From the field to the lake, SMUS athletes were in action across Vancouver Island this week, wrapping up league play and championship tournaments with grit and determination. The Senior Girls Field Hockey team captured the Island AAA title in their first year at the top level, while Cross Country runners braved a “mudbath” at provincials. Volleyball, soccer, and rowing teams also closed out their seasons or advanced toward Islands and BCs, marking another standout week for Blue Jags athletics.
Senior Girls Field Hockey
The Senior Girls Competitive team played two big games this past week, including a victory in the Island AAA Field Hockey Championship game on Thursday.
On Monday, the Blue Jags defeated Glenlyon Norfolk School 2-0 to retain the May Tully Shield. This shield dates back to the 1920s and is the oldest high school field hockey trophy in North America. It is awarded annually to the winner between the Lower Island’s best AA and AAA teams.
“It was a tight, close game, but goals from Mackenna Brown and Manon Denux from penalty corners secured the win,” said SMUS Head Coach David Kerr.
The Blue Jags followed that up by beating Qu’wutsun by an identical 2-0 margin in the Island AAA final on Thursday at UVic, with goals from Leila Mostachfi and Brown. The SMUS goalies – Emma Knoblochova and Ailo Streitel – backstopped the shutout.
“This year is the first time SMUS has been playing in the top AAA division, so it’s a neat accomplishment to win the trophy, and now the team can definitely be called ‘the best on the Island’,” Kerr said.
SMUS will now prepare for the BC AAA Championships Nov.12-14 at Tamanawis Park in Surrey and will enter the 12-team provincial tournament as the Island No. 1 seed.
Meanwhile, the SMUS-2 team hosted and played in the Tier 2 Island Championship last Tuesday at UVic and enjoyed some very good competitive games.
“The team made significant improvements on the season and they should be congratulated on a fine season overall,” Kerr said.
Cross Country
Finlay Hlannon posted the top individual finish out of the 14 SMUS runners who took part in Saturday’s BC Cross Country Championships held under extremely wet conditions at Arbutus Meadows in Nanoose Bay.
“In what can only be described as an absolute mudbath, the race was clearly not for the weak-at-heart,” said SMUS Head Coach Jeff Hunt.
Hlannon placed 38th out of 142 runners in the five-kilometre Senior Boys AA race, finishing in 18:52, just ahead of SMUS teammates Michael Carpiano (40th, 18:56) and Pascal Krawez (42nd, 19:07).
The SMUS Senior Boys finished seventh in the AA team event with an average time of 19:18. SMUS was the top Island AA team, just ahead of Highland of Comox. MEI was the top team in the AA event, with an average time of 17:46.
Other Blue Jag finishers in Senior Boys included Grade 10 Isaac Ren (70th, 20:17), Alex Wessling (71st, 20:17), Henri Jungkind (83rd, 20:53) and Anthony Kavalenka (108th, 22:18).
Rina Chida, who qualified individually out of the Island Championships, was the only SMUS runner in the Senior Girls AA race. Chida placed 50th out of 124 runners in 23:04.
Natalie DiFelice-Oinonen of SMUS had the best Blue Jag finish in the four-kilometre Junior Girls race, placing 86th out of 248 runners in 18:49. The young SMUS Junior Girls team placed 26th in the team event, with an average time of 20:10.
Other SMUS Junior Girls finishers were Ella Buckley (176th, 20:29), Aleysia Accad (181st, 20:34), Rieko Hara (189th, 20:46), Piper Geddes (211th, 21:22) and Hana Ota (245th, 25:06).
“Well done to all the cross country runners for a superb season,” Hunt said.
Senior Boys Soccer
The SMUS Senior Boys Soccer team travelled to Campbell River on Sunday in advance of the Vancouver Island AA Championship tournament, which begins Monday.
The Blue Jags enter the eight-team draw as the South Island’s No. 1 seed and will kick off with a 12:30 pm game against Alberni District Secondary. SMUS will also meet Edward Milne Community School on Monday at 3:30 pm before finishing pool play on Tuesday with a 9 am matchup against host Carihi.
The top team from each pool will advance to Tuesday’s gold medal match at 1:30 pm while the second-place team in each pool will play for the bronze at the same time.
The top four teams from the Island will qualify for the BC AA Championship tournament Nov. 17-19 at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.
Senior Girls Volleyball
The SMUS Senior Girls won their Lower Island AAA Volleyball playoff opener on home court last Tuesday, beating Edward Milne 25-20, 21-25, 28-26, and 25-14 in the best-of-five match.
The Blue Jags now advance to the Lower Island semifinals this Tuesday at Stelly’s at 6 pm. SMUS will take on the host Stingers, who beat Parkland in their opening-round match by 25-10, 25-9, 25-16 scores.
The top three teams from the Lower Island qualify for the Island AAA Championships Nov. 14-15 at Esquimalt Secondary. The fourth-place Lower Island team can also challenge for an additional berth.
Senior Boys Volleyball
The Senior Boys Volleyball team won two of its three matches as Lower Island regular season action concluded Wednesday at Lambrick Park.
The Blue Jags beat both the host Lions 25-14, 25-20 and Edward Milne 25-20, 25-11. They also lost to Pacific Christian 25-21, 25-10.
