Gator Zone
Message from the Upper School Athletics Director
Ms. Carla Di Filippo
Hello Gators!
The fall Athletic Program at Havergal was a vibrant display of talent, teamwork and enthusiasm. It was truly inspiring to watch so many students (all 439 of them) engage in various sports—from soccer to swimming to field hockey—as they showcased their skills, dedication and support for their teammates. The thrill of competition filled the air at every game, every meet and on the trails with athletes pushing themselves to excel, while fostering a love for physical activity.
As much as games and final races are exciting, the journey of growth through practices is a highlight. Practices were a testament to hard work and improvement, where athletes honed their techniques and built resilience. This supportive environment not only enhanced individual and team performance, but also strengthened bonds among the athletes, further creating a close-knit community within our ivy walls.
Our amazing coaches played a crucial role in this journey, guiding students with expertise and encouragement. They instil a love for the game while emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship and perseverance. Thank you to all of our coaches for making the athlete experience so exceptional at Havergal. I would also like to thank Sports Prefects Maddy and Kaya on their spirit-filled start to the school year, as well as the Sports Council for their passion for all things Gator!
Shout out to our U14 Cross Country, U14 Field Hockey, U16 Soccer and the U20 Swim Teams on their CISAA championship wins! And our swimmers were once again Bishop’s Cup champions! We also had many silver and bronze results. The fall Athletic Program was a remarkable celebration of the love of sport and the joy of being active and being a part of a team. We are excited to head into the winter term for more Gator action!
Ms. D
Junior School Fall 2024 Athletics Highlights
Ms. Anna Bartlett, JS Athletic Director
This fall our athletes soared, driven by passion and commitment. Their dedication is not just in building skills, but also in developing confidence so they are motivated to participate.
Cross Country Triumphs
With over 125 runners, our U9 and U12 Teams excelled. The U9 Fun Run was joyful with 330 participants from local schools. The U11 Team celebrated multiple top-15 finishes. Special kudos to Halle Lamb (first place), Alyssa Rizvi (second place) and Emily Ke (third place) for sweeping the podium!
Swimming Victories
Our largest U12 Swim Team yet embraced competition, proudly winning the Bishop’s Cup. Their teamwork and courage were truly inspiring.
Basketball Growth
Our Basketball Teams, from Grades 4 to 6, showed remarkable progress. U10s celebrated their first layups, while U11s honed their skills in rebounds and defence. Our two U12 Teams should be congratulated as they were the champions on the final day of play.
Soccer Joy
The U9 Soccer Team embraced learning with enthusiasm, while the U12 Teams worked together seamlessly, setting each other up for success. This was the first year of U10 girls soccer in the CISAA and our team represented Havergal with pride.
Looking Ahead
I am incredibly proud of our athletes’ spirit and am honoured to work with coaches dedicated to nurturing their growth. I am looking forward to watching our Winter Season Teams in action. Registration is open until Monday, November 18. All team details can be found in the JS Athletics Schedule.
Ms. Bartlett
Student Sports Corner
A Message from the Student Editor
Peyton Furgiuele
Hello Gators, I can’t wait for you all to read the fall 2024-25 Gator Zone newsletter!
I am beyond excited to commence this school year as your Gator Zone Student Editor; what a great opportunity to be part of an amazing community. Athletics at Havergal is something so unique; the team connection, support and spirit that I’ve seen and experienced is something I know I will always be grateful for and I hope you feel the same. I want to thank the entirety of the Athletics Department for their ongoing efforts to keep sports alive and thriving at Havergal. Of course a big shout out must go to this year’s Sports Prefects, Maddy and Kaya, for everything they do. The Athletic Program at Havergal would not be as successful or have the impact it does on all of us without the dedication of the Gators working in the background.
