From first-time rowers testing their skills on Elk Lake to senior athletes leading the charge in volleyball and field hockey tournaments, SMUS student-athletes showcased dedication and teamwork this week. Across every level and sport, the Blue Jags continue to build momentum early in the fall season.
Rowing
Fifty-three members of the SMUS Rowing team took part in the October Sprints Regatta this past Saturday and Sunday on Elk Lake, with 12 of 16 SMUS crews placing in the top six of their speed categories and seven finishing in medal positions.
“For more than 60 per cent of the team, it was their first time racing after only four weeks of learning the sport,” said Susanne Walker Curry, Head of Rowing. “Overall, it was a great team effort.’’
Three SMUS crews finished first in their events, three others placed second, and one was third.
“Well done to all,” Walker Curry added. “A big thank you to the SMUS coaching staff and parents.”
Saturday Results
Open 8+ (11 entries)
- SMUS 2: 3rd in Final 1; 3rd in Award Category F
- SMUS 1: 4th in Final 2; 1st in Award Category D
Open Mostly Novice 4X+ (46 entries)
- SMUS 5: 2nd in Final 2; 2nd (11) in Award Category D
- SMUS 4: 3rd in Final 6; 7th (8) in Award Category C
- SMUS 6: 5th in Final 3; 5th (11) in Award Category D
- SMUS 1: 3rd in Final 6; 2nd (15) in Award Category A
- SMUS 7: 5th in Final 6; 10th (11) in Award Category B
- SMUS 2: 4th in Final 2; 5th (15) in Award Category A
- SMUS 3: 4th in Final 10; 15th (15) in Award Category B
Sunday Results
Open 4X (35 entries)
- SMUS 1: 3rd in Final 2; 1st (11) in Award Category E
- SMUS 2: 1st in Final 2; 7th (13) in Award Category F (7/35)
- SMUS 3: 5th in Final 1; 5th (13) in Award Category F (5/35)
Open Mostly Novice 8+ (19 entries)
- SMUS 4: 3rd in Final 1; 1st (2) in Category D
- SMUS 1: 1st in Final 3; 5th (7) in Award Category C
- SMUS 2: 4th in Final 3; 2nd (6) in Award Category A
- SMUS 3: 1st in Final 3; 4th (4) in Award Category B.
Senior Girls Field Hockey
The SMUS-1 Competitive Field Hockey team enjoyed another solid week as its season approached the half-way point.
After a convincing 2-0 win against Oak Bay in Lower Island league play on Wednesday with both Blue Jag goals coming from Mackenna Brown, the team embarked on its first tournament off the Island – the Independent Schools Athletic Association championship at Crofton House in Vancouver.
On Friday, SMUS turned in a solid first game against York House, winning 1-0. Elspeth Rodger scored the game’s only goal, although the Blue Jags created several other scoring chances. Next up was a tight 1-0 loss to an improving Glenlyon Norfolk School team, which scored on a penalty corner in a very even game played under the floodlights.
On Saturday, the Blue Jags adopted a tactical change to cope with a very strong Crofton House team and played what was probably their best game of the season, earning a respectable 1-1 tie. Julia Nemitz provided the SMUS goal, scoring on a penalty corner. The Blue Jags stuck admirably to their plan, and earned more chances and penalty corners than the host team.
Other results in pool play did not go the Blue Jags’ way, however. As a result, SMUS found itself playing Brentwood for fifth place in a crossover match on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jags comfortably won that matchup 2-0 on goals from Brown and Olive Winters.
“It was a tournament which was pretty even and it was good to see the strength of the Vancouver schools alongside the known standards of the Island teams,” said SMUS Head Coach David Kerr.
Next up for the Blue Jags is a league game against Reynolds on Wednesday at 4 pm at UVic, followed by the prestigious Bridgman Cup tournament over the long weekend, Oct. 10-12, also hosted at UVic.
The SMUS-2 team tied St. Andrew’s 1-1 on Wednesday in a Lower Island league match at UVic. Grade 9 Lauren Arndt provided SMUS with a late goal to earn the draw.
The SMUS-2 team plays Claremont in another league game this Wednesday at UVic, beginning at 3:30 pm.
Senior Boys Volleyball
The SMUS Senior Boys Volleyball team had a busy week, hosting both Lower Island league action on Wednesday and then co-hosting a 28-team tournament on the weekend with other local schools.
The Blue Jags split their four matches in the tournament, which featured a number of Lower Mainland teams. On Friday, SMUS won both its matches, beating Charles Best of Coquitlam in three sets (25-23, 28-26, 25-13) before downing Gulf Islands 3-1 (25-23, 25-16, 12-25, 25-18).
The Blue Jags followed up with a pair of extremely close five-game losses to Lower Mainland schools on Saturday – a 25-16, 25-19, 17-25, 14-25, 12-15 decision against Moscrop, and a 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-27, 7-15 loss to Grandview Heights.
In a four-team league round-robin last Wednesday at SMUS, the Jags went an impressive 5-1 in six games. SMUS split its opening match, beating Esquimalt 25-22 before losing the second game 25-21. The Jags then swept both Royal Bay (25-22, 25-22) and Reynolds (25-16, 25-15).
The Senior Boys will travel to Vic High this Wednesday for league games against the host team, Pacific Christian, and Esquimalt, starting at 6 pm.
