May 21 Local sports: Stotesbury Cup; Niagara Tigers basketball; South Niagara Invitational regatta
Niagara Tigers coach Jeremy Delacruz talks to his Niagara Tigers team during a tournament at Hoopdome.
STOTESBURY CUP
Five local crews crossed the finish line first last weekend at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia.
Bringing home the gold were: E.L. Crossley’s junior boys double, lightweight boys double and senior girls coxed four; Ridley College’s senior girls quad; and, A.N. Myer’s Evan MacRae in the senior boys single.
Following are all the local crews that medalled or made it to the finals.
Junior girls double: 2. E.L. Crossley (Meredith Hilmayer and Kassie Madsen); 3. Notre Dame (Morgan Elson and Gillian Jansen).
Junior boys double: 1. E.L. Crossley (Owen Darling and Scott Nuccitelli); 5. Eden (Kai Bartel and Owen Kudreikis).
Lightweight girls double: 2. Grimsby (Grace Weaver and Rebecca Dockray).
Lightweight boys double: 1. E.L. Crossley (Cam Veld and Andrew Suthons).
Junior girls four: 2. Denis Morris (Rylie Wake, Madisyn Richards, Nyla Yungblut, Cait Whittard and cox Kaitlyn Potashnyk).
Junior boys quad: 2. E.L. Crossley (Keithan Woodhouse, Zachary Kuhn, Andrew Learn and Michael Lilley).
Senior girls quad: 1. Ridley College (Alexandra Cook, Charlotte Drennan, Gabrielle Cook and Erin Broski); 5. E.L. Crossley (Krista Zucco, Jenna Veerman, Kora Curtis-Masse and Meghan Camplin).
Senior boys single: 1. Evan MacRae, A.N. Myer; 4. David Picard, St. Francis.
Senior girls single: 3. Madison Thomas, Centennial.
Senior girls coxed four: 1. E.L. Crossley (Lauren Nuccitelli, Seyene Oord, Emma Leavens, Teja Chmay and cox Lauren Dudzik).
Senior boys eight: 2. Grimsby (Michael Bourdeau, Christian McAlpine, Liam Benner, Jared Boles, Max Caruso, Justin Petersm Aaron Krick, Ryan Holland and cox Isaiah Yoder.
NIAGARA TIGERS
The Niagara Tigers’ Grade 5 to 8 basketball teams made their competitive debut this past weekend at the Under Armor Futures Circuit held at the Hoopdome.
Coming off their respective OBA championships with their local clubs, the boys were asked to compete against teams in each division largely made up of Division 1 talent and provincial championship level teams.
The Grade 5 Tigers, made up largely of Niagara Falls Red Raiders (Division 4) along with some St. Catharines Rebels (Division 6) and Pelham Panthers (Division 6), were 0-4 in the session but showed signs of competing with the top teams in the province in short stretches.
“We feel we have a lot of potential with this group,” Pat Sullivan said. “They are being asked both to figure out how to attack various zone pressure and traps which are not allowed in the OBA and combat a big size difference with the best teams in the GTA.”
Niagara’s coaches were impressed with their ability to keep working and recognizing how to improve some of their mistakes.
“The toughest thing for them is they are just not physically strong enough yet to make some of the passes/plays that will counter some of the defensive tactics being used against them,” he said.
The Grade 6 team, made up largely of St. Catharines Rebels (Division 3) and a few Niagara Falls Red Raiders (Division 6) and Grimsby Grizzlies (Division 7) players, went 2-2, including a two-point loss in the opener.
“Our Grade 6 group may be our toughest group in terms of their competitiveness,” Sullivan said. “They went toe to toe with one of the best teams in Ontario and took the action to them. They are naturally physical and despite being very undersized, compete in all facets of the game. These guys are fun to watch.”
In maybe the toughest division in the Under Armour event, the Grade 7 team went winless, but clearly became more competitive and confident throughout the weekend. The team is made up of St. Catharines Rebels and Pelham panthers (both Division 6) and one player from the Grimsby Grizzlies (Division 12)
“In most games, these players were giving up 20-30 pounds and five to six inches with each matchup,” he said. “We love this group as they make no excuses and keep competing.”
Sullivan describes them as possibly being the most cerebral group in terms of their ability to make adjustments on the fly.
“They showed tremendous improvement in terms of dealing with full-court pressure as the session went on and for stretches were able to hang with proven Division 1 OBA talent,” he said.
The Grade 8 Tigers, made up of talent from St. Catharines (Division 3) and Pelham (Division 2) plus two players from Stoney Creek and Oakville, went 2-2, including one loss coming in the final seconds of the game after a controversial non-call which would have given them the lead.
“There are a number of kids on this team that are going to make a big splash at their respective high schools,” Sullivan said. “Though most were familiar with the top teams in the province and compete at a relatively high level, they now recognize that they are capable of not only of being competitive but beating these teams.
“These guys just need to learn how to communicate more effectively on the floor and understand how hard they need to play against elite athletes.”
In Nike Signature league playing heading into playoffs: the Tigers’ Grade 11 team finished fifth out of 10 teams with a 6-4 record. The Grade 10 team finished third out of 10 teams with a 7-4 record. The Grade 9 team has gone winless, but was able to decrease the margin of victory the second time through each team by half and are more confident heading into playoffs.
SOUTH NIAGARA INVITATIONAL
Following are top three results from the South Niagara Invitational regatta:
Junior women’s 59-kilogram four: 2. Grimsby (Jodi Friesen, Kirsi O’Quinn, Kaelyn Mercuri and Kylie Mercuri).
