athletics over their careers. You may be leaving Mt. Douglas, but Mount Douglas will not forget all that you have done for Athletics. We wish you all the best in your retirement and hope that we will see you in the stands in the future cheering on your Rams.
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. 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 2014/15 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 Mount Douglas Athletics for next year.
Go Rams,
Mr. Meldrum, Athletic Director