Portage Collegiate Institute celebrated a stellar year of athletic achievement Tuesday night at Stride Place, honouring over 220 student-athletes at the annual PCI Athletic Awards.
The electric ceremony recognized major award winners across numerous sports, spotlighting standout performances while celebrating the collective spirit of Saints athletics. Dozens of team photos were snapped throughout the evening, culminating in a large group photo capturing all the award-winning students present.
Reflecting on a year of fun and friends
Graduating senior Zuba Ghitale capped his PCI career with two major awards, reflecting on the friendships forged through competition.
"I made a bunch of good friends. Basketball was probably one of my best seasons playing. It was fun, made like really good friends for me, and volleyball was also really fun too," Ghitale shares.
While his competitive team sports journey at PCI ends, he looks ahead casually, noting, "I think I'll probably be doing some rec sports or something. Just some sports on the side, not anything super team related."
Grade 10 volleyball standout Adam Vanstone earned MVP honours, emphasizing the broader benefits of participation.
"I thought it was a good year. I played lots of sports, and I try and keep on playing as many sports as I can, and it's just a great way to meet lots of good people and have fun," Vanstone says, adding he looks forward to summer baseball to gear up for next year.
The future looks bright for PCI basketball, evidenced by Grade 9 duo Rhea Kosheluk and Macie McGlinchey, who shared the Varsity Girls Basketball Rookie of the Year award. Kosheluk, relatively new to the sport, was thrilled: "I'm very shocked in myself knowing that I only played starting in Grade 8, so this is my second year of basketball for the school season, so I'm very proud." She plans on "more fall and spring ball. And along with more varsity."
McGlinchey echoed the pride and excitement, crediting her coaches.
"I'm very, very proud of Rhea, and I'm very proud of myself. It's very rewarding and a great experience," she notes, adding shoutouts to those that helped her along the way, "I'm just very thankful to my coaches, Dave McLeod and Kennedy Cunningham." She aims to continue with varsity and club basketball for the next three years.
Senior stars & driven juniors
Graduating athlete Benjamin Matthews-McCulley had a remarkable final year, receiving multiple honours, including the prestigious Barry Sharpe Award for Athlete of the Year and the Gage Foster Scholarship.
He highlighted hockey as his passion for hockey, saying, "I like the physicality of the game. I like the battles and the teams. I've never been in a sport where you're as close with your team."
He also adds that sports are helping to pave his future path in university, where he will continue to play hockey, and hopes to one day coach the next generation of hockey players, "passing on my love for the sport."
Fellow graduate Ella Harkness capped her Saints career in spectacular fashion, earning an impressive five major awards: Platinum Scholar Athlete, Softball MVP, Golf Coaches Award, Hockey MVP, and the pinnacle, she was co-winner of the Varsity Girls Athlete of the Year.
Reflecting on the recognition after four years of dedication, she says, "It feels good, especially for our grade 12 year. It's nice to be recognized, and after playing these sports for four years, it was nice just to be recognized for all the sports I played throughout the years."
While excelling across multiple sports, softball holds a special place, noting that she will probably be continuing softball throughout her life, even going so far as to go to Lake Region State College next year in order to continue her career in the sport.
Grade 12 graduate Grace Moar also had a big night and was the other co-winner of the Varsity Girls Athlete of the Year. Moar was also honoured as an MVP for volleyball, soccer and took home the coaches award for hockey. The Saints hockey team won their first ever championship this past season. Moar was also recognized as a platinum scholar athlete.
Grade 11 volleyball star Hailey Mazurat, named Defensive MVP, radiated determination. "I'm feeling very proud of myself. It builds my confidence a lot, and it really helps to be shown that I'm valued on the team and appreciated," Mazurat states.
She has clear goals for her senior year: "I'm doing the two hurricane volleyball camps this upcoming summer that will enhance and sharpen my skills to hopefully get the overall MVP next year."
Driven by family support and hard work, she sees sports continuing beyond PCI, noting, "I'm definitely gonna continue to do leagues when I get older. I'm hoping to play college sports."
Celebrating community & growth
PCI Athletic Director Jo-Anne Clark-Gillespie, who spearheaded the event, beamed with pride.
"It's like a proud parent moment. It's so nice seeing that we had a large number of student athletes here tonight. This is an awards night, but it's also a celebration of our athletic season."
She also noted the rebound in engagement post-pandemic, saying, "Attendance hasn't been that great following COVID. But last year and this year, it's growing because older kids are telling younger kids what this night is all about. It's nice to see them all excited for their teams and their teammates."
Vice-Principal Darin Arnold emphasized the vital role athletics play in school engagement.
"220 some athletes this year... speaks to the testament of getting kids involved in school... The more kids are engaged in school, the more they're at school," Arnold explains.
He echoed the importance of recognizing all contributions: "You couldn't have all the teams that we have without those other players that build the team and are a big, important part of the team." The sparkling evening showcased the dedication of PCI's athletes and the community supporting them.
With another year behind them, PCI looks ahead to the new school year, as a new year of students will bring a fresh, new energy, and hopefully new award-winners, to high school sports.