Junior men’s single: 2. E.L. Crossley (George Martinson); 3. Lakeshore Catholic (Jake Janzen).
Senior women’s 63-kilogram eight: 3. E.L.Crossley (Bella Walker, Jayna Parent, Avery Topp, Payton Veld, Talia Taylor, Isabella Morrison, Maiya Bolibruck, Katherine Brettell and cox Shaelyn Topliffe).
Senior men’s pair: 2. Governor Simcoe (2: Andrew Barry and Joe Coughler).
Junior women’s single: 3. Notre Dame (Jillian VanDyk).
Junior men’s 72-kilogram coxed four: 1. E.L. Crossley (Trevor Lachni, Preston Darling, Patrick Mayr, Matthew Jinks and cox Mayah Speck).
Junior men’s double: 3. Notre Dame (William Capes and Ethan Engel).
Senior men’s 72.5-kilogram single: 1. A.N. Myer (Ashton Corr: 2. Blessed Trinity (Lucas Celia).
Junior women’s double: 2. Centennial (Lily Charlebois and Alyssa Dekker); 3. Notre Dame (Alyssa Plopp and Jillian VanDyk).
Junior men’s 66-kilogram quad: 1. St. Francis (Hayden Arnold, Leo Saporit, Maceo Tripodi and Julio Diaz): 2. Churchill (Austin White, Teagan Literovich, Matthew Henson and Justin McVanel).
Senior women’s coxed four: 2. St. Francis (Jossia Rana, Ellie Fletcher, Caroline Taylor, Laura Lui and cox Fiona Lee).
Senior men’s quad: 3. Saint Paul (Lucas Celia (BT), Justin Felker, Jacob Lofaro and Carter Livermore).
Junior men’s eight: 2. E.L. Crossley (Trevor Lachnit, George Martinson, Patrick Mayr, Matt Jinks, Josh Larochelle, Aidan Smouter, Nicholas Shawanda, Matthew Johnston and cox Mayah Speck).
Senior women’s 63-kilogram double: 2. E.L. Crossley (2: Lauren Nuccitelli and Kassie Madsen).
Senior men’s 72.5-kilogram double: 1. Saint Paul (James Sisley and Adam Pozzobon).
Junior men’s novice eight: 3. E.L. Crossley (Preston Darling, Matthew Jinks, Matthew Johnston, Josh Larochelle, Patrick Mayr, Owen Nicholls, Nate Prevost, Aidan Smouter and cox Rachael Moskalyk).
Junior women’s novice eight: 2. E.L. Crossley (Janna Paquin, Katherine Brettell, Riley Bolhous, Jayna Parent, Talia Taylor, Avery Topp, Payton Veld, Bella Walker and cox Caelin McNeil).
Junior men’s coxed four: 1. E.L. Crossley (Zachary Kuhn, Trevor Lachnit, Scott Nuccitelli, George Martinson and cox Shaelyn Topliffe).
Senior women’s 59-kilogram quad: 3. Governor Simcoe (Georgia Schellenberg, Emma Parkin, Olivia Burgess and Laci Shute).
Junior women’s coxed four: 1. Denis Morris (Rylie Wake, Madisyn Richards, Nyla Yungblut, Cait Whittard and cox Kaitlyn Potashnyk).
Junior men’s novice quad: 1. E.L. Crossley (Josh Larochelle, Matthew Johnston, Charlie Hill and Aidan Smouter); 2. Eden (Andrew Laplante, Carter Wideman, William Hughes and Noah Landry).
Senior women’s double: 1. E.L. Crossley (Emma Leavens and Seyene Oord).
Women’s novice quad: 2. A.N. Myer (Olivia Fisher, Olivia Vendittelli, Paige Hoadley and Vanessa Whalen).
Junior men’s 72.5-kilogram eight: 1. E.L. Crossley (Michael Lilley, Nicholas Shawanda, Preston Darling, Matthew Jinks, Patrick Mayr, Owen Nicholls, Trevor Lachnit, Nate Prevost and cox Shaelyn Topliffe); 2. Churchill (Teagan Literovich, Justin McVanel, Avery Chiu, Thomas Berner, William Rackal, Evan Lawrence, Alex Hall, Matthew Henson and cox Danielle MacNeil).
Senior women’s 63-kilogram coxed four: 1. E.L. Crossley (Lauren Nuccitelli, Meghan Camplin, Kassie Madsen, Lauren Dudzik and cox Mayah Speck).
Senior men’s 66-kilogram quad: 2. Ridley College (Jack Petrunick, Justin Wender, Conner Vorias and Davide Bonifacio-Proietto).
Junior women’s 63-kilogram eight: 3. E.L. Crossley (8: Talia Taylor, Gwynevere Kosuta, Emmerson Secord, Janna Paquin, Riley Bolhous, Jayna Parent, Avery Topp, Bella Walke and cox Mayah Speck).
Junior men’s quad: 2. E.L. Crossley (Zachary Kuhn, George Martinson, Josh Larochelle and Nicholas Shawand); 3. Churchill (Austin White, Teagan Literovich, Matthew Henson and Justin McVanel).
Senior women’s eight: 1. E.L. Crossley (8: Lauren Nuccitelli, Meghan Camplin, Emma Leavens, Seyene Oord, Krista Zucco, Teja Chmay, Jenna Veerman, Kora Curtis-Masse and cox Lauren Dudzik).
Mixed double: 2. A.N. Myer (Ashton Corr and Maggie Wang); 3. Lakeshore Catholic (Rowan O Neill and Jake Janzen).
Mixed quad: 3. Jean Vanier (Jordan Kesseler, Richard Irvine, Eve Belfry and Ian Lamothe).
