Photo: Team Numfor: Anchi, Ngwa and Juliet were all top prize-winners, an unprecedented sibling achievement in a single season.
Capping off a season that included hosting a highly successful national soccer tournament and some of the most memorable games in recent memory, Stanstead College held its Fall Athletic Assembly in Pierce Hall Wednesday, November 11.
Headmaster Michael Wolfe opened the proceedings by remarking how proud he was of the way all the fall teams carried themselves over the course of the season. “For a school of our size, you pulled off some fantastic accomplishments,” he said.
In football, multiple-Major S winner Ryan Bedard of Derby Line, Vt. won his first MVP trophy playing his first year of football. In presenting him with the W.A Ketchen Trophy, Coach Elliot remarked on Ryan’s bone-jarring tackles, his incredible speed and his skills as a punter and place-kicker. “He had a huge impact in every game he played,” he said. “Time and again, the opposing teams would single him out and tell me, ‘That #11 – what a player!’”
In senior girls soccer, coach Erik Van Dyke singled out what he called two phenomenal players and two fantastic leaders to share the Merle Griffin MVP Trophy - Juliet Numfor of Hillsborough, NJ and Gabrielle Fleming of Stanstead Township.
This is Juliet’s second year receiving the top soccer prize. Coach Erik Van Dyke remarked on Juliet’s mind-boggling 20-goal season, calling her the best striker at the 20-team Canadian Association of Independent Schools tournament hosted by Stanstead in October. “For every single team, their focus was just to stop Juliet,” he said.
The trophy was shared by Gabrielle Fleming, a Major S winner last year. Anchoring the best defence he’d ever coached, Mr. Van Dyke called Gabrielle “ridiculously good,” with a booming kick, great vision and decision-making and superb pride.
The top senior boys soccer trophy, the Bobby Moore Trophy, was also shared this year between Marc-Olivier Sauriol of Bromont, Que. and In-Won Lee of Kyung Nam, Korea. Coach Graham Chandler called Marco-Olivier “one heck of a competitive kid” who scored eight goals, dominated in the ETIAC playoff championship and spurred the team on throughout the season. He went on to describe In-Won as someone who loves the game and who isn’t afraid to make mistake – and learn from those mistakes. Coach Chandler called In-Won a positive player with a great sense of humour.
The W. Greenshields Trophy for cross-country running went to Corey Hamilton of Saskatoon, SK for the second year in a row. Coach Dugie Ross called Corey the “class of the league,” a consistent first-place finisher who led the team by example.
In addition to MVP trophies, letter awards were presented in all sports.
In football, Coach Elliot presented Major S letters to a pair of two-way starters. Pietro Antonelli of Blainville, Que. was recognized for his deceptive speed and his tackling abilities. “The tougher the game, the more crucial the play, you could always count on him,” said Coach Elliot. He went on to describe Ngwa Numfor of Hillsborough, NJ as a talented receiver with great moves and great hands who was also quick and tough on defence. “This young man got the job done,” said Coach Elliot.
Senior S’s in football went to the team captains, Max Ruel and Felix Boissé. Coach Elliot said QB Max developed into a “fine passer” who made few mistakes, while Felix led by example on and off the field and was an “unsung hero in the defensive trenches.”
In senior boys soccer, there were three first-time Major S winners. Nick Bauer of Ogden, Que. was recognized for his key role in defence, his reliability and his true sportsmanship, while Jean-Philippe Daigle of Cowansville, Que. “ran all over every blade of grass in the Eastern Townships as he made chances for his teammates,” said Coach Chandler. Finally, Patrick Earle of Rimouski, Que. was recognized for his "dirty feet" and for leading the team in goals. "He was a joy to watch," said Coach Chandler.
A Senior S in boys soccer went to keeper Max Cadrin of Lac Beauport, Que., who started out the season unsure of his abilities but, through training, practice and perseverance, became the best keeper in the league.
Senior S’s in girls soccer went to the third member of Team Numfor, Anchi Numfor, with her rocket shot, intimidating presence and speed on the field; and to Margarita Acero of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., not the fastest player by far but a ball-holding play-maker, earning her the most assists on the team.
In cross-country running, a Senior S went to Jennifer Corriveau of Montmagny, Que., who steadily improved race by race, finally blowing away the competition in the final.
In junior boys soccer, Coach James Rioux presented three Junior B’s. The first went to Kody Halikas of Newport, Vt., described as a great team guy and fierce competitor.
The second Junior S went to Max Daniel of Ottawa, Ont. who a year ago was just happy to be on the team. This year, he never came off the field. Describing Max as “big, tall and tough,” Coach Rioux said he had never seen such improvement in a player from one year to the next.
Sean Scribner of Stanstead, Que. received the third Junior S for boys soccer. As the team’s keeper, he showed tremendous work ethic and was always willing to take criticism and ask for help, leading to his maturity as a player. “In some ways he was the heart and soul of the team,” said Coach Rioux.
In Junior girls soccer, the Junior S went to Luisa Sofia Sepulveda, who coach Eric Grenier described as the player other teams adjusted their strategy around, she was that good.
At the bantam level, Malcolm Wood-Downey of Magog, Que. received an S for cross-country running, his second in a row. The top runner in his class, he was described by Coach Ross as “determined, driven, disciplined and competitive.”
In bantam boys soccer, letters went to keeper Jordan Norris of Ogden, Que. for his control of the defence and to Paul Miller of Ste-Catherine-de-Hatley, Que., who played multiple defensive positions and always gave his best, whether in games or in practice. “We probably would have lost a lot more games by a lot more points without him,” said Coach Jeff Standage.
In bantam girls soccer, a letter went to Daniela Aloi-Timeus of Mexico City, who, despite her limited experience with soccer, became an integral part of the defence with her crisp, accurate passes. The second Bantam S went to Meghan Martin of Newport, Vt. “She wasn’t the biggest on the field but she had the biggest heart,” said Coach Lisa Smith. “She played her position and she played it well and with positive attitude.”
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