Junior Boys Volleyball
The SMUS Junior Boys Volleyball team did not see any league action last week. The team will host Parkland in a Lower Island league matchup this Thursday, beginning at 4 pm.
Senior Girls Volleyball
The Senior Girls Volleyball team is coming off another full weekend of competition in the 32-team Camosun Chargers Tournament.
The Blue Jags had a strong start to the tournament with outstanding defence against Gulf Islands, taking their opening match 2-1 (25-13, 9-25,15-4) after losing to the same team the previous weekend. SMUS then delivered a full team effort in a 2-0 win over Queen Margaret’s (25-12, 25-14) in its second match.
In their final match of preliminary play, the Blue Jags battled Mission Secondary for top spot in their pool. Mission featured an outstanding leftside hitter, with whom Sienna Shanks of the Jags went toe-to-toe on defence, and SMUS teammate Nicola Bevington matched with an equally effective attack from the front- and backcourt. However, Mission prevailed 2-0 in the match by 25-18, 25-18 scores.
With the loss, SMUS finished second in its pool and then dropped a late-night Friday crossover to Edward Milne (21-25, 25-13, 10-15).
The Blue Jags rebounded Saturday morning, defeating local AAA rival Vic High in two straight sets (25-15, 25-18). Jada Aylesworth of SMUS stepped up, debuting as a middle blocker as the Jags finished the weekend with an exciting three-set win over Clayton Heights of Surrey (18-25, 25-22, 15-9).
The Senior Girls will travel to Belmont on Tuesday for Lower Island league play against the host school, Vic High, and Royal Bay, starting at 6 pm.
The Blue Jags will host their first and only home league matches of the regular season on Oct. 14, against Pacific Christian and AAAA powerhouses Claremont and Royal Bay, also starting at 6 pm.
Junior Girls Volleyball
The SMUS Junior Girls Competitive Volleyball team enjoyed a successful weekend at the Camosun Chargers tournament, losing in the Silver Tier final to finish 10th overall in the field.
“We had a great match in pool play vs. a very strong Esquimalt team, where we lost in three,” said Coach Jo Ross. “The Spirit award went to Angelina Bennett for her supportive and positive attitude.”
Meanwhile, the Junior Girls Development team did not have any league games this past week, but it also had the opportunity to play in the Camosun Chargers tournament Friday and Saturday.
“Highlights from the tournament were taking PCS to a third game, showing grit and determination, Kayleigh MacKay coming up with some great hits and serving runs, Ava Crawford and Isla Kerr serving very well, and Iben Hamilton once again passing expertly to her teammates,” said Coach Samantha Butler.
The SMUS Development team will play at Vic High this Monday, facing teams from the host school and Spectrum beginning at 4 pm.
Cross Country
Fourteen members of the SMUS Cross Country team travelled to Nanoose Bay on Saturday to test out the course for this year’s BC high school championships by competing in the Arbutus Meadows XC Rumble.
Rina Chida of SMUS had the school’s best placing, finishing 16th out of 68 competitors in the Senior Girls division. Teammate Sophie De Launiere was 40th in the same division.
Pascal Krawez had the top Junior Boys finish for SMUS, placing 18th out of 83 runners while Soichiro Yamane was 26th in the same division. Ella Buckley of SMUS finished 30th out of 75 Junior Girls while teammate Aleysia Accad was 33rd and Rieko Hara 36th.
Finlay Hlannon was the top SMUS Senior Boys finisher on Saturday, placing 25th out of 75 runners while teammate Alex Wessling was 38th, Henri Jungkind 45th, and Anthony Kavalenka 49th in the same division.
SMUS runners will compete again this Thursday in the next Lower Island league race at Beaver Lake, beginning at 3:45 pm.
Senior Boys Soccer
The SMUS Senior Boys hosted a talented Royal Bay squad in Lower Island Tier 1 Soccer league action on Thursday afternoon. Although the Blue Jags had their chances, they were unable to capitalize in a 4-0 loss to the visiting Ravens.
The Senior Jags will visit Belmont in another league game this Tuesday at Goudy Turf, beginning at 3:30 pm.
Meanwhile, the SMUS Senior Development Soccer team has played three games over the first two weeks of its Lower Island league season.
The Blue Jags played to a 1-1 draw at Pacific Christian in an exhibition game on Sept. 23. Hiromu Ohara scored for SMUS in that contest.
The Blue Jags fell 1-0 to Spectrum’s top team on Sept. 25. SMUS Coach Gregor Klenz said his squad “battled hard, nearly snatching a draw before a late dagger six minutes from time.” Klenz gave credit to the Jags’ back line, led by captains Marwan Al Hooti and Lochlan McLean, as well as Keith Alexander and Lukas Wittmann.
A short-handed SMUS team turned in a scrappy effort against visiting Belmont last Thursday, with lots of reserves getting minutes in a 4-1 loss. Kieran MacKay ran hard, and Al Hooti showed his aerial prowess up front with a textbook header to score after three minutes.
The Development team will host Mount Douglas in a league match this Tuesday at 3:45 pm.
Junior Boys Soccer
The SMUS Junior Boys did not see any Lower Island Soccer league action last week. The Junior Jags will play host to two games this week – on Monday vs. Belmont, and on Wednesday vs. Oak Bay. Both games begin at 3:45 pm.