A Night of Student-Athlete Success for Blue Jags

It was a fitting celebration for a year defined by historic achievements, perseverance and the enduring spirit of school sport.

On June 9, Senior School student-athletes gathered with teammates, coaches, staff and families for the 33rd St. Michaels University School's Athletics Banquet, recognizing the accomplishments and relationships that shaped the 2025-26 athletic year.

The season brought no shortage of highlights.

SMUS captured seven City and five Island championships, while 12 teams qualified for BC Provincial Championships. Leading the way was the Senior Golf team, which authored one of the most memorable moments in recent school history. One year after qualifying for provincials for the first time since 2018, the young group returned with even greater determination, winning the AA Island Championship by 14 strokes before bringing home the school's first-ever AA Golf Provincial Championship.

The Senior Girls Basketball team also continued its remarkable run of success. Competing at the AAA level, the Jaguars claimed City and Island titles before earning a bronze medal at the BC Championships. The Junior Girls Basketball team added City and Island championships of its own and finished 10th in the province, while the Grade 9 Boys Basketball team swept City and Island titles en route to a 10th-place provincial finish.

Throughout the year, SMUS teams embraced new challenges. Girls field hockey, basketball and soccer, along with boys rugby, all competed at the AAA level following promotion, reflecting the strength and sustained success of their programs. The Senior Girls Field Hockey team once again swept both the City and Island championships before placing ninth at provincials, while the Senior Boys Rugby team narrowly missed an Island bronze medal after another hard-fought campaign. The Boys Cross Country team continued its tradition of excellence, finishing second at Islands and seventh at the BC Championships.

The spring season added even more to celebrate. Sailing reclaimed the City Cup, boys tennis placed seventh in British Columbia, and Track and Field sent 19 athletes to the provincial championships, earning nine top-10 finishes. Seb Allard captured silver in senior boys shot put, while Will Hamilton and William Low each earned provincial bronze medals.

Beyond provincial competition, SMUS athletes also excelled on the national stage. At the 79th CSSRA National Championships, the rowing program advanced eight crews to finals and earned five medals, highlighted by a gold medal in the Junior Women's 8 and bronze medals in the Senior Women's Coxed 4 and Pair, Junior Women's Coxed 4, and Mixed Quad events.

Senior Athletes of the Year Seb Allard Mackenna Brown — Senior Athletes of the Year: Seb Allard, Mackenna Brown

Yet, as the evening's celebrations made clear, the true measure of SMUS Athletics extends beyond banners and podiums.

Coaches reflected on the resilience shown in difficult moments, the leadership demonstrated by graduating captains, and the relationships formed through countless practices, bus rides and competitions. In an era increasingly defined by early specialization, the school's commitment to the multisport athlete remained evident, with six graduating students recognized for embracing multiple teams and experiences throughout their Senior School careers with Multisport Medallions.

The banquet also honoured the many people who make these opportunities possible. Families, coaches, athletic staff, drivers, facilities and grounds crews, and volunteers were thanked for the countless hours invested in supporting student-athletes. Special recognition was given to athletic assistant Tina Lum and athletic therapist Sydney Chapman, while longtime Junior School teacher and coach Gary Barber was celebrated upon his retirement after more than three decades of inspiring students to discover a love of sport.

As another athletic year came to a close, the evening served as a reminder that participation and sportsmanship remain at the heart of the SMUS experience. Championships will eventually fade into history, but the confidence gained through challenge, the lessons learned through competition and the friendships built along the way leave a lasting impact.

A full list of award recipients from the 33rd Athletics Banquet can be found below: