Athletics drop home opener
The St. Catharines WMKL Athletics leadership group: From left, Julian Race, Mitch Armstrong, captain Keaton Zavitz, Tye Steenhuis, Gavin Howard. Photo: BILL POTRECZ
The St. Catharines WMKL Athletics are in good hands in the leadership department this season.
Keaton Zavitz will wear the captain’s C while Julian Race, Mitch Armstrong, Tye Steenhuis and Gavin Howard will act as assistants.
“It means a lot to wear the C for such an organization and on the same point I have the staff, coaches and general manager behind me and trusting me,” Zavitz said. “They all do a great job.
“We are treated really well here so it’s pretty easy. All I need to tell the guys is work hard and do it for each other.”
A’s coach Steve Toll said Zavitz was a clear and easy choice to head up the leadership group.
“We have lots of leaders but he leads on the floor, off the floor, all the guys look up to him,” Toll said. “He’s great with the young guys. We’re not a super veteran team and there’s a reason he was best player, MVP and top scorer. All those things he brings along with the leadership and the work ethic he brings — you look at him and he only has one speed and it’s fast. He gives you everything he has all the time.”
Zavitz, a 20-year-old St. Catharines native who attends Ohio State, believes in leading by example.
“With doing the little things, that’s what I try and base my game off, just being the hardest working guy on the floor,” he said. “If I’m doing that I’ll show the new guys, the guys who have been here, this is what I’m willing to do and this is what your standard is and what you have to do if you want to play here.”
A’s general manager Jeff Chcoski has the utmost faith in Zavitz.
“It starts with Keats. A lot of what I do goes right through Keats and then through Keats it gets to the rest of the players. He has taken the role on strong. I have a real good relationship and we talk daily,” he said.
“I have to give them all the respect in the world that they’re going to do the right things. They know what I’m all about and where I stand. I expect nothing but respect when they are out in the community, respect for each other and respect for the coaching staff.”
Zavitz named off a handful of some of the greatest A’s in history when asked for leaders he plans to pattern his style after.
“Latrell Harris, Holden Garlent, Tom Whitty, my brother (Carter Zavitz) — all those guys have built this leadership side of me and now it’s almost whole where I have little parts of them that I try and use.”
The A’s dropped a 12-7 decision to Toronto Beaches in their home opener Wednesday at Canada Games Park.
Zavitz had two goals and two assists while Cody MacNeil, Christian Lefeuvre, Ryan Andrews, Colton Armitage and Noah Simpson added singles.
Oliver Vanyo and Ty Wilson split time in goal for St. Catharines.
The A’s, 1-1, are at Mimico Saturday and home to Brampton next Wednesday.
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