I hope that this season’s Gator Zone will give you a glimpse into what our Gators have been accomplishing throughout the fall, and trust me they did a lot! Our team of writers brainstormed, researched and held interviews to get all of the details on this impressive athletic season. From out-of-province intense soccer matches, to empowering females in sport with tournaments in downtown Toronto, Havergal really covered it all. Congratulations to every athlete who contributed to our sports community; your effort does not go unnoticed.
As well, a big thank you to Ms. Di Filippo, Ms. Bartlett, Ms. Pink and all our Gator Zone writers, some of whom participated in the sports they reported on. Great job team!
Though I’m sad to see these fun fall sports come to a close, I can’t wait for our Gators to jump into the winter season with full force and exceed our expectations once again! Get out there, Gators, let’s see what you can do and the Gator Zone will be back at the end of the winter season to tell the rest of the community.
Peyton
Gators Are In the Zone: A Message from the Sports Prefects
Maddy & Kaya
Hey Gators! Athletics this year couldn’t be off to a better start: in just one term we have had so many notable accomplishments. The excitement and energy our Gators brought every time they touched the field or court was unmatched. The spirit brought by our athletes and all of their amazing supporters is what makes HC like no other. We hosted a Gator Day this October for our Varsity Basketball Team and the crowd went above and beyond with their signs and cheering. The Double Gym was flooded with green and gold; not only did the Gators take the dub, but their Havergal spirit was also through the roof! Additionally, this year we have decided to continue nominating an Athlete of the Week. Every week, people get the chance to nominate an athlete from Grades 7 to 12; the person with the most nominations is posted on the @havergal_gators Instagram the following week. Athlete of the Week has been a huge success as it not only highlights our amazing athletes, but it also enhances the community and support already established in Havergal athletics.
Although the fall season hasn’t completely come to an end, we would like to acknowledge some of the sports teams that have finished their season. A special congratulations to the athletes on our U14 Cross Country Team for taking home gold at the CISAA finals! Additionally, our U20 Soccer Team won silver at the CAIS tournament in Quebec. In early October, we had five Gators compete at the Head of the Charles regatta in Boston, Massachusetts. They rowed strongly, resulting in them placing 31st out of 90 boats! A huge congratulations goes out to all of the athletes who participated and represented Havergal in their respective sports.
This fall, we had this year’s kick-start to House Intramurals. Gators from all 10 Houses participated in benchball and tail tag, encouraging even more students to get active! Every House came with spirit and the players were ready to win! Seeing everyone so passionate about representing their House and coming together is something really special at Havergal.
Finally, we want to congratulate and recognize everyone who tried out or participated in a fall sports team. Being on a Havergal team is an experience like no other: the friendships and memories you create will never leave you. Let’s get excited and bring this spirit into the winter athletic season. We can’t wait to see all of your hard work and energy in the next two seasons.
Go Gators!
Your Sport Prefects,
Maddy and Kaya
The Fight to the Finals—U20 Soccer at CAIS 2024
Jordy Meyerowitz & Sarah McQuillen Young
With a roster of just 14 players, Havergal’s U20 Soccer Team travelled to Stanstead College in Quebec to compete in the CAIS tournament. Not only were the Gators playing with a short bench, but the team also consisted of almost half Grade 9 and 10 players who came to help the Varsity Team! The tournament, which featured independent schools from across Canada, was not prepared for our Gator spirit.
Havergal faced a tough first day, going up against Bishop Strachan School (BSS) and Halifax Grammar School (HGS). Despite challenging matchups, our Gators fought hard, defeating BSS 2-1 and ending up with a 1-1 draw against HGS.
Fueled by a competitive start, the team entered day two with confidence, securing a 2-0 victory over Collège de Lévis. Havergal closed the round-robin stage with another 2-0 win against Hillfield Strathallan School, earning a well-deserved spot in the semi-finals.
