By Ayush Kothari | May 25th, 2023
Spring has sprung, and with it comes a flurry of activity on the sports fields at The Woodlands. From the adrenaline-fueled sprints of track and field to the intense teamwork of soccer, from the perfect crack of a bat in baseball to the aggressive tackles of rugby, from an ultimate frisbee slicing through the air to the quick movements of badminton, there is a sport for everyone. So grab your bat and put on your cleats, because in this article, we are going to jump into the diverse world of The Woodlands’ spring sports.
Bright and early on a weekday morning, you may glimpse the track and field team hard at work outside. There is a diverse range of running events one can compete in at The Region of Peel Secondary Schools Athletic Association (ROPSSAA) meet. From the intense sprints of the 100m and 200m races to the carefully-paced and endurance-heavy 1500m and 3000m runs, students have the opportunity to run the race that suits them best. There are even hurdling events ranging from 80m to 400m in length. Having coached the Nordic Ski team in the winter season, Ms. Martin is now responsible for the track part of this sport. She is dedicated to the team’s success and holds practices up to five times a week. She says that she is hoping for the team to “work really hard to get better, to be disciplined, and to commit to growth in their event.” Seeing the evolution of student athletes throughout the year is the main reason why she loves coaching this sport. On the field aspect of the sport, there are three events: shot put, javelin, and discus throw. These events are coached by Mrs. Hamilton. The Woodlands does not have a coach for the jumping events (long jump, pole vault, high jump, and triple jump). The track and field team competed at two qualifying meet at St. Marcellinus Secondary School on May 4th and 5th and the Campion Bears Track and Field Invitational on May 11th, where they earned multiple gold medals. They then headed for ROPSSAA at Terry Fox Stadium on May 24th and 25th, where a number of the athletes qualified for the next meet. If you ever see the track and field team training hard during the school day, be sure to show them your support!
As the track and field athletes take a breather after a tiring sprint, the sound of cracking bats echoes across the fields. The Woodlands baseball team is gearing up for another exciting season filled with home runs, strikeouts, and fierce competition. The Rams are a varsity team, meaning it is open to students from all grades, and is a selected team of 15 players. They played their first two games on April 25th against Brampton Centennial and Castlebrooke Secondary Schools, and, to no one’s surprise, The Woodlands won both! Mr. Dellio and Mr. Mulder, who has played and coached baseball for many years, are the two coaches of the baseball team. As it is his first year teaching at the Woodlands, Mr. Mulder is so happy to be part of our team. He explains that it is his hope that “our athletes come away from their time on the baseball field with a sense of confidence and fun memories from the experience.”
As the crack of the baseball bat fades away, a similar sport takes center stage on the diamond. Slo-pitch softball season is in full swing, and The Woodlands’ team is ready to show off its skills. Slo-pitch softball is played with 10 fielders, lob pitches, and no stealing, and it is an exciting game that offers a great learning experience for new players. The Woodlands’ softball team has 16 players from all grades and is coached by Mr. Heathfield. Having already coached the team for three years, the athletes are in good hands. When asked what his goals for this softball season were, Mr. Heathfield replied, “[I want] players to learn the game and hopefully enjoy themselves.” The team competed in a regional tournament on May 16th and is now heading to ROPSSAA playoffs on June 6th.
While softball players swing for the fences, the soccer field nearby buzzes with swift footwork and strategic passes. The Woodlands soccer team is preparing to showcase their skills, dribbling and shooting their way to victory in the world’s most popular sport. There are four teams representing the Woodlands; Junior Girls, Junior Boys, Senior Girls, and Senior Boys. The Junior Boys soccer team of 22 players kicked off the season with a game against St. Martin S.S. on April 28, and since then has battled through four tough games. The team has a 0-4 win-loss record thus far, but being in the hardest ROPSSAA tier is no easy feat, and the team has put up a great fight in every single game. The Woodlands soccer team is coached by Mr. McNamara and Ms. Gruscyk. When asked what his goals for the season were, mid and right-winger Ranbir Sachdev, from the junior boys team, said, “I really just want to see the team winning, as I am a team player. I enjoy seeing us thrive and being the best. One of my personal goals is to try to help the team as much as I can.” Good luck to the soccer team on the rest of their season!
As the whistle blows and the soccer practice comes to an end, The Woodlands’ ultimate frisbee team, coached by Ms. Raybould and Mr. Doret, takes the field, ready to put their skills to the test in yet another fast-paced and exhilarating sport. The 31-player varsity team brings together students from all grades. The frisbee team started off their season in the second half of April, and so far have a well-earned record of 4 wins and 2 losses. They will be playing league games and tournaments throughout the remainder of the season, and competed in the ROPSSAA semi-finals on May 15. Regarding his hopes and goals for the ultimate frisbee season, Jayden Li, a grade 9 athlete, said, “I just want to get some playtime, improve my skills, and make some new friends.” Ultimate frisbee is a sport filled with teamwork and skill, and we wish the team luck for the remainder of the season.
