Tuesday, October 1, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Jade Tep-Chhun is heading to OFSAA for a third consecutive year.
The St. Joseph's Rams golfer repeated as the WOSSAA girls golf champion, with a six-over 76 round, Tuesday at Thames Valley Golf Club.
"It's awesome because it's my last year in high school," Tep-Chhun said. "I was actually hitting the ball in the fairway and not punching out. I was making a few more putts. I had some lip out, but I had some birdies, so that's a good thing."
Four birdies gave Tep-Chhun the lone sub-80 score in A flight, winning by 13 strokes and a third trip to OFSAA, this year at the Ambassador Club in Windsor, October 16-17.
After taking silver in 2022, Tep-Chhun won WOSSAA a year ago in Mitchell and went on to place 23rd at OFSAA, four spots higher then her OFSAA debut in the Open division.
"Fall golf is hard. Conditions are much more harder and colder. You have to be on your A game," said Tep-Chhun. "I'm going to play my own game. That's really it."
Also qualifying for OFSAA, for the High School division, are sisters Lulu and EnRae Stuckless of Exeter South Huron District, Haylie Brett of Woodstock Notre-Dame, Katie Mathieu of London Oakridge and Grace Kipfer of Stratford St. Mike's.
Rams' Melissa Gillies took WOSSA silver in B flight, featuring a field of 44 golfers.
Gillies and Eva Kim, of London Beal, tied the nine hole competition both carding a 44, with Kim winning gold in a playoff.
"I'm excited to medal," Gillies said. "My tee-shots were good all day and the best part of my game, my chipping was significantly better than at TVRA (September 25), which allowed me to have a way better round and score."
The multi sport athlete only started getting serious about golf this summer, therefore the WOSSAA silver is her first individual award in the sport.
Gillies was part of the Rams' TVRA winning team, with Tep-Chhun, Emma Hawes and Charlie Giesbrecht.
Selina Gethke, from Mitchell District won B flight bronze in a playoff, over Christina Kim, of Medway high school.

Monday, September 30, 2024
UNION, Ont. - UNION, Ont. - Rylan Hall and Parkside Stampeder Zander Battaglia both are returning to OFSAA boys golf.
Hall, from Stratford St. Mike's, fired a two-over 74 for the 2024 WOSSAA title, Monday at the St. Thomas Golf and County Club.
"My ball striking was good. I mapped out the course well, so I knew what I was doing out there," Hall said. "I just came off a good finish at Golf Ontario super camp, so I was feeling good coming into this. I stuck to my game and kept pushing along."
Hall won WOSSAA (+6, 78) in 2022 and finished tied for seventh (+8, 80) a year ago. The Grade 12 student had his best score at Union this year.
"I had a tough finish, going three over in the last three holes, but I knew I would have a shot so I tried to stick to my game and stay calm," said Hall, who edged Byron Etheridge, of London Oakridge, by one stroke.
Battaglia tied fifth overall and is the top player for the high school division, for the OFSAA championship, at the Hollinger Golf Club Timmins October 16-17.
"I came in confident. I had a very good front nine, but not a good back nine," Battaglia said. "I was making a lot of putts just by simple golf. Then on the back, I had a lot of three putts. I played decent but definitly can be better. My putting has been good and I've been striking my irons really well.
At OFSAA, there are two divisions, Open and High School. Open is for golfers who play Golf Ontario tournaments throughout the year.
Rounding out the top five, Luke Reading, London Aquinas, third (+4, 76), Andrew Sudicky, London Saunders (+5, 77) and Celina Yeo, Aquinas, fifth (+6, 78).
Reading and Yeo led Aquinas to the team title and a berth at OFSAA, along with Hector Zarate (+8, 80), for a three player total of +18.
"It's going to be a lot of fun and I'm very excited. I'm feeling confident going into OFSAA," said Zarate, who returns to OFSAA, after qualifying as an individual in the Open division a year ago. "Luke had a great score. I was playing well, but had a few bad holes."
Reading and fourth member Bennett Hawrelak, will be making their OFSAA debuts. Yeo played at girls' OFSAA in 2022.
"The practice round will be very important," said Zarate. "Help each other and point out some of the important things to look out for on the course."
Saunders placed second (+27) in the team standings and the Parkside Stampeders, third (+31). Dorchester was 11th and St. Joe's, 15th.

Thursday, September 26, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Jade Tep-Chhun keeps adding to her list of golf accomplishments.
The St. Joseph's Rams golfer carded a 9-over 83 to handily win the Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA) A-flight individual gold and lead the Rams to the Tri-County title, Wednesday at the Thames Valley Golf Club.
Tep-Chhun is a two-time OFSAA competitor, WOSSAA champion and team silver medalist (ninth overall) from the Ontario Summer Games last month.
The Rams team (Tep-Chhun, Emma Hawes, Melissa Gillies and Charlie Giesbrecht) had score of 145, 32 strokes better than second place Woodstock CI.
Hawes won the nine-hole B flight, in a field of 64 golfers, to give the Rams a sweep of both individual A and B flight and team gold.
Aiming to return to OFSAA for a third consecutive year, Tep-Chhun admittingly didn't have her best round of 18, but won the competition by 25 strokes.
"Tough day on the course," Tep-Chhun said.
Haylie Brett of Woodstock Notre-Dame, placed second and Dorchester Beavers Portia Metcalfe, third.
The Medway Cowboys took the Central Division team title.
Oakride Oaks Kate Mathieu won the A-Flight individual title.
The top three golfers' scores count towards team points and only the front-nine scores count.
Qualifying for WOSSAA in B flight, with a score under 66, from Elgin County, the Rams, West Elgin Wildcats Lily Boothe, who finished seventh, and Danika McKillop and Central Elgin Titans Janay Gillard and Sloane Maudsley.
WOSSAA is back at Thames Valley, Tuesday, October 1.
The top three golfers' scores count towards team points and only the front-nine scores count.

Additional WOSSAA qualifiers (outside Elgin County - Dorchester)
Tri-County A flight
Haylie Brett - Notre Dame
Tri-County B flight qualifiers
Katie Griffiths, Brooklyn Regan - Holy Cross
Megan Atkinson, Lily Melanson, Chloe Melanson - Woodstock CI
Lainey West - Glendale
Brooke Primeau, Sammie Fichter, Molly Towers - Strathroy DCI
Femke op den kelder, Abi Greenwood - Ingersoll
Emillie Sirois - Notre Dame

Central A flight WOSSAA qualifiers
Kate Mathieu - Oakridge
Ellia Lobraico - M Bruyere

Central B flight WOSSAA qualifiers
Ellyn Chu - Mother Theresa
Christina Kim, Sophie Rivard and Calleigh van Oosterhout - Medway Cowboys
Eva Kim - Beal
Teegan Garrett, Kensi Doerr - Lucas
Arin Oh - CCH
Sydney Smith, Isla Linton, Emerson Moore - Aquinas
Madilynn Steadman - Saunders
Gwen Dwyer - Oakridge
Havana Reaume - Mon. Bruyere
Lyla Monk, Ella Caldwell, Tori Battle - South
Grace Rotermann, Graye Spoelstra - Bantings
Grace Grossman - Laurier

Tuesday, September 22, 2024
UNION, Ont. - Ben Hudson is a two-time Tri-County boys golf champion.
Hudson fired a three-under 69, to repeat as the Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA) Tri-County A-flight winner, Monday at the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club.
"Every time I hit a shot, it went down the middle. Every time I hit a shot from the fairway, it went on to the green," said Hudson.
Parkside Stampeders Zander Battaglia finished second, with a two-under 70.
"It was a steady round," said Battaglia. "I hit the ball well. A couple three putts, but still a good round. I was steady. A lot of pars. I birdied all of the fives."
Dorchester Beavers Ryan Johnson was third, cardind a four-over 76.
"My round was pretty solid," Johnson said. "Lost a few shots one some par fives, but my long putting was very good and I drove the ball really well.
Led by Hudson, the Strathroy Saints took the A flight team title with a three player combined score of 228, with Hunter Talbot and Logan Woodiwiss.
"They're wearing gold medals as well. That says it all," said Hudson, of his teammates.
Parkside placed second (233), St. Joe's third (250), followed by Ingersoll (258), Dorchester (263) and Glencoe (266). West Elgin placed eighth (285).
Rounding out the individual top 10: Woodiwiss (79), Parkside's Cohen Kelly (80), Talbot (80), Ingersoll's Nathan Kapitor (81), St. Joe's Liam Metzger (83), Parkside's Preston Gryp (83) and St. Joe's Callum Besley (83).
Hunter Brent, of Strathroy Holy Cross, won B flight, carding a 79, leading his team to the B flight title.
The Central Elgin Titans placed second in the B flight team standings.
The top six teams advance to WOSSAA, back here on September 30.
Individuals not on teams advancing, are Ryerson Galbraith (Holy Cross), Quinn Lessif (Glendale), Peyton Voth (Glendale) and Luke T (WCI).

Monday, September 22, 2024
NIAGARA, Ont. - Twice the BAD U15BB Blazers went to a shootout. Twice Jessie Hudson netted the game winner.
The Blazers won the Niagara Rapids Fall Classic girls hockey tournament Sunday, taking the U15BB gold medal game, 2-1, over the Central York Panthers, in a shootout.
Charlotte Sheppard, assisted by Kenzley Leibold, scored in regulation time. A five minute overtime solved nothing, leading to Hudson's shining moment.
In the semifinals, Hudson scored in a shootout, lifting the Blazers over Peterborough, 3-2.
Hudson, unassisted, and Avery Perry, from Jessie Hudson and Lydia Carter, scored in regulation.
Goalie Selena Woodford was in net for the Blazers in both games.
In pool play, the Blazers had three wins and a tie.

Friday, September 20, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Almost 1,700 fans packed the Joe for the St. Thomas Stars Fill the Rink night.
But the Strathroy Rockets spoiled the Stars' home opener tonight, with a 3-1 win.
Matthew O'Sullivan scored the Stars' lone goal late in the third period.
Damian Pancino with two goals, one an empty netter, Lucas Laprise and Matthew Balloch scored for Strathroy.
Stars Cole Collins and Rockets Caleb Rosseel entertained the crowd with a late second period fight, with Collins skating away with the takedown.
St. Thomas is winless after two games.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024
MUNCEY, Ont. - The Chippewa Chiefs have their first South Middlesex Men's Fastball League championship.
Dallas Cornelius hit a two-run homer lifting the Chiefs over the St. Thomas Storm, 9-2, in five innings, tonight in game four, to win the final three games to one.
St. Thomas led 2-0 after two innings. Down 2-1, Chippewa scored six runs in the home half of the fourth inning, for a 7-2 lead.
Chiefs pitcher Pami Mazulugwa entered the game with one out bases loaded in the third inning and struck out the next two batters. Mazulugwa would retire eight consecutive batters, six by strikeout.
Nate Doxtator, Ty Huff and Joey Doxtator, each had two hits for the Chiefs.
Mitch Roy batted two-for-three for the Storm, including a lead-off solo home run.
Mazulugwa struck out 40 Storm batters in 16 innings over three games.
MORE TO FOLLOW

Monday, September 16, 2024
FINGAL. Ont. - Finding their bats has extended the St. Thomas Storm season.
After dropping the first two games of the South Middlesex Men's fastball league final, 3-2 and 8-1, the Storm kept their season alive with a 8-5 win against the Chippewa Chiefs Sunday.
Paul Grasby batted three-for-three, including a crucial fifth inning home run, to lead a 14 hit attack that included four triples.
Tyler Annett was three-for-four, a home run short of hitting for the cycle. Mitch Roy had a pair of triples and was hit by a pitch. Chris Wismer knocked out a double and triple, while Jason Dawdy drew a pair of walks.
Chippewa was without their ace Pami Mazulugwa, pitching at a tournament in Manitoba. The man behind 32 strikeouts in games one and two, will be back for game four, 8 p.m. Wednesday in Muncey.

Monday, September 16, 2024
ST. THOMAS - The St. Thomas U15B Panthers started the hockey season off in golden style.
With only a few practices together, these Panthers went out and won gold at the Big Cat Showdown, blanking the Chatham-Kent Crunch, 2-0, in the U15B final Sunday at the Joe.
Tegan Cochrane and Kailey Clark scored, while goalie Paige McMahon had the shutout.
The Panthers went undefeated over the three day tournament, winning four games and tying one, outscoring opponents, 12 to one.
Both the Panthers U15A and U18BB teams were finalists. The U15As lost in overtime, 2-1, to the Kitchener Lady Rangers. The U18BB fell, 2-1, in a shootout to the Mississauga Hurricanes.
The U11A and U13A Panthers, lost in their semifinals.
The U18B Panthers did not advance from pool play.

Sunday, September 15, 2024
DORCHESTER, Ont. - It was not the best welcome to a new division.
On opening weekend for the Provincial Junior Hockey League, the Dorchester Dolphins dropped both of their first two games playing in the Doherty division.
Dorchester was shut out by the Woodstock Navy Vets, 5-0, on the road Friday September 13th, before the New Hamburg Firebirds spoiled the 'Phins home opener, with a 7-3 win Saturday.

Sunday, September 15, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Three St. Thomas Panthers teams have moved on to semifinals at the Big Cat Showdown girls hockey tournament.
The Panthers take on Lambeth in U11A, South Huron in U13A and Lucan in U15A.
Update: The U11A Panthers lost their semifinal, 1-0 and the U13A Panthers fell, 6-1.
In U15B action, the Panthers had a pool record of three wins and a tie, while in U18BB, the Panthers finished 3-1-0.

Saturday, September 14, 2024
ST. THOMAS - The Big Cat Showdown has taken over the Railway City.
From Friday to Sunday, 41 teams from 25 organizations are competing and for most clubs, it is their first tournament of the 2024-25 hockey season.
The event features eight divisions with games scheduled at the Joe, Memorial arena and the East Elgin Community Centre in Aylmer.
Six Panthers teams, U11A, U13A, U15A, U15B, U18B and U18BB, are on home ice this weekend.
The U11A Panthers went 2-1 in pool play and blanked Woodstock, 4-0, in the quarterfinals.
The U13A Panthers also went 2-1 in pool and face Bluewater in their quarterfinal.
In U15A action, the Panthers are 3-0 and have a semifinal Sunday morning.
At mid day Saturday, the U15BB and U18BB Panthers are both 2-1, while the U18Bs have a win, tie and one loss.