The results left the Blue Jags second in the Lower Island AA league standings heading into playoffs which begin on Wednesday at Parkland. SMUS will take on Edward Milne in its first playoff match at 7:15 pm. The winner of that match will meet the winner of Vic High and Parkland in a Thursday semifinal.
The top four Lower Island teams will qualify for the Island Championships Nov. 14-15 at Highland in Comox.
Rowing
SMUS Rowing earned two first-place finishes, three second-place showings and one-third-place finish in the weather-plagued 2025 Lower Vancouver Island Secondary Schools Athletic Association City Championship Regatta held over the weekend on Elk Lake.
Blue Jag rowers also earned one fourth-place and one fifth-place showing.
Torrential rain and wind forced all racing on Saturday to be cancelled.
“Unfortunately, illness and the weather played havoc for SMUS Crew,” said Head of Rowing Susanne Walker Curry. “All athletes should be commended on their flexibility to make changes to support illness and to handle the crazy rain and wind that was experienced over the weekend. Congratulations to all athletes and a huge thank you to the coaching staff!”
SMUS results:
Saturday
Open 8+
SMUS 1: 2nd in Award Category F going into the finals
SMUS 2: 2nd in Award Category D going into the finals
Open Mostly Novice 4X-
Six SMUS Novice 4X- boats raced in their various heats in downpour and winds. The weather did not allow for racing to continue and final placings in their respective categories could not be officially determined.
Sunday
Open 4X
SMUS 1: 5th in Award Category F
SMUS 3: 2nd in Award Category D
Open Mostly Novice 8+
SMUS 1: 4th in Award Category C
SMUS 2: 3rd in Award Category B
SMUS 3: 1st in Award Category A
SMUS 4: 1st in Award Category D
Junior Boys Volleyball
The SMUS Junior Boys Volleyball team ended its season on Friday with a sixth-place finish in the Lower Island playoffs.
The Junior Jags fell out of contention for a spot in the Island Championships with a 25-19, 22-25, 13-15 loss to Stelly’s in a dramatic match at Claremont that saw the Jags rally from down 12-9 to tie the final game at 13-13 before being edged by the Stingers at the very end. In its final match of the season later Friday, SMUS dropped a 25-22, 23-25, 11-15 decision to Lambrick Park to place sixth.
The Junior Jags finished third in their pool on the opening day of the Lower Island tournament Thursday at Pacific Christian. SMUS lost to Claremont ‘A’ 18-25,16-25 and split with both Vic High ‘B’ 25-20, 27-29, and PCS 17-25, 25-21.
“Toma Pittman maintained a wall at the net, while Kadin Naqvi capitalized on every set with his explosive spiking, moving them through the first-round knockout stage,” said SMUS Coach James Rees of his team. “On Day 2, the boys ended up placing sixth in the city … all because of William Low’s oppressive offence, Manav Kang’s precise setting, and of course, Andy Pan’s lethal serves. Congratulations to the team for the fantastic season!”
Junior Girls Volleyball
After clinching a top-seven finish out of 20 teams in the Lower Island Volleyball league standings, the SMUS Junior Girls headed to Stelly’s Secondary for playoffs this week.
The Junior Jags opened with a hard-fought match against Spectrum’s Grade 10 squad, showcasing some of their best volleyball of the season in a loss.
“Grace dominated at the net with her strongest performance yet, while Clara stepped up in place of Ali, who was sidelined by illness, keeping SMUS competitive from the left side,” said Assistant Coach Jake Insley. “Fiona brought her trademark almost-setting-the-ball-on-fire power to her attacks, and Addie continued to deliver composed, consistent setting throughout. Despite the loss, the team battled until the final point, fueled by Baani’s energy and Evie’s contagious enthusiasm.”
In the Blue Jags’ second match – a loss against Esquimalt – a few tough calls early on created a steep deficit, but the team responded with resilience and determination.
“Lisa came up with several clutch digs, Natalie unleashed one of the team’s hardest hits of the season, and Captain Lina dove fearlessly across the court, owning the right side and setting the tone for the team’s fight,” Insley said. “With only nine athletes competing, the girls showed immense heart and unity … Coaches Jo, Jake, and Flo couldn’t be prouder of the growth, grit, and joy this team brought to every match this season.”
Junior Girls Development Volleyball
The SMUS Junior Girls Development team wrapped up its season with a strong day of playoffs last Monday at Spectrum, facing off against the No. 1- and 2-ranked teams. SMUS finished first in the three-team playoff, with Edward Milne second and Spectrum ‘B’ third.
“The team pulled together with laser-focused serving and fearless hits during scrambled plays to win a first-place finish,” said SMUS Coach Samantha Butler. “A true showcase of teamwork and determination. Well done Jags!”
Senior Boys ‘B’ Soccer
The Senior Boys ‘B’ Soccer team wrapped up its season with a 0-0 draw against St. Andrew’s.
“Huge shoutout for a great defensive effort by the whole team and to Alwin Thiele, who made save after save and basically turned into a human wall,” said SMUS Coach Gregor Klenz
The ‘Killer Bs’ also took on a squad made up of staff from just about every corner of campus – grounds, science, English, tech, modern languages, music, and PE.
Hiro Ohara added two more goals to his season tally in this game, and Nico Otto and Kieran MacKay each found the back of the net after a season of tireless running.