As a frisbee glides into the distance, the rugged and intense sport of rugby steps into the stoplight, with Woodlands’ formidable team ready to tackle their opponents head-on. From bone-crushing hits to strategic plays, our rugby team is prepared to leave it all on the pitch. The Woodlands has a boys rugby team that is open to all grades and comprises of about 20 athletes. Coached by Mr. McKay and Ms. Moniz, the challenging job is made a little easier with the help of two students as assistant coaches. The rugby team kicked off the season with a match against Mayfield S.S., and will only be playing four games total this season. There was also a Woodlands’ rugby team in the fall season, but there are a few changes to the game this time around. In the fall Woodlands had a rugby sevens team, in which only seven people are on the pitch at a time. This spring the team plays rugby 15s, in which 15 athletes are on the field at a time. Games this time around are generally longer and positions are assigned. When Catherine Zhang, one of the assistant coaches, was asked about her hopes and goals for the season, she said, “[rugby] is a very new sport within this school…many of [our players] are just getting used to the game, and I hope it’ll build a foundation in the coming years for Woods rugby.”
The fierce and intense battles of the rugby field make way for the slick and fast-paced action of ball hockey. The Woodlands’ ball hockey team takes the field ready to execute precise shots, quick passes, and agile footwork, all while showcasing their talent in this exhilarating sport. Although ball hockey is not a ROPSSAA sport, that did not stop fans of the sport from wanting to represent the school with their skills. Coached by Mr. Dellio and Mr. McKay, the ball hockey team competes in Peel’s ball hockey league against other schools. These 16 athletes have already competed in a tournament on Friday, May 12, earning a 1 win, 1 tie, and 2 loss record. They also competed in another tournament on May 18 and will now head to the league finals on the 1st of June. Ksenia Chmurzynski, a Grade 12 student who is the sole goalie of the ball hockey team, said that her goal for the season is to “hopefully make it far into the [tournament] on the 1st and just have fun playing high school hockey.” Ball hockey is still a growing sport at The Woodlands, and hopefully, it can gain some more popularity in its upcoming years. In the meantime, good luck with the rest of the season!
The clatter of sticks subsides, and The Woodlands' cricket team takes the pitch. With elegant strokes, precise bowling, and a symphony of fielding maneuvers, they are ready to impress. The boys cricket team welcomes students from all grades. Coached by Mr. McKay, the team of 12 students kicked off their season with a game against Meadowvale S.S. on March 23rd. Muhammad Zaeem Aqeel, one of the athletes on the cricket team, said regarding the game against Meadowvale, “[With this game], cricket came back to [The Woodlands] after nine years. We were nervous. It was our first pro game. The other team showed bad sportsman spirit…our coach said ‘ignore them, show performance as a response’ and we did. We won the game in the last over.” Although the cricket team did not make it past the group stage, they are excited because they are building their team back up from the ashes after nine years. The cricket season came to an end with a final one-day tournament on May 24th.
Inside the school gym, the air becomes filled with swift swishes and precise shuttlecock hits, marking the arrival of Woodlands' badminton players. With lightning-fast reflexes, feather-light touches, and strategic court positioning, they engage in a graceful dance of skill and agility that sets badminton apart as a sport. The Woodlands’ badminton team, coached by Ms. Bin Yameen, has approximately 23 athletes. The badminton team’s first tournament happened back in April. There are two styles of badminton that can be played: singles and doubles. The team competed in the ROPSSAA qualifiers on April 26th. One of our grade 12 singles players, Orlando Huang, and a Grade 10 men’s doubles team comprising of Eric and Uchisda qualified for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) tournament. At the provincial-level event, our doubles team made it to the semi-finals, and Orlando won the competition! While the season is now over, Woodlands’ badminton, like all of the school’s sports, has a bright future ahead.
The spring sports season at The Woodlands has been nothing short of exhilarating. Whether running, kicking, throwing, or batting, The Woodlands’ superb athletes’ dedication, teamwork, and unwavering spirit have been on full display, making this a season to remember. As the season comes to a close, make sure to support your fellow Woodlands athletes in their sporting endeavours. If you are part of one of these Woodlands sporting teams, congratulations on your hard work so far and good luck with the rest of the season! And if you are not, consider joining next year. Sports have the power to inspire, unite, and create memories that will last a lifetime. The Athletic Banquet was held on June 8th to recognize the incredible achievements of this year’s athletes.
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