Thursday, September 12, 2024
MUNCEY, Ont. - One year later the St. Thomas Storm find themselves in a familiar spot, down two games to none in the South Middlesex Men's Fastball League best of five final.
Pami Mazulugnwa struck out 13 batters, leading the Chippewa Chiefs to a six inning 8-1 victory, over the Storm in game two Thursday night at the Chippewa ball park.
The Chiefs scored at least one run in five of the six innings, with Joey Doxtator, Nate Doxtator and Josh Tetreau hitting home runs.
Down 3-0, the Storm scored a run in the fourth, but left the bases loaded.
Ben Hodgins had two of the Storm's four hits and the lone RBI.
Game three is Sunday, 7 p.m. in Fingal.
In the 2023 final, the Glencoe Astros jumped out to a two games to none lead on the Storm, including a 14-0 blowout in game two. But St. Thomas rebounded winning games three and four, before Glencoe held on to clinch the title in game five, 6-5.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024
FINGAL, Ont. - It was the Pami Mazulugwa show.
Mazulugwa struck out 19 batters carrying the Chippewa Chiefs to a 3-2 win over the St. Thomas Storm, in game one of the best of five South Middlesex Men's Fastball League final Tuesday.
Tyler Annett had two of the Storm's four total hits and gave his team a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Annett delivered a RBI single, moved around the bases on a Jason Dawdy single and scored on a fielders' choice.
Chippewa cut the lead in half in the third inning. Back to back triples in the sixth inning pushed the Chiefs ahead, 3-2.
Singles by Annett and Randy Gray put runners on second and first base with one out in the bottom of the sixth. The threat was silenced with a pair of strikeouts.
Game two is at Chippewa Thursday at 8 p.m. Game three is in Fingal, Sunday, at 7 p.m.

Monday, September 9, 2024
FINGAL, Ont. - Randy Gray was hit by a pitch in the first inning.
In the sixth inning, Gray hit back driving in the winning run, as the St. Thomas Storm defeated the Alvinston Aces, 6-4, Sunday, to sweep the South Middlesex men's fastball semifinal in two games.

Alvinston jumped out to a 3-0 in the first inning, on a three-run homer by Aaron Waugh.
Mitch Roy, two-for-three for the game, figured in three of the Storm's first four runs.
Roy put the Storm on the board leading off the home half of the first with a solo shot. A two-out bases loaded walk to Jeff MacPherson made it 3-2.
Roy led off the second inning with a double and tied the game, scoring on an error. In the third, Roy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving the Storm a 4-3 lead.
Bailey Whiteye tied the game on a solo shot.
Gray put the Storm back on top at 5-4 in the fifth, before Mike Unwin singled in Paul Grasby who led off the sixth with a walk.
Storm starting pitcher Dan Beecroft worked five innings, striking out eight batters, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks. Ben Hodgins earned the save retiring six of seven batters faced.
Gray and MacPherson, both finished two-for-three, while Tyler Annett was two-for-four. Grasby drew a pair of walks in three at bats.
St. Thomas meets the Chippewa Chiefs in the best of five championship final starting Tuesday, September 10 in Fingal.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024
ALVINSTON, Ont. - Ben Hodgins tossed a five hitter while striking out nine batters, as the St. Thomas Storm defeated the Alvinston Aces, 7-1, tonight, in game one of the South Middlesex men's fastball semifinal.
A tight affair, at 3-1, until the Storm secured victory scoring four runs in the seventh inning.
Tyler Annett had two singles and three RBI, while Chris Wismer drove in two runs on a pair of doubles. Mitch Roy and Jason Dawdy, both had a single, double and one RBI. Mike Unwin drew two walks and scored twice.
The Storm carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning, when Annett delivered a two-run single. The Aces scored their lone run on three singles in the home half of the fifth.
Game two of the best of three series, is Sunday, 7 p.m. in Fingal.
In the other semifinal opener, Chippewa shut out the Highgate Rock, 2-0.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024
ST. THOMAS - The St. Thomas Cardinals are 16U provincial champions.
Austin Wright delivered a single with the bases loaded, as the Cardinals mercied the Tecumseh Rangers, 17-7, in five innings, in game two of Baseball Ontario's 16U 'A" championship, Monday at Emslie Field.
Tecumseh spoiled a celebration occurring earlier in the day, by handing St. Thomas its first loss of the tournament, 13-8.
In game two of the final, the Cardinals came out on fire, scoring seven runs in the opening inning. The home team led 10-1 after three innings and 14-5 after four.
Wyatt Atchison pitched a complete game.
Cam Morrison had three RBI, from a double and pair of singles, Wright finished with three RBI on two singles and Tyler Serratore had a RBI double.
St. Thomas defeated Port Lambton, 9-2, in the semifinals, Monday morning.

Monday, September 2, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Only one team sits atop the perch, 4-0, at Baseball Ontario's 16U 'A" championship.
The St. Thomas Cardinals won both of their games Sunday at Cardinal Field, defeating Caledonia, 10-7 and Grimsby, 13-10, to improve to four wins, no losses.
The host club is the lone undefeated team and have to be beaten twice on day four of the tournament Monday. Two games remain, three if the Cardinals lose a game.
"We told the boys that we're two wins away from something they've been working on for years," Cardinals manager Ryan Morrison said. "The plan is coming together."
Port Lambton Pirates and Tecumseh Rangers, both have one loss, suffered in their opening games, also remain in action.
Late Sunday, Port Lambton eliminated Grimsby, while Tecumseh ended the run for the St. Marys Rockies.
"We got behind in both games (Sunday) and battled back," Morrison said. "We kept plugging away and keeping teams off balance with our offensive approach. We keep grinding and grinding and sometimes the big bang is in the first inning and sometimes it's in the fifth, sixth or seventh. We always seem to come up with the clutch hits, the clutch steals and the clutch strikeouts."
St. Thomas trailed Grimsby early, 2-0 and 3-1, before taking a 6-3 lead in the third inning.
Grimsby pulled back to within a run in the sixth, but Cardinals' centrefielder Mason Beechy stopped the tying run, catching a fly ball, before gunning down a runner at home plate.
"I was just going to throw it has hard as I can. I had to get it home," said Beechey. "I've been practising and getting good at it."
Morrison on Beechey.
"That's what he does. The amount of teams that see him track fly balls and just say, wow. He gets the balls no one else can. He's an elite, elite defender, with a strong, accurate throw."
St. Thomas blew up in the top of the seventh, scoring seven runs.
Grimsby mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, scoring five times and bringing the potential tying run to the plate.
"We went in (seventh) thinking we needed one and luckily we got seven," Morrison said. "It turned out we needed every single one of them."
Pitcher Cameron Morrison got the win against Caledonia, going five and two-thirds inning, striking out nine and walking three. Aiden Ward came in relief for the save.
Beechey dropped two bunts, that took him to third base both times, due to throwing errors. Cooper Henderson had two singles.
The Cardinals face Port Lambton, 9 a.m. at Emslie Field.
Tecumseh waits an opponent for a noon game, potenially the championship final.

Sunday, September 1, 2024
ST. THOMAS - In a tight game the St. Thomas Cardinals put on the squeeze.
Tied at two heading into the fifth inning, the Cardinals loaded the bases, before Nathan Watson bunting the ball down the third base line, scoring Mason Beechy for the go ahead run.
It held as the winning run as St. Thomas edged the Hamilton Cardinals, 3-2, at Baseball Ontario's 16U 'A" championship, Saturday under the lights at Emslie Field.
Heading into day three Sunday, St. Thomas is 2-0.
"The big play of the game was top of five, when we had our best bunter up, Nathan Watson and our fastest base runner, Beechey, at third and we dropped the suicide squeeze," Cardinals manager Ryan Morrison said. "We were talking about it at third base and after two pitches, we said, let's do it. Watson gets the bunt down every time. We dream of that situation. That's the second time we've done it in two years with the same two guys."
Beechey led off the inning with a single, before Aaron Dyke and Tyler Serratore loaded the bases.
"It was a tight game. There wasn't a lot going on offensively," said Morrison. "Those were the couple key moments to have some offense."
St. Thomas made the most of their five singles and four walked batters in the game.
Pitcher Gabe Laliberte shined on the mound for the home Cardinals, going the entire seven inning game, minus the final batter. Laliberte struck out 10 batters, while walking three batters and only allowing three singles, in a 105-pitched game.
"I told him three days ago this is the match he's getting, because we knew Hamilton was a tough team. He came out and delivered," Morrison said. "We got exactly what we needed from him. He kept them off speed, off balance with the curveball. They were fooled all night."
Reliever Callum Ryckman struck out the final batter to end the game.
Hamilton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning, before St. Thomas scored one run in each of the second and fourth innings to tie.
"Our first two runs were hard hit balls that they made errors on," said Morrison. "We were running the bases hard and they made mistakes."
St. Thomas faces Caledonia, also 2-0, Sunday, 2 p.m. at Cardinal Field. Win or lose, St. Thomas will play at 5 p.m.
Due to overnight rain Friday, that delayed the start of Saturday until 2 p.m., the final is now on Monday.

Thursday, August 29, 2024
FINGAL, Ont. - The long ball powered the St. Thomas Storm to a series winning victory.
Four home runs were the offense as the Storm blanked the Talbotville Phanthoms, 8-0, in five innings, Thursday in South Middlesex Men's Fastball quarterfinal action.
St. Thomas takes the series in two games, outscoring Talbotville, 16-1.
Jason Dawdy and Tyler Annett, both hit three-run homers, while Paul Grasby and Mark McCallum, with his first career home run, had solo shots.
Pitcher Ben Hodgins gave up just three hits, two from the first two batters of the game, while striking out seven batters.
Storm's Mitch Roy batted three-for-three and scored two runs.
St. Thomas meets long time rivals Alvinston in the semifinals, while first place Highgate sees Chippewa, in best of three game series.
Chippewa ousted the 2023 champs, Glencoe, 3-2, tonight on a walk-off single.

Tuesday, August 26, 2024
FINGAL, Ont. - Rob Burns drove in three runs on a pair of two-out singles and Tyler Annett hit a three-run homer, to lead the St. Thomas Storm to a six inning 8-1 win over the Talbotville Phanthoms, in game one of their South Middlesex Men's Fastball quarterfinal Monday.
Holding on to a 1-0 lead after four innings, the Storm scored two runs in the fifth, before putting away the Phantoms in the sixth.
Dan Beecroft pitched a complete game.
Game two is here Tuesday.

Sunday, August 11, 2024
CALGARY, Alta. - Ethan Atkinson and Libby McCurdy both won bronze medals at the Canadian Legion Youth athletics championships, August 9-11.
Atkinson (photo), a 14-year old from St. Thomas, won bronze in U16 boys pole vault, clearing a personal best 3.70 metres.
McCurdy from Sparta, took bronze, in the U18 women's competition, with a best leap of 3.40 metres.
Promise Atkinson of St. Thomas, was seventh U18 women's pole vault (3.05m) and 19th in long jump (4.72m).
Andrew Urquhart of Thorndale, placed ninth in U18 men's shot put (14.35m) and 17th in discus (39.97m).
Kirk Hallman finished 15th in the U18 men's 1500 metre run and 19th in the 800m (1:59.79)
Evan Stevens of Thorndale, placed 15th in the U18 men's decathlon.
Jenna Tunks of London, won both the U16 girls discus (44.85m) and shot put (14.47m).

Monday, August 5, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Colbie Farr is an Ontario Summer Games gold medalist.
Farr, from Belmont, scored the opening goal, to lead Team NGosling over Team Howe, 5-0, in the gold medal game for U16 women's hockey, August 4 at Thompson Arena.
The defenceman also picked up two minor penalties in third period.
Team NGosling went 4-1 overall.
Farr also had the game winner in a 2-1 win over Team Howe during pool play.
A graduate of South Dorchester elementary school, Farr will be attending East Elgin secondary next month.
Evan Baldwin from Straffordville, brought home bronze in U15 boys baseball with Southern Counties defeating LDBA, 11-4, at Pulman Field.
Baldwin, a Grade 10 student at East Elgin Secondary, played right field and saw time at catcher
In game three, Baldwin had a single, walk and RBI, followed by a pair of walks and two runs scored in game four, both Southern Counties win, after a 0-2 start.
Southern lost in the semifinals, 8-0, to the eventual gold medal winner, YSBA.
In U16 girls baseballl, Cassidy Broderick of St. Thomas and the Shamrocks went winless in four games.

Monday, August 5, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Annalise Verbruggan helped lead Team Huron to the gold medal in U14 girls basketball at the Ontario Summer Games.
Team Huron defeated Team Kawartha, 50-31, in the final August 4 at Fanshawe College.
Verbruggan led Huron in scoring in a couple of games and was named player of the game in the team's only loss of the tournament.
Huron went 3-1 in pool play, before defeating Tri-County, 49-29, in the semifinals.
Verbruggan, a graduate of Mitchell Hepburn elementary this June, is heading to St. Joe's next month.
In boys basketball, three members of the St. Thomas Shock, Jack Moore, Liam Jones and Matteo Thomas, played on Team Huron (1-3).
Heidi Andrews of St. Thomas, placed fourth with Southwest in U18 girls rugby, dropping the bronze medal match, at Western University.
Katelyn MacInnis and Kyle Todd, with London Alliance, went 1-1-1 and missed advancing to the semifinals of U16 soccer.

Sunday, August 4, 2024
NAIRN, Ont. - Eve Buczkowski was a dominate force in cycling at the Ontario Summer Games.
The Talbotville resident won three of her U19 women's races, taking gold in the hill climb, time trial and road race.
Alex Fangeat of St. Thomas prevented a sweep winning the criterium at Springbank park August 2, with Buczkowski finishing second.
Fangeat also won silver in the hill climb and road race and bronze in the time trial.
The road race and time trial, started and finished at the Melville United Church south of Nairn, August 3.
Brody Mann of St. Thomas won the U18 boys criterium, finished second in both the road race and time trial and fourth in the hill climb, that took place on Talbot street.
In U16 boys, Ben Buczkowski finished 10t in the hill climb and 11th in the road race, criterium and time trial.

