The student body at Bradford District High School will be depleted somewhat later this week as three of its spring sports teams head off to Windsor to compete against the province’s best at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships.
Girls’ soccer coach Erin Carson expects to see some exciting competition as nine members of her team return to OFSAA following a good show there in 2021, where Bradford placed eighth.
“If we remain injury-free we can make it to the quarter finals, just like we did in 2021,” said Carson, a science teacher who is also the school’s athletic director.
The school’s girls’ soccer team has been developing during the past several years and is fielding an experienced crew with nine of its 16 members in Grade 12. The team posted an undefeated season with 10 wins, two ties and zero losses, scoring a total of 64 goals while only conceding two goals all season.
The girls then capped off a stellar regular season with exciting play last week defeating Barrie’s St. Peter's Catholic Secondary School 4-0 to win the Georgian Bay Secondary School Association championship, allowing the team to represent the area at OFSAA beginning today and running through the next few days.
During last week’s game, Teagan Pare scored two goals with Megan Crane and Alexis Viveiros each scoring one. Peyton Barker, meanwhile, made many excellent saves to earn the shutout in net.
"I couldn't have asked for a better team to finish off my high school career with. All the girls worked really hard this season, they were dedicated and determined and it showed when we gave everything we had to beat St. Pete’s and punch our ticket to OFSAA," said Grade 12 defender, Kaitlyn Brown.
Also heading to Windsor for OFSAA action are Bradford’s boys’ soccer and baseball teams. The three teams will see more than 50 Bradford students, combined, participating as Windsor plays host.
“The kids are so excited about it. Especially since there are so many kids going,” said coach Carson.
The boys’ baseball team is looking for a three-peat, returning to the OFSAAs as GBSSA champions with a well-developed team.
Carson is also excited about the boys’ soccer team which posted an undefeated regular and playoff season.
Bradford’s participation in OFSAA this week is its best showing post-COVID-19 pandemic. Principal David Brooks said it’s a reflection of the school’s culture, which encourages participation in sports of all levels and abilities, the arts as well as academics.
“We have a history here of student engagement in both community sports and school sports,” said Brooks. “We’ve launched new sports here, like cricket, for example.
“We are certainly a school where sports are celebrated like the arts and certainly academics. We are thrilled for all students to be participating and getting involved in all aspects in school life.”
Much of that is also reliant upon relationships in the community with parental involvement and facility access to the BWG Leisure Centre next door. He points out that swimming has also been incorporated into the school’s curriculum.
As she looks to next season, Carson knows she’ll have to rebuild the girls’ soccer team, with more than half its members graduating this year. That, she says, will be a multi-year effort given there isn’t as large a cohort of senior players coming up as there was this year.
But at OFSAA she is looking for consistent play, building upon the season thus far. That involves controlling the ball and focusing on the passes and shots on net with strong goaltending.
"It's been such a great season, every single girl has worked hard to get us where we are. I couldn't imagine going to OFSAA with a better group of girls," said Grade 11 defender Addy Beatty as she prepared for the provincial competition.
"Playing with this group of girls has truly been such an amazing experience. I look forward to school soccer and playing on this team every year because of how much fun I have. It upsets me that my last season has come to an end, but I'm happy I can hold onto the memories," added Grade 12 striker, Rayne Merry.