On day three our Gators played with intensity, winning 3-0 against Sacred Hearts School Montreal and advancing Havergal to the finals! The stage was set for a rematch with Lower Canada College, the same team Havergal defeated in last year’s CAIS finals. Knowing they had to bring their best, our Gators played a physical and hard-fought 70 minutes, ending the tournament in second place.
Although the result wasn’t what we hoped for, the tournament allowed the team to grow and learn how to support one another. Every player contributed, from the rock-solid defenders and aggressive midfielders to our powerful strikers. With a brand new roster, our Gators quickly bonded and played to each other’s strengths, creating friendships to last well beyond the end of the season.
Great job, Gators! We’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see what next year brings!
The University of Toronto Jamboree
Mira Ghai & Sabrina Khan
September 20 marked an unforgettable day for the D1 U16 Basketball Team after an undefeated success at the University of Toronto Jamboree! This was an amazing way to set the tone for the season. It gave a glimpse of the positive future that lay ahead for the team. Gators left with well-deserved shiny gold medals, as a symbol of their hard work, effort and dedication. Although this tournament marked the first games of the season, “Our team instantly had good chemistry,” described Coach Sarah. The team’s spirit was stronger than ever, fuelled by constant encouragement from every teammate on the court and off, building an energy that made the Gators all feel unstoppable.
Not only did Havergal dominate the competition, but this tournament also served as a unique opportunity to see other female role models in sports. The enthusiastic referees were none other than the roster of the UofT women’s basketball team! In today’s world, female representation in sports is more impactful than ever and, as Coach Sarah puts it: “Successful female athletes can inspire young girls to pursue their athletic dreams.” Seeing other talented women in sports supporting ambitious athletes creates a promising future for the next generation of girls; especially our impressive Havergal students!
Congratulations on your amazing achievements, Gators!
Havergal Coaches Shine on the World Stage: Inside Ms. D’s Ultimate Championship Experience
Audrea Au-Pronovost & Callie Slightham
This past August, two Havergal staff travelled 19 hours to participate in the 2024 World Ultimate Championship in Australia. Ultimate is a big sport at Havergal and we are incredibly fortunate to have two amazing coaches who are a part of the National Team themselves: Ms. Dos Santos, who coaches the U16 Ultimate Team, and Ms. D, who coaches the U20 Ultimate Team and is the head coach of the Women’s National Team. We are so fortunate to have a national coach here at HC, so we interviewed Ms. D to gain insight into what the tournament was like from her perspective. Ms. D called it a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” She mentioned how amazing it was to represent Canada. The women’s team ended up coming fourth in the tournament, and while it was hard to end the tournament on a loss, Canada beat big teams like Germany to make it to the bronze medal game.
Ms. D became a coach at a time when there were very few female coaches in Canada and she has carried on empowering young women as her career as a coach has flourished. Overall, students at Havergal are so fortunate to have a number of impressive female coaches to learn from and be mentored by, which embodies our school mission of preparing young women to make a difference.
Staff Highlight: Erin Krausz
Ava Singer & Grace White
Havergal is so excited to welcome Erin Krausz, our new Athletic Therapist, to the community! Erin discovered her passion for athletic therapy during her second-last year at the University of Guelph while studying human kinetics. Her journey began with a humorous turn of events when she accidentally signed up as a student therapist for her school rugby team. In that role, she learned more about the field from a Sheridan College student, which sparked her interest in pursuing a career in athletic therapy. Afterward, Erin studied athletic therapy at Sheridan College.
Growing up, Erin played hockey and soccer, which kept her intrigued about the human body, especially as she dealt with various injuries herself. Before joining Havergal, she gained valuable experience working at a clinic and with national, professional and junior sports teams like rugby and football.
When asked what she likes most about Havergal, Erin emphasized her appreciation for the community. She enjoys being a part of the large number of sports teams at Havergal, working with students of various ages and building connections with athletes in both group settings and one-on-one interactions. We are thrilled to have Erin as part of our Athletic Program and we look forward to the positive impact her expertise will have on our students and teams!