Sunday, July 28, 2024
BRAMPTON, Ont. - Xavier Sauer is a provincial triple gold medalist.
Sauer won the U14 boys 80-metre dash (9.89 sec.), 150-metre dash (18.50 sec.) and high jump(1.70m), at Athletics Ontario U14, U16 and U18 outdoor championships, July 26-28 at the Terry Fox Stadium.
The golden boy led a team of eight athletes from the St. Thomas Legion Club.
Aylana Sloetjes was golden in the U14 girls 80-metre hurdles (14.67 sec.), third in the 200m hurdles (32.73 sec.) and ninth in high jump (1.20m).
Nash Okkerse won silver in both the U14 boys 800m (2:16.720 and 1200-metre (3:38.83).
Aiyana John placed fifth in U18 women's high jump (1.50m).
Joel Sloetjes was sixth in U16 boys triple jump (10.97m) and seventh in the 150m dash.
Xavier Looper was eighth in U14 boys high jump (1.30m), ninth in triple jump (10.51m) and 10th in the 80m dash (11.51).
Jack Rice finished eighth in the U16 boys 2000m steeplechase (5:22.83).
Audrina Nicholson was 14th in U14 girls 80m dash (11.45 sec.) and 15th in the 150m dash (21.25 sec.)
Three additional local athletes also made the podium, with London-Western Club.
Libby McCurdy from Sparta, won silver in U18 women's pole vault (3.30m).
Taylor Kana (photo) of Springfield took bronze in U18 women's javelin (42.21m), while Jordin Stevens of Thorndale, brought home bronze in U16 girls javelin (30.38m).
Andrew Urquhart of Thorndale placed fifth in U18 men's shot put (15.50m).
Kirk Hallman from Thorndale, was 17th in the 1500 (4:12.19) and 18th in the 800m (2:01.80).
Ryan Johnson of Thorndale finished fifth in the U18 men's 2000m steeplechase and 24th in the 1500m (4:12.19).
The AO open, U20 and U18 heptathlon and decathlon, also occurred this weekend.
Evan Stevens of Thorndale, placed fourth in U18 men's decathlon, with 4,679 points. Stevens won long jump and placed second in shot put, javelin and the 110m hurdles, but no heighted in pole vault (no points).
Jadyn Luna of Thorndale, placed seventh in open women's hepthalon (3249 pts), but missed points due to a DNF in the 800 metre run, the final event.
Emma Westbrook placed seventh, in U20 women's hepthlon (2,918 points). Her best event was javelin, placing second with a throw of 30.85 metres.

Sunday, July 21, 2024
TORONTO, Ont. - Both AJ Stanat and Breanna Sloetjes (photo) brought home silver and bronze medals, from Athletics Ontario Open and U20 championships, July 19-21.
Stanat from St. Thomas won silver in open men's shot put (16.48 metres) and third in discus (44.77m).
Sloetjes of Strathroy, took silver in U20 women's high jump (1.68m) and bronze in triple jump (11.32m).
The pair led a team of six athletes representing St. Thomas Legion track and field club.
Mason Basson of Sparta, finished eighth in open men's 800m (1:51.37) and 11th in the 400 metre dash (50.50 sec.).
Emma Westbrook of St. Thomas, placed fifth in U20 women's javelin (31.47m), 11th in high jump (1.30m) and 23rd in long jump (4.48m).
Andrew Montieth placed 25th in U20 men's 800m (2:00.46).
Xavier Sauer took gold in the U14 boys tetrathlon, compiling 1,733 points, winning all four disciplines, the 80-metre hurdles, high jump, shot put and the 200 metre dash.
Jadyn Luna of Thorndale, with London Western Club, placed sixth in open women's shot put (11.59m) and 17th in long jump (4.85m).
Libby McCurdy from Sparta and Promise Atkinson of St. Thomas, placed ninth (3.35m) and 14th (3.05), respectively, in U20 women's pole vault.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024
ST. THOMAS - The St. Thomas Stars have been busy signing players for the upcoming Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) season.
Returning to the Stars are forwards Quinn Gavin-White, Trent Clinton and defenceman Carson Albert.
New signees are forwards Cooper Ilczyszyn, Jacob Vandeven, Sam Taylor, Landon Copeland, defencemen Nicolas Glanville and John Adlys and goalie Zach Irvin.
Acquired in a trade with the Cambridge Winterhawks is forward Kyle Caron.

Sunday, July 14, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Penalty kicks denied the St. Thomas Reds a spot in the U14 final at Boys Soccerfest.
Dixie took the U14 semifinal, 2-1, winning kicks, 5-4, Sunday at Athletic Park.
The U14 Reds were the only one of three St. Thomas teams to advance from the quarterfinals Sunday morning.
LS Croatia blanked the U13 Reds, 4-0, while Brantford City edged the U15 Reds, 5-4.
On day one, the U13, U14 and U15 teams each won two games, to clinch spots in the quarterfinals.
The U14 Reds finished first in their pool with two wins and a tie.
Both the U13 and U14 Reds went 2-1.

Saturday, June 29, 2024
MONTREAL Que. - Michael Roth won silver in the senior men's 400-metre sprint tonight at the Canadian track and field championships at the Claude Robillard Sports Complex..
The St. Thomas native finished in 46.52 seconds, behind winner Christopher Morales who took the gold medal in 45.44 seconds.
Morales qualified for the Paris Olympics, July 26-August 11.
Roth posted the fourth fastest qualifying time in the heats Friday.
Tayah DeSousa of St. Thomas, placed 13th in senior women's long jump (5.22 metres) and didn't finish the 100-metre hurdles final due to injury.
On Friday, Matt Piekny of St. Thomas, placed ninth in U20 men's pole vault (4.10m).
Vincent Moore of St. Thomas, finished 53rd (4:19.11) in senior men's 1500 metre qualifying.
Julia Tunks from London, only 17 years old, won silver in senior women's discus (55.54m), behind Agnes Essor (57.73m) from British Columbia.
Rachel Forsyth, daughter of Ian Forsyth from Dorchester, won the U20 women's 1500 metres by five seconds, finishing in 4:20.28.

Sunday, June 23, 2024
AURORA, Ont. - Behind on three different occasions the St. Thomas Cardinals pulled out an extra inning victory.
Carter Vachon delivered the game winning hit, lifting the Cardinals to a wild 15-14 win over Aurora, in the eighth inning of the 9U tournament final June 16th.
The Cardinals trailed 8-1, 11-8 and 14-12, heading into the bottom of the seventh and potentially final inning.

Monday, June 10, 2024
ST. THOMAS - On the provincial podium is where the Dorchester Beavers finished their debut season in AA girls soccer.
Faith Snyders and Bella Nolte on a penalty shot, scored as Dorchester edged Guelph Bishop McDonell Celtics, 2-1, in the OFSAA AA girls soccer bronze medal match June 8 at Password Park.

Saturday, June 8, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - St. Joseph's Rams Matt Piekny and Dorchester Beavers Andrew Urquhart both brought home silver on day three of OFSAA track and field at Western University.
Piekny captured his second consecutive silver medal in senior men's pole vault, clearing 4.30 metres.
Liam Miller, from Milton Bishop Reding, defended his title with a 4.70 metre vault, missing attempting 4.88 metres to break the OFSAA record of 4.87.
Urquhart tossed out the second best throw in junior men's shot put, at 17.92 metres.
East Elgin Eagles Henry Scott finished fourth in the junior men's 200-metre final in a time of 22.31 seconds. Scott had the third fastest qualifying time (22.61 sec.)
Dorchester Beavers Kirk Hallman finished eighth in the junior men's 3000 metre run (8:50.45).
St. Joseph's Flourish Nmor placed ninth in the junior women's 800 metre run (2:22.66), missing advancing to the final by one position.
Parkside Stampeders Lexi Stanat was 10th in senior women's shot put (10.33m).
Julia Tunks of London Oakridge won senior women's shot put with a heave of 14.31 metres.
Dorchester's Will Downing finished 10th in novice men's 300-metre hurdles (43.97 sec.) and Evan Stevens, 15th, in senior men's pole vault (3.20m).

Friday, June 7, 2024
ST. THOMAS - The Dorchester Beavers are playing for an OFSAA AA girls soccer medal.
Bella Nolte scored late in the second half, lifting the Beavers pass the defending champion Blakelock Tigers from Oakville, 3-2, in a OFSAA AA girls soccer quarterfinal Friday evening at Athletic Park.
Beavers keeper Makenna Brown made a superb save in the final minute to perserve the lead.
Julia Ritchie opened the scoring for Dorchester, before Blakelock tied. Ritchie gave the Beavs a 2-1 lead from a corner kick by Nolte.
Dorchester faces Hamilton St. Mary Crusaders in the semifinals, at 9 a.m. Saturday, while Bradford Holy Trinity Tigers (2022 champ) take on Guelph Bishop MacDonell Celtics. Both games at Athletic Park.
The winners play for gold at 3 p.m., while the bronze medal match is at 1 p.m. Both games at Password Park.
Bishop MacDonell scored late in the second half and added a buzzer beater to defeat the host St. Joe's Rams, 4-2, in the quarterfinals. The Celtics led 2-1 at half.
Dorchester advanced to their fifth consecutive OFSAA quarterfinal earlier in the day, finishing pool play at 3-1.
Ritchie, Megan McLachlin and Faith Synders scored a 3-0 blanking of Barrie Joan of Arc. Friday morning, Sault Ste Marie St. Mary's College blanked Dorchester, 1-0.
St. Joe's finished pool play at 3-1.
Avery Dowson with two goals, and an own goal, credited to Abi Faris, gave the Rams a 3-2 win over Tecumseh Vista, in their fourth pool game. Whitby Anderson CVI blanked the Rams 1-0.

Thursday, June 6, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Ethan Atkinson is an OFSAA silver medalist.
The St. Joseph's Ram leaped to a silver medal in novice men's pole vault with a personal best measurement of 3.30 metres, on day one of OFSAA track and field today at Western University.
Atkinson jumped 2.90m at WOSSAA, but only 2.45 at the regional meet.
Christian Futo won gold with an OFSAA record 4.25 metre jump.
Dorchester Beavers Kirk Hallman moves on to the junior men's 1500-metre final, with the fourth fastest qualifying time (4:06.93). The final is Friday.

Wednesday, June 5, 2024
COURTICE, Ont. - The Parkside Stampeders finish as OFSAA A/AA girls rugby consolation finalist.
St. John Henry Newman school, out of Scarborough, blanked Parkside, 15-0, in the consolation final this morning.
The Stampeders finish with a 2-2 record and saw action on all three days of the 20-team tournament.
Top seeded Peterborough Holy Cross won gold, defeating Shelburne Centre Dufferin, 24-15, for their second OFSAA title in three years. Belleville Centennial downed Napanee District, 17-5, for the bronze medal.
Parkside got by Oshawa Eastdale, winning in a kick-off (rugby tie-breaker) Tuesday, after the teams were tied 7-7 in regulation time.
Ella Ordronneau made three of three kicks, to keep the Stampeders' season alive. Maddy Chute scored the Stampeders' try, with Ordronneau the two-point convert kick.
Earlier Tuesday, Parkside took a victory against Port Colbourne Lakeshore, after their protest for an illegal substitution was successful.
Heidi Andrews, Aleah Penner and Scarlett Wilson scored tries, while Ordronneau made a pair of converts.
Parkside lost their opening game at OFSAA to sixth ranked Simcoe Holy Trinity, 26-7, on Monday. Chute had the Stampeders' try.
Only six teams are playing on day three. The gold medal and bronze medal matches, follow the consolation final.
Top seeded Peterborough Holy Cross, the 2022 champion, returns to the gold match, taking on Centre Dufferin District out of Shelburne. Napanee District faces Guelph Centennial in the bronze match.
Two years ago at OFSAA AAA, Parkside had a 1-2 record.

Sunday, June 2, 2024
WINDSOR, Ont. - Will Downing, Taylor Kana, Matt Piekny, Henry Scott and Andrew Urquhart lead a group of 13 athletes heading to OFSAA.
Each athlete won an event at the OFSAA West Region track and field championships, May 31-June 1 at Windsor University, qualifying for OFSAA, June 6-8, at Western University in London.
Downing, from Dorchester, hurdled to gold in the novice men's 100-metre hurdles and finished fourth in the 300-metre hurdles.
Kana, of East Elgin, threw a personal best (PB) distanace of 43.63 metres to win senior women's javelin.
Scott from East Elgin, sprinted to victory in the junior men's 200-metre dash.
Piekny of St. Joe's, leaped to gold in senior men's pole vault.
Dorchester's Urquahart set a meet record winning senior men's shot pot with throw of 17.80 metres.
The top four in each event at regionals, qualifies for OFSAA, the high school provincial championships.
Dorchester's Kirk Hallman, junior men's 1500 and 3000, Evan Stevens, senior men's pole vault and Aisha Medina, novice women's pole vault, qualified for OFSAA.
Joe's Libby McCurdy and Promise Atkinson, for senior women's pole vault, Flourish Nmor, junior women's 800-metre run and Ethan Atkinson, novice men's pole vault.
Parkside Stampeders Lexi Stanat, in senior women's discus and shot put.
With the West region hosting OFSAA, athletes from the West, fill out the field, 20 for each event, if one of the other regions does send four athletes for any event.

Thursday, May 30, 2024
ST. THOMAS - It's a fifth consecutive trip to OFSAA girls soccer for the Dorchester Beavers.
The Beavers captured the WOSSAA AA title, edging the St. Joseph's Rams, 3-2 (3-0), in penalty kicks Thursday at Password Park.
On goals by Bella Nolte and Megan McLachlin, Dorchester led 2-0 late in the second half.
With less than five minute remaining in regulation, St. Joe's tied the game with two goals in about a minute from Avery Dowson.
In overtime, the Beavers had the best opportunities to score, but penalty kicks were required to decide a winner. Dorchester won PKs, 3-0.
Since the Rams are hosting OFSAA, the Beavers qualified for the provincial high school tournament after winning their semifinal.
OFSAA is June 6-8 in St. Thomas.

Monday, May 29, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Defence shined right until the final whistle sending the Parkside Stampeders to OFSAA girls rugby.
The Stampeders made a goal line stand to hold of the Madill Mustangs, 26-19, in the WOSSAA A/AA girls rugby final May 24 at Parkside CI.
In the dying seconds of regulation time in the second half, Madill pushed to score a try, to give themselves a chance of tying the game, with a successful convert.
But the Mustangs dropped the ball prior to the goal line and picked it up again, an infraction in rugby. Game over.
In the second half alone, Parkside made three goal line stands, preventing the Mustangs from scoring a five point try.
Heidi Andrews with two, Scarlett Wilson and Paige Kilmer, scored tries, while Ella Ordronneau kicked three two-point converts.

Sunday, May 26, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Kirk Hallman had a meet to remember winning two races and setting school records in the 800 and 1500 metres.
The Dorchester Beavers runner finished first in the junior men's 1500 (4:10.40), a new school record) and 3000 metres (9:18.74), at WOSSAA track and field, May 23-24 at Western University.
Hallman lowered his school time finishing second in the 800 metres (1:59.92), behind a meet record time set by Ryan Georgeson of Medway high school (1:57.95).
St. Joseph's Rams Promise Atkinson set a PB distance of 5.02 metres landing with the gold medal in senior women's long jump.
Rams' David Anderson, senior men's shot put (13.42m) and Matt Piekny, senior men's pole vault (4.20m), also won gold.
Rams Max Gasper and Lucas Van Gorp, surprised everyone including themselves, finishing one-two, in novice men's javelin with PB throws of 41.65m and 41.11m, respectively.
East Elgin Eagles' Taylor Kana took senior women's javelin with a best throw of 37.22m.
The Tunks sisters, Julia and Jenna, from London Oakridge, continue to rewrite the record book.
Julia increased her Canandian high school record in discus to 56.72m and also added to her senior women's record in shot put, to 14.80m.
Jenna set new WOSSAA bests in both novice women's shot put (14.00m) and discus (44.87m).
The top five in each event, qualify for the OFSAA West regional, May 31-June 1 in Windsor.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024
DORCHESTER, Ont. - The Dorchester Beavers are returning to WOSSAA and this year it's the AA level.
Bella Nolte scored three times in the second half as the Beavers blanked the East Elgin Eagles, 3-0, in a Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) South-East AA girls soccer semifinal May 22 at the Outdoor Rec Complex.
Keeper Makenna Brown picked up the shutout, while Julia Ritchie had two assists.

Friday, May 18, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - St. Joseph's Rams Promise Atkinson and East Elgin Eagles Benji Gould shined at the right meet to win their first events.
Atkinson won senior women's long jump and Gould, novice men's 3000 metres, on day two of Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) track and field May 17 at Western University.
Dorchester Beavers Kirk Hallman won his second race of the meet, finishing first in the junior men's 3000.
The Tunks sisters, from London Oakridge, continue to rewrite the record book, with Julia, setting a Canadian high school new mark of 15.53 metres, winning senior women's shot put. Jenna set a new best TVRA distance of 42.44 in novice women's discus.
The top 10 in each event advance to WOSSAA, back here May 23-24.

Thursday, May 17, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Three athletes from Elgin County and Dorchester won events on day one of Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) track and field at Western University.
Dorchester Beavers Andrew Urquhart set a meet record of 17.87 metres, winning junior men's shot put. Urquhart also placed third in discus with a toss of 44.95 metres.
St. Joe's Rams Ethan Atkinson won novice men's pole vault leaping 2.70 metres.
Dorchester's Kirk Hallman was first in the junior men's 1500-metre run, finishing in 4:17.24.
Three other meet records were broken, Jenna Tunks, novice women's shot put (13.76m), Tyrese Morgan, senior men's 400 metres (49.20 seconds) and CCH, senior men's 4x100-metre relay race (13.19 sec.).
TVRA continues Friday. The top 10 in each event advance to WOSSAA, back here May 23-24.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Central Elgin Titans Sandra Brown and Sophie Grant are Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA) Tri-County tennis champs.
Both only in Grade nine, Brown and Grant defeated Dorchester Beavers Jocelyn Pollard and Thea McLellan in the women's doubles final, May 15 at Pinafore Park.
Dorchester's Luka Palajsa is the men's singles champ.
Parkside Stampeders men's doubles team of Parker Vaughan and Bryce Hampton won their final.
Ingersoll's Lauren Okrainec defeated Parkside Stampeders Afimaa Dankwa, for the women's singles title.
Tillsonburg Glendale's Cole Toth and Sydney Moore took the mixed doubles crown.
Glendale are Tri-County team champs, with Parkside and Ingersoll tying for second spot.

Tuesday, May 13, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Seven different players scored tries as the Parkside Stampeders trampled their city rivals St. Joseph's Rams, 47-7, Monday in Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA) boys rugby at Parkside C.I.
Laiden Unwin, Tyler Dale, Ethan Gauthier, Owen Dale, Jake McLean, Owen Raycroft and Coby Scanlan, each had a try, worth five points each.

Thursday, May 9, 2024
ST. THOMAS - The Parkside Stampeders are returning to WOSSAA girls rugby.
Aleah Penner scored three tries and Ella Ordronneau kicked five two-point converts, as the Stampeders routed the Tillsonburg Glendale Gemini 52-25, in the TVRA A/AA final Thursday at Parkside.
Heidi Andrews and Maddy Chute, both had two tries and Aba Coombs, one. Kate Crichton also booted a two-point convert.
Parkside led 33-0 before Glendale scored.
The Stampeders will host the WOSSAA A/AA final, Thursday, May 24, at 1 p.m. Winner advances to OFSAA, the high school provincial championship, June 3-5 in Courtice.
Two years ago, Parkside won WOSSAA AAAA gold, before moving on to win one of three games at OFSAA held in Kitchener.

Monday, May 6, 2024
NASSAU, Bahamas. - Michael Roth and the Canadian 4x400-metre mixed relay team set a National record, but missed qualifying for the Paris Olympics by one position.
Canada placed third in the repechage round, finishing in a time of three minutes and 14.66 seconds (3:14.66) Sunday at the World Relay championships. Germany and Switzerland placed one-two.
Roth from St. Thomas, ran the opening leg for Canada, followed by Lauren Gale, Callum Robinson and Madeline Price.
Canada, without Roth running, placed fifth in their heat (3:16.65), where only the top two teams qualified for the Olympics.
The Americans won the mixed relay gold medal (3:10.73), the Netherlands silver (3:11.45) and Ireland, bronze (3:11.53).
Two open spots do remain for the Olympics, based on time.
Both of Canada's men's and women's 4x100 and the women's 4x400 teams, are heading to Paris.

Saturday, May 5, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Several athletes set meet records at the Titan-Bronco Invitational track and field meet, May 2 at Western University.
Matt Piekny, of St. Joe's, added five centimetres to his own meet record set last year, winning senior boys pole vault clearing 4.15 metres. Piekny also finished fourth in the 110m hurdles (15.94 sec.).
Taylor Kana, of the East Elgin Eagles, won senior girls javelin, with a meet record toss of 43.18 metres.
Ethan Atkinson, of St. Joe's, won novice boys high jump, leaping 1.70 metres for a new meet mark.
Andrew Urquhart led the Dorchester Beavers, winning junior boys shot put and placing second in discus, at Track Wars, May 2, at Hespeler Secondary school in Cambridge.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
ST. THOMAS - It was a successful debut for the Dorchester Beavers at the AA level.
Jenna Couch scored twice as the Beavers defeated the St. Joe's Rams, 5-2, in both team's season opener to the Thames Valley Regional (TVRA) girls soccer season.
Bella Nolte, Cali Beattie and Megan McLachlin, completed the Beavers' scoring.
Avery Dowson and Ruby Steen, replied for the Rams.
It's the first year for Dorchester at the AA level. The Beavers won the OFSAA single-A title in 2022 and 2023.
St. Joe's is the 2024 host of OFSAA AA, the high school provincial championship, June 6-8.
Annelise Borm scored three times, carrying the East Elgin Eagles to a 3-2 win against Woodstock Huron Park.
The Parkside Stampeders blew out Woodstock St. Mary's in their season opener.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Andrew Urquhart didn't wait long to rewrite the Dorchester Beavers' track and field record book.
In the first outdoor meet of the high school season, Urquhart broke his school record for boys shot put, while setting new marks for junior boys in shot put and discus, at the Forest City Mustang Invitational April 25 at Western University.
Urquhart placed second in shot put (16.86 metres) behind winner Noah Mitraj of London Aquinas (17.08m) and third in discus (43.20m), won by
With a toss of 16.86 metres, Urquhart crushed his school's old junior record of 14.16 metres set by Mark Vandenbosh in 1979 and surpassed the senior record of 14.96 metres by Mike Dye in 1977.
Urquhart also took down Paul Vandenbosh's junior boys discus mark of 42.92m, set in 1977, with a measurement of 43.20 metres.
Along with Urquhart, nine more local athletes won events, including Lexi Stanat from Parkside CI, who won senior women's discus throwing 35.94 metres and placed second in shot put, with a best effort of 10.46m.
The Thames Valley Regional championships are May 16-17, followed by WOSSAA, May 23-24, both at Western University and OFSAA West regional, May 30-June 1, in Windsor. OFSAA is June 6-8 at Western.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024
BORSELE, Netherlands. - Jayden McMullen of St Thomas, was the top Canadian, placing 15th overall of 103 finishers, in the junior men's 134-kilometre road race April 21 at the Omloop van Borsele.
McMullen is one of seven cyclists with Team Canada's junior men's team training and racing in Europe.
Up next for McMullen, who turned 18 earlier this month, is the Grand Prix West Bohemia, in the Czech Republic, April 27-28.
Omloop van Borsele is an annual elite road race. This year close to 40 cyclists did not finish.

Monday, April 22, 2024
TORONTO, Ont. - It is provincial gold for the St. Thomas Shock U13 boys.
The Shock went 4-0 to win the Ontario Cup Division Six title, defeating Jump Basketball, 40-38, in the final Sunday at the Pan Am Sports Centre.
St. Thomas trailed throughout the game, but scored the winning basket with less than a second remaining in regulation time.
The Shock's U13 girls finished seventh at their Ontario Cup division three tournament.

Saturday, April 20, 2024
WATERLOO, Ont. - The St. Thomas Express Railhawks U16 boys went undefeated on their final day to bring home gold from the Ontario Volleyball Association championships.
St. Thomas dusted Superior, in two games, 25-9, 25-15, in the OVA division two tier three final, April 16 at RIM Park.
The Railhawks opened day three of the three day tournament, defeating the North Bay Lakers Surge, 25-21, 22-20, before downing Scorpions EXO, 25-15, 25-16.

Thursday, April 18, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Six Central Elgin Titans are heading to WOSSAA senior badminton.
Emma Westbrook and Rebecca Nurton in girls doubles, Brandon Dews and Brady Hunter in boys doubles, Reina Walters in girls singles and Liam Miskelly, in boys singles, placed in the top four, at the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) South-East senior badminton championships, today at Parkside C.I.
The top four in the five disciplines head to WOSSAA, April 25 at the Stratford Agriplex. Top two at WOSSAA advance to OFSAA.
Woodstock College Avenue Knights easily took the South-East team crown, with the girls doubles and boys doubles winners and the runner-up, in girls singles and boys doubles.
Dorchester Beavers girls doubles team of Jocelyn Pollard and Emily Devine are moving on to WOSSAA.
East Elgin Eagles' Ellery Beilhartz and Hunter Norris placed second in mixed doubles, while St. Joe's Rams Cody Johnson and Elise Donaghy, were fourth.
Placing third was Parkside Stampeders Emelie Dlouhy in girls singles and the boys doubles team of Bryce Hampton and Ryan Willmore.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024
AYLMER, Ont. - The St. Joe's Rams took three of five divisions at the Thames Valley Regional Athletics South Division junior badminton championships Tuesday at East Elgin Secondary school.
Rams' Melissa Gillies and Eva Garagozzo in girls doubles, Hudson Glover and Joey Garagozz in boys doubles and Neel Petel in men's singles.
Titans' Janay Gillard is the girls' singles winner, while the Titans' mixed doubles team of Phillip Ludwig and Hazel Nicholson placed first.
Both South and East qualifying players inside.

Sunday, April 14, 2024
SCARBOROUGH, Ont. - The St. Thomas Panthers are OWHA U11A bronze medalists.
Lexi MacMillan with two goals, Erica Bartley and Lyla Fitzgerald scored, as the Panthers defeated the Mississauga Hurricanes, 4-2, in the bronze medal game today at the Canlan Sports Centre.
In the quarterfinals, the Panthers eliminated the Haldimand Rivercats, with a 4-1 victory, the first win in four games against Haldimand this season.
Erica Bartley with two goals, Caitlin Farquhar and Lilly Fife, scored for St. Thomas.

Saturday, April 13, 2024
TILLSONBURG, Ont. - The Central Elgin Titans led the way at TVRA South division senior badminton Thursday at Glendale high school.
Nine Titans qualified for the South-East championships, including girls doubles winners, Emma Westbrook and Rebecca Nurton
St. Joe's Callum Besley won boys singles, while Parkside's Emilie Dlouhy won girls' singles.
Bryce Hampton and Ryan Willmore, from Parkside, won boys doubles and Cody Johnson and Elise Donaghy, from St. Joe's, took the mixed doubles titles.
At East Division badminton, five Dorchester Beavers advanced.
The top four in each of the five disciplines move on to the South-East championships, Thursday, April 18, at Parskside.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024
HALTON HILLS, Ont. - For the first time in 20 years, the West Lorne Comets hava a triple crown winner.
The Comets' U18 tier 3 team, capped on a historic season, capturing gold at the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championship, April 5-7.
A pair of second period power play goals lifted West Lorne over the South Bruce Blades, 4-3, in the final at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex.
West Lorne didn't dominate pool play with a 1-1-1 record, including losing their opening game, 4-2, to South Bruce.
The Comets finished second in their pool, after tying the Mid-Huron Huskies at two and downing Elmvale, 4-1. Then the Comets got by the Stirling Blues, 2-1, in overtime.
Earlier this season, the Comets won the Shamrock League title and Silver Stick gold.
Two other West Lorne teams brought home silver from OMHA championships.
An overtime goal lifted the Lambton Shores Predators over West Lorne, 3-2, in the OMHA U13 tier 3 final, also at Halton Hills.
The Comets were 2-0-1 in pool play, before winning their semifinal in double overtime, 4-3 against Mid-Huron.
At the upcoming Shamrock League U13 tier 3 all-star game, Matthew Fleuren, Jace McGahan, Riley Street and goalie Hunter Gil.
At Kingston, the U11 tier 3 Comets were silver, falling to the Ilderton Jets, 3-1, in the final.
The Comets went 3-0 during pool play, outscoring opponents, 18-5, before routing the Oro Thunder, 7-1, in the semifinals.
At the upcoming Shamrock League U11 tier 3 all-star game, Archy Lee, Macen Toth and goalie Cam McLellan, will represent the Comets.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024
KINGSTON, Ont. - The East Elgin Attack are provincial silver medalists.
East Elgin brought home silver from the OMHA U11B tier 1 championship, April 5-7, losing the final to the Walkerton Capitals, 4-1.
The Attack went 4-0 on their way to the final, including defeating Dresden, 2-1, in the semifinals.
East Elgin's U18 team had a tough outing at their OHMAs in Kingston, managing only one goal in three losses.
The U18 Attack qualified for the provincial championship, by capturing the Southern Counties League title, defeating Tavistock, two games to none, in the final series.
The U11 Attack also went 0-3 at their OMHA tier 3 championship at Halton Hills. East Elgin won the Southern Counties U11C tier 3 title, sweeping a two games series against Norwich.
East Elgin U9MD Attack finished their season as Southern Counties champions.

Monday, April 8, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Rhys Smart picked the right game to score his first playoff hat trick.
Smart wisely potted three goals to lead the St. Thomas Jr Stars to a 7-5 win over the Woodstock Navy Vets, Sunday in game four of the Alliance Bristol U18 AA-A final.
St. Thomas takes the series, six points to two. Both teams move on to the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) championship, mid April in Welland.
Carter Ingram, Noah Cowan and Adam Hodgins, also scored for St. Thomas. Jamie DaSilva picked up four assists and Zander Battaglia had two.
The teams split the first two games of the seriesm each winning on home ice.
Hodgins, Mason Cummings and Zach Tucker scored in a 3-2 game one win. DaSilva had the Stars' lone goal in the 3-1 game two loss.
Goalie Darren Hagerty stopped all shots, as St. Thomas took game trhee with a 3-0 shutout. Battaglia, Hodgins and Adam Derganic scored.

Saturday, April 6, 2024
ZURICH, Ont. - Defence has been a team strength all season.
But the BAD Blazers exploded for seven goals to win the Western Ontario Girls Hockey League U11C final today, downing the Bluewater Hawks, 7-2.
Addisyn Kocsis with five goals and Audrey Chipchase with two goals scored.
Aaliyah Stevenson drew three assists, Raylee McLeod, two and Paisley Best and Brynlee Willsie, one each.
Scoreless after one period, Sadie Dufton gave Blueater a 1-0, with the first of her two goals.
A pair of goals from Kocsis sandwiched a Chipchase marker, giving the Blazers a 3-1 lead.
Bluewater opened the third period on the power play, but Stevenson scored shorthanded.

Sunday, March 31, 2024
MARKHAM, Ont. - The Dorchester U12A Dragons are bringing home a silver medal.
In the U12A final, Guelph edged Dorchester, 4-3, this afternoon, at the Ringette Ontario provincial championships.
Dorchester finishes with a 5-2-0 record.

Friday, March 29, 2024
BROMONT, Que. - Cyclist Alex Fangeat is now a Canadian record holder.
The St. Thomas native won both the U17 women's two-kilometre pursuit and five K scratch races, on day one of the Canadian track cycling championships.
During qualifying for the pursuit final, Fangeat set a Canadian record, finishing in two minutes and 31.120 seconds (2:31.120). The former record held by Nora Linton was 2:31.640, set in 2022.
Fangeat is one of four cyclists from St. Thomas at Canadians, riding with three different cycling clubs. Fangeat wears the KW Academy jersey.
Eve Buczkowski with Attack Racing, won silver in the U17 women's pursuit and finished fourth in the scratch race.
Jayden McMullen with KW Cycling took bronze in the junior men's 10-km scratch race and placed eighth in the three kilometre pursuit.
Brody Mann with Ignite, had a pair of top seven finishes in junior men, placing fifth in pursuit and seventh in scratch.

Thursday, March 21, 2024
WHITBY, Ont. - For the first time in school history, the St. Joe's Rams are OFSAA boys hockey champions.
Donovan Appleford with two goals, George Matsos, Chase Holder and Nicholas Glanville scored as the Rams dumped Lambton Central from Petrolia, 5-1, in the OFSAA A/AA boys hockey gold medal game at the Iroquois Park Sport Centre.
Ethan Silcox picked up two assists, while Appleford, Matsos, Charlie Shore, Adam Hodgins, Matthew Masschaele and Dawson Watson, each had one.
The Rams finished with a record of five wins and one tie at the high school provincial championship.
On the way to OFSAA, the Rams won the Thames Valley Region (TVRA) and Western Ontario (WOSSAA) titles.

Tuesday, March 16, 2024
WHITBY, Ont. - The St. Joseph's Rams won both of their games on day one, today at OFSAA boys A/AA hockey.
Carter Craig and Adam Hodgins both had a goal and an assist, in the Rams 6-1 drubbing of Orillia Patrick Fogarty this morning.
Matthew Zylstra, Nate Nuckowski, George Matos and Owen Lawrence, rounded out the Rams' goal scoring. Donovan Appleford picked up two assists.
In game two, St. Joe's defeated Lambton Central from Petrolia, 4-1.
Lawrence, Hodgins, Appleford and Sam Taylor scored. Appleford also picked up an assist, to lead the Rams with four points.
St. Joe's faces Sudbury St. Charles (1-1) Wednesday morning.
The Rams are one of only two teams that are 2-0 in the entire tournament. The top two teams in each of the four divisions advance to the quarterfinals tomorrow afternoon.

Saturday, March 16, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Ten local teams are heading to the Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA) provincial championships.
Six St. Thomas Panthers teams, U18BB, U15B, U13C, U11A, U15C and Senior BB, have qualified for the mid April tournament throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
The U18BB Panthers are coming off an undefeated regular season and have won three tournaments this season and came second once.
An unbeaten run through playdowns was capped with a 5-0 win for the Panthers U13C team.
A 3-1 defeat of rival London Devilettes clinched a spot for the U11A Panthers.
The Belmont Aylmer Dorchester (BAD) Blazers are also sending four teams, U18AA, U15C, U13C and U11C.
Three shutouts and 15 goals for over five games carried the U15C Blazers to their provincial berth.
Dani Kidder scored with 16 seconds remaining in the third period for a 2-1 win over the Devilettes and advancement to the provincial stage.

Saturday, March 9, 2024
WINNIPEG, Man. - A.J. Stanat of St. Thomas is bringing home a silver medal in men's shot put, from the U-Sports Canadian track and field championships March 7-9 at the University of Manitoba.
Stanat with the University of Windsor Lancers placed second with a best effort of 16.85 metres. It's the position Stanat occupied for all six rounds.
Samuel Bourque from the University of Moncton took gold with a best heave of 17.40 metres.
AJ Stanat just missed the podium in men's weight throw, finishing fourth with a personal best effort of 17.04 metres.
Hallee Knelsen of Malahide won a bronze medal with the Western Mustangs' women's 4x800 relay team (8:50.70). Knelsen finished eighth in the women's 1000 metres (2:51.62).
Brianna Rand from Dorchester, with the Western Mustangs, placed 11th in women's triple jump (11.54 metres).

Wednesday, March 6, 2024
STONEY CREEK, Ont. - Haevyn Bole had to settle for an OFSAA silver medal.
Just in the opening minute of the female 54-kilogram gold medal match, Bole had to withdraw due to injury against Ava Hunyadt, of John F Ross, during the OFSAA wrestling championships, March 5-6 at the United Soccer Centre.
A knee injury prevented Bole from continuing against Hunyadt, the defending OFSAA champ in the weight class.
On the way to the final, Bole (4-1) twice pinned her opponent in the opening minute of the match and mercied a third opponent, 10-0.
Bole was one of five wrestlers from Elgin county schools to place top six at OFSAA, the high school provincial championship.
St. Joe's Rams Helen King finished with a 4-2 record, losing the female 72-kilogram bronze medal match.
Central Elgin Titans' Kendelle Scott won her fifth place bout in the female 83-kg division. The Grade 10 student finished 3-2.
Tyler Dale and Owen Dale, both finished sixth, in the male 72 and 67.5 kilogram division, respectively.
Tyler Dale dropped his opening match, before winning five in a row to stay in the bronze medal hunt, but lost his final two matches to finish sixth.
Bole and the Dale brothers led a Parkside team of six wrestlers at OFSAA.
Gabe Forsyth finished with a 3-2 record in the male 130-kilogram division.
Jeremy Anderson (M57.5) and Aba Coombs (F83), each were 2-2, while Zoey Astley-Duncan (F67.5) was 1-2. Coombs opening match was to the eventual F83 champion, Daniella Papia and her second loss, to bronze medalist Joy Uchenna.
Titans Alex Vandeernalt (F57.5) and Logan Finzgar (M47.5) both went 2-2.
Titans Ivey Ludwig (F72) finished 3-2, her losses to silver medalist Charissa Okeke and bronze medalist Hayley Weaver.
Rams Cecilja Meglic (F51) finished 3-2, her opening match loss to the eventual silver medalist Emma Chartres.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Update: March 6
TORONTO, Ont. - Ainsley Preszcator is an OFSAA champion.
The East Elgin Eagle captured gold in the 15 years and older girls high school division 100-metre backstroke, March 5 at OFSAA swimming at the Pan Am Sports Centre.
Preszcator won the race in one minute and 10.87 seconds (1:10.87), just over two seconds ahead of second place Avery Routhier (1:13.21).
Her twin Brooke Preszcator, finished sixth in the 100 back (1:15.29).
Ainsley just missed a second medal, finishing fourth in the 100 I.M. (1:14.26).
The Eagles 15 years and older girls high school division 200-metre medley relay team of the Preszcators, Cadence Neusteter and Megan Sleegers, finished eighth (2:25.56). The team set a PB time of 2:22.40 in the prelims.
Neusteter finished 22nd in the 15 years and older girls high school division 50 free (31.04 sec.).
Eagles' Ava Campbell in U14 girls high school, finished 41st in the 50 back (40.25 sec.) and 64th in the 50 free (34.00 sec.).
Eagles Lauren Collard in U14 girls high school, finished 30th in the 50 breaststroke (43.72 sec.) and 45th in the 50 free (40.50 sec.).
The Eagles' 200-metre free relay team of Brooke Preszcator, Campbell, Neusteter and Ellery Beilhartz, placed 21st (2:12.76).
The Eagles finished sixth in the senior high school team scores (193), behind York Mills Collegiate, Nelson, Henry Street, North Toronto CI and Hamilton Holy Trinity.
Parkside Stampeders Rosie McCaw finished 11th overall in the 15 years and older girls high school 50 fly, winning the B final (32.97 sec.)
Parkside Stampeders Alexis Gray, in the 15 years and older girls high school, placed 34th (32.28 sec.) in the 50 free and 52nd in the 100 back (1:26.84).
Central Elgin Titans Raegan Jackson in the 15 years and older girls high school division, placed 28th in the 200 free (2:43.75) and 48th in the 100 back (1:25.36).
St. Joseph's Rams' Isabella Van Pelt-Castro and Sarah VanVelzer, placed 40th (1:13.37) and 47th (1:13.89) respectively, in the 15 years and older girls high school division 100 free. VanVelzer also finished 26h, in the 100 breaststroke (1:32.15)
Parkside's Cameron Morrison, 14U boys high school, finished 37th in the breaststroke (39.60 sec.) and 42nd, in the 100 free (1:10.84).
Eagles Matt de Gelder, in 14U boys high school, was 59th in the 50 back (40.33 sec.) and 63rd in the 50 breaststroke (41.84 sec.).
Rams' Diego Alban-Gasca in para men, placed fifth in the 50 back (57.40) and 17th in the 50 free (49.88 sec.).
CECI's 15 years and over boys 200 free relay team of Ty Thiel, Caydin Le, Keaton Sleightholm and Carson Taylor, was 79th (2:09.72).

Sunday, March 3, 2024
TORONTO, Ont. - Libby McCurdy keeps flying higher.
The 16-year old from Sparta won women's pole vault at Athletics Ontario (AO) U20 indoor championships, with personal best height of 3.45 metres Saturday at York University.
McCurdy won the event by 10 centimetres, with three vaulters tied at 3.35m, including London-Western clubmate Sophia Bryenton, who took bronze on a tie breaker.
After entering the competition at three metres and needing three attempts to clear that height, McCurdy used two attempts at the next three heights, including 3.35 metres, a PB.
McCurdy made 3.45 on her third attempt, for a career best mark.
In mid February, McCurdy set a PB of 3.30 metres winning gold at the AO U18 championships.
The grade 11 student at St. Joe's high school who turns 17 this year, now eyes making it over 3.50 metres.
Promise Atkinson of St. Thomas, placed 12th, clearing 2.85m.
At the AO U16 championships, occurring simultaneously, Xavier Sauer with the St. Thomas Club, won bronze in men's high jump (1.63m), while Joel Sloetjes was fifth (1.55m).
Breanna Sloetjes, 15 years old, placed sixth in U20 women's long jump (4.96m).

Thursday, February 29, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Brooklyn Hewitt gave the St. Joe's Rams the only goal they needed. Goalie Ava Woolsey did the rest.
Hewitt's second period goal, from Savannah VanNoord, was enough as the Rams blanked the Parkside Stampeders, 1-0, in the Thames Valley Regional Athletics South-East AA girls hockey final Thursday at the Joe.
Both teams move on to WOSSAA, Wednesday, March 6 at Wingham. The winner there advances to OFSAA, March 19-21 at Oshawa.
The game featured former teammates at St. Joe's, now rivals as coaches. Rams Sarah Collier (Westaway) and Michelle Butler (Fric) and Stampeders Taylor Horton were together on the ice during the mid to late 2000s. The Lady Rams won OFSAA hockey bronze in 2006.
Sarah, Taylor and Lexi Wilson, were together on an all grade nine line.
St. Joe's took both South-East titles this year, with the boys romping Tillsonburg Glendale, 9-1, in their final February 27.

Sunday, February 25, 2024
WINDSOR, Ont. - AJ Stanat is a double provincial champion.
The 20-year old from St. Thomas, won both men's shot put and weight throw at the OUA track and field championships, Feb 23-24 at the University of Windsor.
Stanat handily won weight throw on day one, with a measurement of 16.59 metres, over a metre and half further than the field.
On day two, Stanat needed a personal best effort of 17.11 metres to tie Western Mustangs' Seth Edwards for the biggest throw.
Stanat won gold having the third best measurement, that of 16.76 metres which led the competition after the first two rounds.
Stanat and Edwards are co-leaders on the U-Sports ranking of the top shot put distance in the nation.
Brady Fodor from Shedden, with the Mustangs, placed fourth in men's shot put (14.34m) and seventh in weight throw (13.24m).
Hallee Knelsen of Malahide, with the Mustangs, finished fifth, in the women's 1000 metre run (2:50.45).
Knelsen ran a 2:09.33 fourth leg to lead Western to gold in the women's 4x800-metre relay race (8:53.33).
Mason Basson from Sparta, with the Guelph Gryphons, finished sixth, in the men's 600-metre run (1:21.29).
Jadyn Luna from Thorndale, with Windsor, placed seventh overall in the women's pentathlon (2,971 points). Her best event was a silver in shot put (11.57m).
Brianna Rand of Dorchester, with the Mustangs, was ninth in women's triple jump (11.50m) and 11th in long jump (5.24m).
At the Atlantic championships, in Moncton, New Brunswick, Hannah McIntyre of Dorchester, finished fifth, in the women's 1000m (2:57.50) and sixth in the 600m (1:40.57).
The first year student also was on St. Francis Xavier's women's silver medal winning 4x800-metre relay team (9:20.62) and fourth place 4x400-metre relay team (4:10.61).
At the NCAA Mid Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championships, in New York City, Aiden Coles of St. Thomas won silver in the men's 800-metre run (1:51.63), while his twin Tristan took bronze in the men's mile (4:05.18).
Both Coles were part of Iona University's golden men's 4x800-metre relay team (7:42.18).
Tristan also won gold with the men's distance medley relay team.
At the NCAA America championships in Birmingham, Alabama, Mike Roth of St. Thomas won silver, in the men's 400 metre sprint (46.44 sec.) and finished sixth in the 200 metres (21.35 sec.). Roth was also part of the University of Texas San Antonio's men's 4x400-metre silver medal winning relay team (3:11.44.).
At the NCAA Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) championships in Spokane, Washington, Tayah DeSousa from St. Thomas, with Long Beach State University, placed fifth in women's long jump (5.69m) and sixth in the 60-metre hurdles (8.64 sec.).

Thursday, February 22, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - The St. Joe's Rams will be up against the best in Ontario in the nation's capital.
The Rams have earned a spot at OFSAA, the high school provincial championship, winning the WOSSAA AA senior boys basketball title, defeating London Oakridge, 64-49, in the final today at Oakridge.
Davis Streib dropped 25 points leading the Rams, while Elijah Yi had 14 points and Caleb Ndur, 10.
In the semifinals, the Rams flattened Listowel, 81-32, with Streib having 13 points, Ndur, 12 and Tyler Clarke 11.
OFSAA is March 4-6 in Ottawa
St. Joe's also won WOSSAA junior gold, defeating host London RMC, 73-64, after tossing aside Stratford St. Mike's, 58-24, in the semifinals.
Parkside won the junior bronze medal, in a 52-51 squeaker over St. Mike's. RMC rolled the Stampeders, 68-42, in the semifinals.

Saturday, February 17, 2024
AYLMER, Ont. - The Parkside Stampeders are conference wrestling champions.
Eight individual gold medalists led Parkside to the overall team title at the Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA) Charrette conference wrestling championships Friday at East Elgin Secondary school.
The Stampeders won the boys team title and placed third in the girls division.
Owen Dale and Haevyn Bole, were named male and female most outstanding wrestlers of the meet.
Dale (67.5-kg), Bole (female 54-kg), Tyler Dale (72), Ryan Nash (61), Ezekiel Hayhoe (54), Merrick Rollins (83), Jeremy Anderson (57.5) and Gabe Forsyth (130) won gold.
The Central Elgin Titans finished fifth overall, followed by the St. Joe's Rams, in sixth.
Four gold medalists led the Titans, Alex Vandeernault (female 57.5-kg), Kendelle Scott (female 83), Ray Boone (89) and Logan Finzgar (47.5).
Helen King (female 72-kg) and Cecilja Meglic (51) won gold for St. Joe's.
East Elgin Eagles Ally Burr took gold in the female 83-kg division.
The top five in each weight division, advance to WOSSAA, Thursday, February 22 at Medway high school in Arva.

Friday, February 16, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Not one team could touch the Parkside Stampeders in the South-East division, at the junior or senior level.
Both of the Stampeders teams completed undefeated runs through the TVRA division, winning their respective AA girls volleyball final Thursday at Parkside CI.
In the senior final, Parkside defeated the East Elgin Eagles, three games to one, 25-13, 25-22, 22-25, 25-17.
At the junior level, the Stampeders downed the St. Joe's Rams, three games to one as well, winning 25-19, 20-25, 25-9, 25-19.
The senior Stampeders went 14-0 (match record) through the South-East, only dropping three games, one to the Eagles in the final.
Parkside's juniors were 13-0, losing only four games, including one in the final and one to the Central Elgin Titans, in the quarterfinals.
In senior South-East semifinal action, Parkside dusted the Dorchester Beavers in three games, while the Eagles took care of Ingersoll.
In junior semis, Parkside swept Dorchester, while St. Joe's needed a fifth game to knock out Ingersoll.
All four South-East finalists move on to WOSSAA, Thursday, February 22, at Ingersoll.

Thursday, February 15, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Ainsley Preszcator is returning to OFSAA as a regional multiple gold medalist.
Preszcator won two individual events and was part of two East Elgin Eagles relay teams, at the WOSSAA swimming championships Feb14, at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.
The six-foot three Grade 12 student won the high school division 15 years and over girls 100-metre I.M. and 100m back, and helped the Eagles win the 200m medley and 200m free relay races.
On the Eagles' relay teams, Preszcator is joined by twin Brooke, Cadence Neusteter, Megan Sleegers(medley) and Ellery Beilhartz(free).
Brooke placed second in the 100 back and third in the 50 free. Neusteter was fourth in the 100 freee and fifth in the 50 free.
Competitors had to win their race or meet a qualifying time, to advance to the high school provincial championships, OFSAA, March 5-6, at the Pan Am Sports Complex in Toronto.
The Eagles send eight, including the relay members to OFSAA.
Lauren Collard moves on in three events, high school U14 girls 50 breast, 100 I.M. and 50 back. Ava Campbell, high school U14 girls 50 back and 50 free and Matthew de Gelder, high school U14 boys 50 back and 50 breast.

Rosie McCaw leads the Parkside Stampeders, qualifying in four events, high school 15 years and over girls 50 fly, 50 free and 100 I.M, plus the open girls 200m medley relay team with Alexis Gray, Paisley Vachon and Emily Landon.
Gray also moves on in two individual events, the high school 15 years and over girls 100 back and 50 free. Parkside's Cameron Morrison makes his OFSAA debut, in the high school U14 boys 50 breast and 100 free.
St. Joe's Diego Alban-Gasca returns to OFSAA for the para men's 50 free and 50 back.
Rams' Sarah Van Velzer will have three events, high school 15 years and over girls 100 breast, 100 free and 50 free. Rams' Isabella Van Pelt-Castro will swim the high school 15 years and over girls 100 free.
Central Elgin Titans Raegan Jackson heads to her first OFSAA, qualifying in two events, high school 15 years and over girls 200 free and 100 back.
Also advancing, the Titans high school 15 years and over boys 200 free relay team of Ty Thiel, Caydin Le, Keaton Sleightholm and Carson Taylor.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024
ST. THOMAS - The Parkside Stampeders gave the St. Joseph's Rams a good scare.
St. Joes needed overtime to squeeze by the Stampeders, 87-81, in a Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA) South-East AA senior boys basketball quarterfinal Tuesday at St. Joe's.
Undefeated throughout the regular season going 10-0, the Rams were pushed by the 6-4 Stampeders throughout the game.
A buzzer beater gave the Rams a 42-40 lead at half.
St. Joe's held a 75-71 advantage with 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but the Stampeders made a couple crucial plays tying the game at 76.
The Rams move on to the final and qualify for WOSSAA, February 22nd in London.
Davis Streib poured in a game high 34 points for the Rams, while Caleb Ndur had 22 points. Rams captain Kurt Oberus, chipped in with 10 points.
Tai Montford and Geremey De Schutter led Parkside with 21 and 20 points respectively. Evan Jackson put in 15 points and Brody Ward, 12.
The Rams take on Woodstock St. Mary's in the South-East AA final, 3 p.m. Thursday, at St. Joe's.
St. Joe's also advanced to the junior South-East title game after disposing of Ingersoll, 69-31, in the semifinals. Kenjesse Ude dropped 20 points and Hudson Else had 12.
Meanwhile at Tillsonburg Glendale, Parkside left with a 45-38 win.
The South-East junior final is at St. Joe's, Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Both teams also qualify for WOSSAA.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024
TORONTO, Ont. - Not only did Libby McCurdy set a new personal best (PB) the Sparta resident now holds the best mark in the nation.
McCurdy leaped 3.30 metres winning women's pole vault at the Ontario Indoor U18 Athletics championships, February 10-11 at the Toronto track and field centre.
The measurement puts the 16-year old number one in Canada for the U18 division.
Several athletes from St. Thomas - Elgin County and Dorchester - Thames Centre competed at the meet.
Promise Atkinson took bronze in pole vault, clearing 3.05 metres.
Hit Read More for AJ Stanat, Mike Roth, Aiden Coles, Hallee Knelsen, the 2024 Athletics Ontario indoor championships and the Lancers university meet.

Sunday, February 11, 2024
OAKVILLE, Ont. - St. Thomas EnergIce Adult 3 skated to gold at a Snychro Series three competition.
EnergIce scored 21.6 to place first out of 20 teams at the Skate Ontario event.
Next up is Nationals, March 1-3 in Kanata.
The St. Thomas Skating Club had four other synchronized skating teams performing.
EnergIce placed fourth in Star 4 Advanced, fifth in Star 4 beginner and fifth in pre-novice.
Adult 3 Edge was sixth.

Friday, February 9, 2024
DORCHESTER, Ont. - There will be a south St. Thomas rivalry clash in senior boys basketball.
The Parkside Stampeders upended the Dorchester Beavers, 57-47, in a Thames Valley Region Athletics South-East AA senior boys quarterfinal here Thursday.
While at St Joe's, the host and first place Rams took care of the Eas Elgin Eagles, 68-20, in their quarterfinal.
That sets up a Parkside - St. Joe's semifinal, Tuesday at St. Joe's. The other semifinal is College Ave versus St. Mary's.
A trio of three pointers gave Parkside a first quarter lead over Dorchester at 14-11. The Stampeders never looked back, led by 15 points from Nick Roberts-Neef, 10 from Jaylen Hughes and eight by Evan Jackson.
Jaden Sebinagana led the Beavers with 14 points, 12 from three point land. Terry Kummer chipped in with 10 points.
In junior semifinals, St. Joe's takes on Ingersoll, while Parkside heads to Tillsonburg Glendale.
At the 1A level, Woodstock CI defeated Voaden in the final.

Friday, February 9, 2024
DORCHESTER, Ont. - The Dorchester Beavers are on their way to the conference semifinals.
The Beavers swept Woodstock Huron Park Huskies, three games to none, in their Thames Valley Region Athletics South-East AA junior girls quarterfinal Thursday.
All three games were close, with the home side squeaking out a pair of 27-25 wins, before closing the match with a 25-22 victory.
Dorchester joins Parkside, Ingersoll and St. Joe's, in the South-East AA semifinals, Thursday, February 15th at Parkside.
The senior Beavers surprised Tillsonburg Glendale, winning on the road, three games to one, to advance to their semifinals.
In other senior quarters, it was all sweeps, with Parkside dusting the Central Elgin Titans, the East Elgin Eagles brushing aside St. Joe's and Ingersoll taking care of Huron Park.
Parkside also hosts the senior semifinals.
The finalists in both junior and senior advance to WOSSAA, February 22 at Ingersoll.
At the Central Division 1A senior semifinals, the West Elgin Wildcats were edged by Gabriel Dumont, three game to two (25-19,16-25,25-12,18-25,15-6). In junior, London Christian swept West Elgin in three straight games.

Monday, February 5, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Gabrielle Ash and Kylie MacIntyre scored leading the BAD Blazers to a 2-0 silencing of their local rivals, the St. Thomas Panthers, in Western Ontario Girls Hockey League (WOGHL) U18C playoff action at Memorial arena.
Goalie Samantha Harris picked up the shutout.
The Blazers move to 2-1, while the Panthers slip to 0-2. In their division, each team plays the other five teams three times. The top team moves on in the league playoffs.

Sunday, February 4, 2024
ST. THOMAS - The St. Thomas U16A Stars had the Ontario Provincial Police after them.
No crimes occurred, it was a charity hockey game for the Tyler Coleiro 873 Memorial Foundation Saturday at Memorial arena.
The foundation provides financial assistance to families in crisis and sport sponsorships to qualifying families. In four years, $30,000 has been raised. Visit 873foundation.ca for more info or to donate.
Colin and Shannon Coleiro, Tyler's parents, were on hand for the ceremonial puck drop.
The Stars played well, but as Kenny Rogers sings, you can not out run the long arm of the law, not even on ice.
In 2019, at the age of 18, Tyler was tragically killed in an automobile accident.
The 873 comes from Tyler's favourite player, Sydney Crosby and the number Tyler wore on his jersey.

Sunday, February 4, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - A 2-0 win over the host gave the St. Thomas Panthers the U11A title this morning at the Devilettes tournament.
Lexi MacMillan and Lyla Fitzgerald scored, with goalie Brinley Fife the shutout.
St. Thomas posted three wins and a tie during pool play, outscoring opponents 16 goals to five.
In U13BB action, the Panthers had two wins and one tie in their pool, but but dropped a 1-0 semifinal game to Oakville.
The Panthers U13C team went 2-1 and lost in the semifinals.

Tuesday, January 30, 2024
LASALLE, Ont. - Ten members of the St. Thomas Skating Club brought home medals from a Skate Ontario provincial series competition hosted by Skate LaSalle at the Vollmer Complex.
Madison Wright led the club, capturing gold in both U13 Star 4 Freeskate and Star 4 elements.
MacKenna Wright took gold in Star 2 elements, Sadie Cummings, in Star 1 elements and Rylee Lockstein, gold, in Star 1 elements.
Bringing home silver were, Vada Landon, in Star 2 Freeskate, Abby Zueff in Star 3 Freeskate, Emilee Aspden, in U13 Star 4 Freeskate, Rhea Clarke, in Star 2 Freeskate, Abi Benner, in Star 2 Freeskate.
Elyse Orendorff took bronze in Star 1 elements.
Skylar Clark led the Belmont Skating Club, with silver in Star 10.

Saturday, January 27, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Maddie Lazenby scored five times and Mackenzie Benger had two goals and two assists, as the St. Thomas Thunder defeated the Tillsonburg Twisters, 9-3, in Western Region U14B ringette this morning at Memorial arena.
Chelsea Jones had a goal and three assists, while Ryleigh Buller also scored and Savannah Whiteman, picked up two helpers.
Lazenby, Peyton Hibbard, Ashley Power and Alexa Buller, each drew one assist.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024
AJAX, Ont. - The Dorchester Dragons captured the U19 gold at the Ajax-Pickering ringette tournament Sunday.
Dorchester finished at 4-1-1, defeating Guelph, 7-4, in the final. Over the six games, the Dragons outscored their opponents, 27 to 14.
Dana Crinklaw led the Dragons with six goals and eight points, while Baylie Smith had four goals and four assists and Cali Beattie, five goals and two assists.
Alia Linton and Taylor Palmer, each had a team high five assists. Amber Crinklaw and Morgan Czupryna, both three goals and three assists.
Megan Webster had three goals, two assist and 18 penalty minutes.

Monday, January 22, 2024
AYLMER, Ont. - Teams from as far away as Belleville, Collingwood and Sarnia, arrived for the annual BAD Blazers winter tournament.
Teams competed in 10 divisions from U9 to senior during the four day tournament, with games at Dorchester, Belmont and the East Elgin Community Centre.
The host club won the U15C division and took silver at senior.
The St. Thomas Panthers won the U15B gold and silver in U13C.
Division champs were Lambton Attack (U9), London Devilettes (U11B), Wingham-Luckow (U11C), Wallaceburg (U13C), Lambeth Lancers (U15BB), Ilderton Jets (U18BB), Grey-Highland (U18C), London Wheelers (senior).

Sunday, January 14, 2024
AYLMER, Ont. - Skaters showcased their skills and choreography at the EnergIce synchronized skating gala.
Over 100 skaters, including eight guest soloists, performed at the show hosted by the St. Thomas Skating Club, Saturday at the East Elgin Community Centre.
Five EnergIce teams entertained the audience, along with the Mt. Brydges Magic Blades intermediate team.
Emily Orendorff, Madison Sheeller, Brooke Babcock, Charlotte Ross, Lina Melo, Lily Harris, Zoey Caldwell and Rhea Clarke had individual skates.

Thursday, January 11, 2024
LONDON, Ont. - Ainsley Preszcator made a huge splash at the pool.
Preszcator won three races and was part of the East Elgin Eagles golden relay, at Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA) swimming championships at the Canada Games Aquatic Games.
The Grade 12 athlete won the high school division 15 years and over girls 50 free, 100 I.M and 100 backstroke.
Preszcator, with twin Brooke, Megan Sleegers and Cadence Neusteter, won the 200-metre medley relay race.
The Eagles tied London Banting for TVRA overall team champs.
Parkside Stampeders Rosie McCaw won the high school division 15 years and over girls 50 fly.
The Eagles, Stampeders, Central Elgin Titans and St. Joseph's Rams competed at the two day event.
Qualifiers move on to the WOSSAA championships, February 14th at the aquatic centre.
OFSAA is March 5-6, at the Pan Am Sports Centre in Toronto.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024
ST. THOMAS - The St. Thomas Stars made a few roster moves prior to the junior deadline today.
The Stars dealt away three players and acquired one.
Forward Jackson Dobbin goes to the Strathroy Rockets, defenceman Matthew Sturgeon heads to the Dorchester Dolphins and goalie Wyatt Slotjes is off to the Essex 73s in the Provincial Junior League.
All were cash deal.
Joining the Stars is righthand shooting 18-year old defenceman Carson Albert from the Elmria Sugar Kings.
Defenceman Jared Woolley had signed to be the London Knights for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

Monday, January 8, 2024
ST. THOMAS - Ellery Beilhartz never lost a game in league action during her high school basketball career.
In the 2023 Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA) season, Beilhartz was instrumental in guiding the East Elgin Eagles to a third consecutive South-East title and return trip to OFSAA, the provincial high school championship.
Her efforts with the Eagles led Beilhartz to being named Ms. Basketball, for the South-East division.
"This award means so much to me,' said Beilhartz. "I've been trying to achieve it since Grade 10. I've been working hard on developing my game, both in season and during the summers. I feel proud to end my high school basketball career with this accomplishment."
Averaging 18 points per game, eight assists and six steals, Beilhartz was a leader throughout the TVRA season as the Eagles capped another undefeated run with South-East playoff gold.

Sunday, January 5, 2024
FRASER, Mich. - St. Thomas EnergIce had a career best skate for a first ever medal.
The pre juvenile team won a bronze medal with a score of 29, Saturday at the Mid America Synchronized skating championships.
"This team focused and watched all of their hard work unfold," EnergIce coach Wendy Coombs said. "They began three years ago with a score of 12. Through religning goals, understanding sacrifice, pulling together and truly listening, they achieved their first medal."
EnergIce performed to a country theme of Cotton Eyed Joe and a remix of Country Road (Hermès Country Band - John Denver).
The team of 10 skaters, ages 11 to 16, are from St Thomas, Port Rowan, Langton, Chatham, Belmont and Aylmer.
East Elgin Encore, won silver in the Open Masters division.

Sunday, January 7, 2024
PORT STANLEY, Ont. - First place continues to be within the sights of the Dorchester Dolphins.
In fact the Dolphins could have been in top spot in the Yeck Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League one week in to 2024.
Unfortunately, the Dolphins dropped both of their first games of the new year and remain in third place, two points behind North Middlesex and five back of the division leading Mt. Brydges Bulldogs.
Those first place Bulldogs doubled up on the Dolphins, 4-2, Friday the Flight Exec Centre, before the Port Stanley Sailors surprised the Dolphins, with a 5-4 win Saturday in Port.
Along the Lake Erie north shore, the Sailors scored three times in the second period, for a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
The Dolphins came alive in third period ignited by a shorthanded goal from Dylan Dundas. Then Caleb Haalstra made it a one goal game at 4-3 Sailors.
A turnover led to Joe Verhaeghe restoring a two goal lead for the home side.
Sailors goalie Will Richardson stood tall making 55 saves. Blake Whyte, Aiden Shaw, Liam Miskelly and Tysen Benwell, completed the Sailors' scoring.
Roenick Jakielaszek and Paterson MacNair, also scored for the 'Phins.
Week one of 2024 saw each of the top three teams suffer a loss. A day after beating the Dolphins, the Bulldogs fell to seventh place Aylmer, 4-2.

Friday, December 29, 2023
DORCHESTER, Ont.- Nicholas Shearer is the Dorchester Dolphins' hero of this game.
Tied at five with under five minutes remaining in the third period, Shearer gave the Dolphins a lead, before striking again 23 seconds later.
Janson Holcombe added an empty net goal, for a 8-5 defeat of the Thamesford Trojans tonight in PJHL action.
The third straight win puts the Dolphins (19-4-3) three points behind first place Mt. Brydges Bulldogs (21-6-1-1), one back of North Middlesex (21-4-0-0) and three up on the Trojans (19-7-0-0).
The Trojans led 1-0 after one period on a Will Lewis goal.
Josh Short tied the game 30 seconds into the second period, before Jarrett Humphries, Paterson MacNair and Tristan Gerth, combined to give the home team a 4-1 advantage.
Ronan Panziera scored in the final 90 seconds of the middle frame and 68 seconds into the third, to pull the Trojans back to within a goal.
MacNair gave the Dolphins a 5-3 lead, but Trojans Carter Musselman and Jack Weber scored, tying the affair.
Dolphins' Dylan Dundas and Jack Uniac, both picked up two assists.
Mt Brydges is undefeated in their past seven games, with six wins and a tie and are 8-1-1, in their past 10 games. The Dolphins are 8-2-0, both losses to North Middlesex.
The Dolphins host the Bulldogs, Friday, January 5.

Sunday, December 18, 2023
ST. THOMAS - Lisa Weagle and John Epping are the champions of the St. Thomas mixed doubles classic.
Team Weagle and Epping completed an undefeated 8-0 run through the three day, 24-team event, edging Olivia and Kyle Forster, 6-5, in the final Sunday at the St. Thomas Curling Club.
The win earns Weagle and Epping $1800, while the Forsters pocket $1200.
In the semifinals, Weagle and Epping defeated the St. Thomas team of Scott McDonald and Lori Eddy, while the Forsters eliminated Kimberly Tuck and Wesley Forget.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023
ST. THOMAS - A buzzer beater by Davis Streib keeps the St. Joseph's Rams undefeated in senior league play.
The Rams are 5-0 and in first place at both the senior and junior levels in the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) South-East division.
Down 49-46 to the Dorchester Beavers with 30 second remaining in the fourth quarter, the Rams tied the score on a three-pointer from Kurt Oberus.
In junior action, the Rams took care of the Voaden Vikings.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023
ST. THOMAS - Not only did the Parkside Stampeders host the first tournament of the high school season, they schooled many opponents.
Six Stampeders won gold and another seven took silver or bronze, at the meet that welcomed 25 schools competing in nearly 50 weight divisions, Sunday at Parkside Collegiate.
Champion Stampeders were Jeremy Anderson, male 57.5-kilograms, Merrick Rollins, male 83, Hannah Anderson, novice female 54, Haevyn Bole, novice female 57.5; Tyler Dale, male 72 and Owen Dale, male 67.5.
St. Joseph's Rams Owen Bacon won the novice boys 67.5-kg class. East Elgin Eagles Julian Mizon took the novice boys 77-kg division.

Sunday, December 10, 2023
ST. THOMAS - They weren't playing hockey but the St. Thomas U9 Panthers were picking up assists.
Part of Operation Christmas Cheer, the Panthers were collecting donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries and women's sanitary products, for St. Thomas Food Bank and Grace Cafe, Sunday at Home Hardware.
The Panthers also accepted donations during their Panthers on the Prowl tournament, December 1-3 at the Joe.

Saturday, December 9, 2023
ST. THOMAS - Six schools clashed in a day of Thames Valley Regional Athletics curling.
The Central Elgin Titans, Parkside Stampeders and East Elgin Eagles boys and girls teams took on Ingersoll, Tillsonburg Glendale and Woodstock St. Mary's, Friday at the St. Thomas Curling Club.
Each team played three games.
The Eagles sit first in the girls South-East division at 4-1, but the Stampeders are 3-0.
St. Mary's is 3-1 on the boys side, with the Eagles at 2-1-1.

Friday, December 8, 2023
LONDON, Ont. - Three schools brought home hardware from Valley basketball.
Mitchell Hepburn Mustangs, Locke's Lions and Kettle Creek Captains earned medals, at Thames Valley District School Board elementary basketball championship tournaments, held at various locations.
Mitchell Hepburn took silver at the girls triple-A level, held off by Kensal Park, 26-16, in the final at Westminster high school.
The Mustangs opened with a 19-10 win over Parkview, before defeating Pearson in the semifinals. Anna Verbruggen led the Mustangs in points over the three games.
Kettle Creek won bronze, sinking Old North, 28-10, in the girls single-A third place match at Clarke Road secondary school.
The Captains, out of Port Stanley, defeated Rick Hanson in their opening game, before falling to Woodstock Roch Carrier in the semifinals. Roch Carrier went on to win gold, defeating Northridge.
Locke's captured boys triple-A silver.
All threee schools were their respective division Elgin County champs.

Sunday, December 3, 2023
ST. THOMAS - A shutout brought the BAD Blazers U15C gold at the Panthers on the Prowl tourney.
The Blazers blanked Chatham-Kent Crush, 1-0, in the final today at the Joe, on a goal by Mackenzie Vermeer, avenging a 2-0 loss earlier in pool play.
In the semifinals, Abbey Mott had a hat trick as the Blazers dumped host Panthers, 5-1. Saydi Hill and Sienna Brown also scored for BAD.
BAD had two shutouts in pool play, silencing both the Huron Heat and Saugeen Shores.

Sunday, December 3, 2023
ST. THOMAS - The St. Thomas U11HL Panthers are tournament champs.
Kinley Taylor was credited with the game's only goal, an own goal, in a 1-0 shutout of London Devilettes Green, in the U11HL final, today at the Panthers on the Prowl tournament.
In the semifinals, Allie Harvey had a hat trick as the Panthers defused the Ayr Rockets, 5-1. Claire Brokenshire and Addison Bogart, rounded out the scoring for the Panthers.
In pool play the Panthers skated to a 3-0 record.
The Panthers opened with a 6-1 win against rival London Devilettes Red, with Brokenshire and Harvey each scoring twice and Michaela Jones, one goal.
Brokenshire had two more goals, while Harvey, Eva Lounsbury, Kinley Taylor and Paisley Llic, one each in a 6-2 dumping of Tecumseh.
Claire Thomson with two goals, Addison Bogart and Brokenshire, netted pucks in a 4-2 win over Oakville.
Over 40 teams from as far as Kincardine, Windsor and Nepean are playing in eight divisions in the three day tournament.
The Panthers advanced to the U13C final, before falling 5-2 to the Nepean Wildcats.
Ilderton (U18C), Stratford (U11C), Stoney Creek Black (U15HL), Windsor (U15HL) and BAD Blazers (U15C) were division winners. Stoney Creek Black and Kitchener Red made the U18HL final.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
ST. THOMAS - It was a tacky return for the Belles and Brooms Bonspiel.
Following two years of cancellation due to the pandemic and only a one day event a year ago, the 43rd edition was back at two days of competition, Monday and Tuesday at the St. Thomas Curling Club.
Players were sweeping in their best tacky Christmas sweaters.
Skip Laurie Bruvall and her Ilderton team of Barb Morrisey, Fran Corby and Isabel Cassidy are the A flight champions.
Bruvall won an all Ilderton championship final against Judy Oryniak, 7-6, that came to down last rock.
Cindy Gillard and her St. Thomas rink of Sue Nichol, Pam Smith, Ruth Kilgour and Kathy Lyle, captured B flight.
The Ingersoll team of Linda Allard, Carol Piron, Joyce McKinney and Deb Ross, took C flight.
Two eight end games on day one Monday, placed teams in three flights on day two, for two more eight end games.

Sunday, November 26, 2023
VICTORIA, B.C. - Jayden McMullen is the Canadian junior cyclocross champion.
The 17-year old from St. Thomas, racing with KW Cycling Academy, won the four lap roughly 3.5-kilometre race in 37 minutes and 22.15 seconds, four seconds ahead of second place.
McMullen took the lead not long into the junior (U19) race.
"I found a gap on the right side on the first corner and I scooped six people," McMullen said. "I just kept looking for gaps to get to the front and, when we hit the first greasy section it was just carnage behind me."
McMullen is the number one ranked junior in Canadian cyclocross and 21st in the world.
The St. Joseph's high school student will represent Canada at a few races in Europe in December, before the world championships, in Czechia next February.
Cyclocross consists of many laps of a short course, featuring paved sections, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount and carry the bike.

Friday, November 24, 2023
STRATFORD, Ont. - It's not the side of the bracket the St. Josph's Rams were hoping for, but they are still playing.
The Rams are now eying the consolation title at OFSAA double-A boys volleyball.
After a three games to none sweep of Orillia Twin Lakes in the consolation quarterfinals, the Rams face Leamington, in the consolation semifinals Saturday morning.
St. Joe's finished pool play at 2-2, but it wasn't enough to advance to the championship side of the tournament bracket.
Earlier today, the Rams evened their match record, defeating both South Porcupine Roland Michener and Thunder Bay Hammarskjold, two games to none.

Friday, November 24, 2023
GUELPH, Ont. - It is an unfortunate case of deja vu.
In back to back years, the East Elgin Eagles' girls basketball season ends in the OFSAA quarterfinals against the top seeded team.
Top ranked Arnprior Rapids sent the Eagles home, with a 50-25 win at OFSAA double-A basketball Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes high school.
A year ago, the Eagles lost the same game to top seeded St. Catharines Sir Winston Churchill, who went on to win the provincial title.
East Elgin led 6-4 early, but a 10-0 run by Arnprior gave them a 14-6 lead. The Eagles battled back to within two points, at 14-12, but the Rapids ended the first half on a 7-2 run.
The Rapids took control of the game in third quarter, outscoring the Eagles, 21-5.
Lily Allen had eight points for the Eagles against Arnprior, and Ellery Beilhartz, seven.
The Eagles were without their twin towers, six-foot three sisters Brooke and Ainsley Preszcator, due to injuries.
Ainsley missed the entire tournament with a concussion, while Brooke suffered a leg injury in the Eagles' 40-26 win against EL Crossley Friday morning.
Beilhartz led the Eagles against Crossley, scoring 16 points, including a trio of three pointers. Taryn Sullivan and Brooke before her injury, each put in eight points.

Thursday, November 23, 2023
GUELPH, Ont. - The East Elgin Eagles started on the right foot at OFSAA double-A girls basketball.
After a first quarter when neither team could hit a basket, the Eagles settled down for a 42-23 win against North York McGuigan, in the their opening game at St. James high school.
Lily Allen with four three pointers and Brooke Preszcator, both had 12 points for the Eagles, while Ellery Beilhartz had eight points and Annelise Borm, six.
In round two Friday morning, East Elgin faces EL Crossley, from Fronthill.
The winner remains in championship contention, while the loser goes to the consolation side Friday afternoon.

Thursday, November 23, 2023
STRATFORD, Ont. - The St. Joseph's Rams had tough matches on day one of OFSAA double-A boys volleyball.
The Rams dropped both of meetings against eighth seeded Port Perry, 25-15, 25-22 and three seeded Kingston Notre Dame, 27-25, 25-18.
On day two Friday, St. Joes takes on Roland Michener, from South Porcupine and ninth seeded Hammarskjold High, from Thunder Bay.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
LONDON, Ont. - Their first WOSSAA senior girls basketball title in 15 years wasn't easy.
The East Elgin are returning to OFSAA, the high school provincial championship, holding off Woodstock College Avenue Knights, 49-44, during the WOSSAA double-A gold medal game tonight at South Collegiate..
Unlike the TVRA final a week earlier, when the Eagles soared away with a 41-29 win, the Knights arrived looking to slay.
The Eagles jumped out to a 8-0 lead, but the Knights caught fire and led 24-19 at halftime.
Turnovers created by Taryn Sullivan, defensive play and clutch shooting from Darah Farrow and Ellery Beilhartz, turned things in the Eagles favour in the third quarter.
In the semifinals, the Eagles avenged a loss a year ago in the WOSSAA gold game, edging Stratford St. Mike's, 47-44.
OFSAA is in Guelph, November 23-25.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
LONDON, Ont. - It's an undefeated run completed.
The Parkside Stampeders finished a 13-0 season dumping their cross town rivals St. Joseph's Rams, 61-23, in the gold medal game, at WOSSAA double-A junior girls basketball tonight at South Collegiate.
Parkside jumped out to a 14-5 lead after one quarter and were in control at halftime, up 25-11.
Kerris Moore led the Stampeders with 15 points, while Blaire Dawdy had 13 and Kennedy Lawrence, 12.
Jayla Oum scored 15 points for St. Joe's.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
STRATFORD, Ont. - The Central Elgin Titans are WOSSAA double-A junior boys volleyball bronze medalists.
The Titans dusted host St. Mike's Warriors in three games, winning 25-22, 25-13, 25-19, this afternoon at St. Mike's secondary school.
In the semifinal, London Oakridge squeezed by the Titans to advance to the gold medal match, by taking the semifinal, three games to two.

Monday, November 13, 2023
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. - Team McDonald, representing Ontario, is the 2023 Canadian mixed curling bronze medalist.
The rink from the St. Thomas Curling club, of skip Scott McDonald, Lori Eddy, Matthew Hall and Laura Neil, defeated Nova Scotia, 8-3, in seven ends, in the bronze medal match Sunday.
Ontario scored three in the second end and four in the fifth, taking control of the game.
In the semifinals, Manitoba edged Ontario, 6-5, scoring one in the ninth end.
Ontario went 5-1 in pool play.
Saskatchewan won the gold, defeating Manitoba, 6-4.

Saturday, November 11, 2023
LONDON, Ont. - Ethan Dolby (left photo) had his biggest game of his career in the biggest game of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) season.
The rookie running back racked up 120 yards on 19 carries and 21 more yards with two catches, helping the Western Mustangs defeat the Laurier Hawks, 29-14, in the 115th Yates Cup at Western University.
"It feels amazing, but there are two more games to play," Dolby said.
Stepping in for injured veteran players, Dolby from St. Thomas, gave the Mustangs eight first downs during the game.
"I was a little nervous at the start of the game but after the first couple drives the nerves calmed down," Dolby said. "The o-line and the whole team stepped up. We had a plan to beat Laurier and executed."
Veteran Craig Coleman of St. Thomas, wins his third Yates Cup with the Western.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023
AYLMER, Ont. - Step one of the East Elgin Eagles senior girls basketball team's goal has been accomplished.
The Eagles are advancing to the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) South-East AA final and have a spot at WOSSAA, following a 51-34 win over the St. Joseph's Rams Tuesday in a semifinal at East Elgin secondary school.
The three-time reigning South-East champs are aiming for a return trip to OFSAA, the high school provincial championships. A year ago, East Elgin finished in the top eight at OFSAA.
Ainsley Preszcator led the Eagles with 13 points, while Ellery Beilhartz and Lilly Allen, each had nine.
Coral Beecroft scored 11 points for the Rams and Promise Atkinson, six.
East Elgin hosts the South-East AA final against Woodstock College Ave Knights, Thursday at 3 p.m.
Both teams head to the WOSSAA tournament, Thursday, November 16, at South high school in London. The WOSSAA champ advances to OFSAA, November 18 in Guelph.
College Ave edged the Parkside Stampeders, 44-41, in their TVRA semifinal.
In junior South-East semifinal action, Parkside defeated East Elgin and St. Joe's dumped Huron Park, to advance to the final and earn a spot at WOSSAA.

Saturday, November 4, 2023
ETOBICOKE, Ont. - St. Joseph's Rams junior girls are one of the top teams in the province.
The Rams placed fourth, missing the bronze medal by two points, at the OFSAA cross country championships held at Centennial Park.
Three teams were within two points of each other in the bronze medal hunt. Weldon secondary school from Lindsay, had a combined four runner total of 253 points. St. Joe's and LaSalle Sandwich, tied with 255, but the Rams, took fourth on the tie break, the position of their fifth runner.
These three teams were over 140 points lower then the remainder of the field, another 30 teams. Windsor Holy Names won team gold (115 pts - four in the top 50) and Collingwood Collegiate brought home silver (194).
Abi Faris led the Rams finishing 43rd in the five kilometer race featuring 260 runners, followed by Flourish Nmor, Alex Fangeat, Claire Caslick and Sadie Downswell.
A year ago, this group of Rams were fourth as novice girls.
St. Joe's Mohanad Kuhail placed third overall in the para race and repeated as the Ambulatory division winner.
Kirk Hallman finished eighth in the junior boys race, leading the Dorchester Beavers team to ninth place, with River Neveu, Spencer Erb, Bennett Thomas and Andrew Shoniker.
The St. Joe's senior boys team placed 12th, with Fowler Little, Ty Emre, Connor Crosby, Lucas Skirtschak and Noah Bakker.

Friday, November 3, 2023
LONDON, Ont. - Brendan McCausland did a little of everything and it meant a lot.
McCausland scored a touchdown and kicked two singles (rouges), carrying the Parkside Stampeders to an 8-7 win over the London Bessette Bulldogs, this afternoon in the TVRA junior football semifinal at City Wide Sports Park.
Bessette led 7-0 mid second quarter, on a coverted touchdown.
The Stampeders blocked a field goal attempt with 43 seconds remaining of the first half, keeping the Bulldogs to within one score.
Half a minute later, McCausland was completing a 65-yard pass play running into the end zone.
The extra point was missed, leaving the score 7-6 Bessette at half.
Bessette threatened to add to their lead in the third quarter, bringing the ball to the Stampeders' 15 yard line, but the Parkside defence held.
McCausland tied the game after Connor Ward gained major yards for Parkside.
With 2:05 left in the fourth quarter, McCausland booted the ball through the end zone for the winning point.
Parkside tackles London CCH in the final, Friday, November 10, location and time TBA.

Thursday, November 2, 2023
ST. THOMAS - One play made the difference.
A last second touchdown in the first half was enough for the College Avenue Knights to edge the Parkside Stampeders, 6-0, in a TVRA B division senior football semifinal at 1Password Park.
Noah Paulsen jumped on a loose ball in the end zone for the game's only points.
On the last play of the first half, Knights' Tyler Piper broke loose at mid field, taking the ball 50 yards, before Parkside forced a fumble at the goal line. Paulsen saved his teammate's effort.
CASS missed the extra point.
In TVRA B division junior semifinal action, Dorian Park-Thomas had three TDs and Gavin Balazs, two, leading the Glendale Gemini over the East Elgin Eagles, 31-21.
Avery Austin scored three TDs for the Eagles. Andres Boldt kicked two extra points and a single.
Cam Vermeer and Denver Hudson had fumble recoveries for the Eagles.
Balazs also kicked one extra point.

Thursday, October 26, 2023
ST. THOMAS - Christian Petzke has the Parkside Stampeders in the TVRA semifinals.
Petzke scored two touchdowns in the second half, including the winning major, mid fourth quarter, as the Stampeders edged the St. Joe's Rams, 15-12, in a Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) senior football quarterfinal at 1Password Park.
St. Joe's led 12-1 at half, on a Gage Hamilton TD, a two-point safety and a field goal an extra point from Ante Raic.
Merrick Rollins punted a rouge for Parkside's lone point.
Petzke finished with 81 yards on 16 carries. Rollins racked up 108 yards on 18 carries and Ryan King had 32 yards.
Nash Coombs kicked two extra points and while on defence made two interceptions.
Parkside tackles the College Avenue Knights, from Woodstock, in the semifinals, Thursday, November 2, 11 a.m at Password.

Thursday, October 26, 2023
CLINTON, Ont. - Two St. Joseph's Rams cross country teams are returning to OFSAA.
St. Joe's junior girls won their team title, while the senior boys placed second, at the WOSSAA cross country championships at St. Anne's high school.
Abi Faris led the junior team finishing fifth in the race, followed by Flourish Nmor, in 12th, Alex Fangeat, 13th and Claire Caslick, 23rd.
Ty Emre and Fowler Little, were 11th and 12th, respectively, to lead the senior Rams, followed by Lucas Skirtschak and Connor Crosby, in 19th and 20th place.
Both teams return to the high school provincial championships but in older divisions. A year ago, the junior girls placed fourth at OFSAA as novices.
Diego Alban-Gasca placed fifth in the para race and will join the two Rams' teams at OFSAA.
All runners endured wet and very muddy conditions along the WOSSAA course.

Thursday, October 26, 2023
LONDON, Ont.- Briir Long completed his first hat trick in junior hockey scoring in overtime.
Long lifted the St. Thomas Stars over the London Nationals, 6-5, with this third goal of the game 43 seconds in to extra time, Wednesday.
The Stars have won back to back games, after a six game slide, to sit sixth in the GOJHL Western Conference, with a 5-8-0-1 record.
London led 2-1 after 40 minutes, before Long tied the affair 32 seconds in to the third frame.
The Nationals held leads of 3-2 and 5-4 in the third period, but Jared Woolley knotted the score with 63 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Woolley also picked up three assists, while Kaedyn Long and Owen van de Ven, both had two helpers.
Harrison Franssen and Cole Collins, also scored for the Stars.
Stars' goalie Alexei Medvedev made 40 saves, while Nationals' netminder, Carter Froggett, from Thorndale, had 25 stops.
Riley Wood, with two goals, Jeremy Hirsh, Blake Arrowsmith and Lucas Chard shorthanded, replied for London.

Tuesday, October 25, 2023 Updated from: Oct. 17
LONDON, Ont. - Brooke Gustavson is a back to back Valley cross country champion.
The Southwold student from Talbotville won the 10-year old girls (junior) two kilometre race, at the Thames Valley District elementry school championships today at Fanshawe Conservation Area.
A year ago, Gustavson won the bantam girls race.
Holden McKillop from Dutton-Dunwich won the novice boys race.
There were 18 to 10 results from schools across Elgin County and Thames Centre.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023
ST. THOMAS - St. Thomas Jr. Stars were victorious on home ice.
Malcolm Travis scored a hat trick as the Jr. Stars won the U11A final, 3-0, over London Jr. Mustangs White, at the St. Thomas major hockey tournament, at the Joe October 22.
Oscar Moore assisted on two of the goals, while goalie Noah Menlove had the shutout.
The Jr. Stars went 6-0, outscoring the opposition, 32 to nine.

Sunday, October 22, 2023
DORCHESTER, Ont. - First the Dorchester Dolphins overcame a two goal defictit. Then the Dolphins let one slip away
The Exeter Hawks scored three times in the third period, for a 5-4 win Saturday at the Hanger.
Exeter jumped on the Dolphins with two goals in 60 seconds by Jaeden French. That's two goals in the opening minute of the game.
The Dolphins had the game back to even terms, by the five minute mark, before taking a 4-2 lead in the second period.
Jackson McLlwain scored the game winner during a five-on-three power play.
Josh Short, Tage Gallant, Paterson MacNair and Nicholas Shearer scored for the Dolphins.
After 10 games, the Dolphins own a 6-2-2 record, third best in the Provincial Junior Hockey League Yeck Division, behind North Middlesex and Thamesford.
On Friday, Short scored twice and assisted on two more goals, as the Dolphins defeated the Lucan Irish, 6-3.
Shearer scored twice in the third period, to help secure the Dolphins' sixth win of the season.
Lucan led 2-1 and 3-2, before Cooper Kilbourne tied the game. Short's second goal of the game and MacNair, put the Dolphins up 4-3.
Former Dolphin Mark Brisson, was a linesman in the game.

Thursday, October 19, 2023
STRATHROY, Ont. - Ty Emre, Kirk Hallman and Abi Faris, are cross country race champions.
The trio won their respective races at the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) Tri-County cross country championships Thursday at Strathroy District Collegiate.
Emre won the senior boys race, with four teammates finishing in the top 10, as the St. Joe's Rams easily ran away with the team title. Fowler Little was second, Connor Crosby, third, Joel Jenson, eighth and Noah Bakker, 10th.
Hallman finished first in junior boys and had four teammates join him in the top 10. orchester Beavers took the team title, with River Neveu placing third, Bennett Thomas, sixth, Spencer Erb, seventh and Andrew Shoniker, ninth.
Rams' Faris took over the lead with about 500 metres to go, to win the junior girls race. St. Joe's won the team title with Fourish Nmor, in third place, Alex Fangeat, fourth, Clara Lascelles, ninth, Sadie Dowswell, 11th and Claire Caslick, 12th.
The top 20 individuals in each race and top three teams in each division, advance to WOSSAA, Thursday, October 26, at St. Anne's high school in Clinton.

Friday, October 13, 2023
ORWELL, Ont. - The St. Joseph's Rams' senior boys and junior girls keep running away from the competition.
St. Joe's won both the team titles at the Springwater Invitational cross country meet, Thursday at the Springwater Conservation Area, the final meet before the championships.
Led by Abi Faris, the Rams placed four runners in the top 25.
London Lucas, with junior girls race winner Sarah Jacquith, was second.
The Rams' junior girls have been the top team in each of the four local meets, Golden Ghost Invitational at Gibbons Park, Springbank, Strathroy and now Springwater.
The Rams' senior boys have brought home titles in three of the four meets.
Fowler Little was seventh in the senior race, followed by Connor Crosby in eighth.
Kirk Hallman led the Dorchester Beavers to the junior boys' team title, winning the five kilometre race in 17 minutes and 49 seconds.
Dorchester also was the top junior boys team at Gibbons Park.
Parkside Stampeders Oliver Doolittle finished sixth in the novice boys four K race.
St. Joe's Diego Alban-Gasca placed fourth in the para race.