Fall 2025

Message from the Upper School Athletics Director

Ms. Carla Di Filippo

The fall season kicked off with incredible excitement as we hosted our very first Friday Night Lights! Few things compare to the energy of Havergal spirit on display at our sporting events. Under the bright lights of Ratcliffe Field, a sea of green and gold filled the sidelines, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. Our U20 Soccer Team’s victory — and the capture of the Friday Night Light Cup — was the perfect way to cap off the night. This senior team went on to win the National CAIS Soccer tournament and are the Division 1 CISAA champs. An exceptional team, indeed. 

This fall, Havergal athletes showcased their passion across every arena — racing through the pool; battling on the court; competing on the field in field hockey flag football and soccer; running the trails; and mastering the greens in disc golf. The joy of competition and the support teammates showed one another were on full display. Havergal truly is a special place to compete.

Congratulations to our U13 Basketball and U15 Soccer Teams on their undefeated seasons and CISAA Championship titles! A huge shoutout as well to our U14 Cross Country Team, who are back-to-back CISAA Champions. We are so proud of all of our athletes and teams who represented Havergal this fall!

Thank you to our 2025–26 Sports Prefects — Emma and Izzy — along with the Sports Council, for getting the athletics season off to such a great start! From the Middle School Gator Games to Friday Night Lights and the Fall Athletics Assembly, you’ve shown true Gator spirit every step of the way. Thank you for your leadership and enthusiasm! 

On Thursday, November 13, we celebrated the accomplishment of our fall athletics season at the awards assembly. It was here that each team announced their MVP and Coaches Award for the term. As well, two major awards were given out: The Friedland Cup (soccer) and The Doritty Trophy (field hockey). The full list of award recipients can be found here. 

I look forward to the winter season!

Ms. Di Filippo 

Message from the Junior School Athletic Director: A Season of Excellence

Ms. Anna Bartlett

This fall delivered exceptional weather and outstanding athletic performances. Our students demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm and commitment, showcasing both the breadth and depth of our athletics program — from squads to competitive teams. These quality programs continue to build the confidence and skills our students need for lifelong success.

Cross Country Championship Glory

More than 125 runners competed across our U9 and U12 Cross Country Teams this season. Our U9 Team hosted an inspiring, fun run that drew 350 participants across our stunning 22-acre campus.

The highlight of the season? Our U12 Cross Country Team captured the Overall Cross Country Championship — a tremendous achievement! Special recognition goes to our Grade 6 team, which placed an impressive seven athletes in the top 12 finishers. 

Congratulations to our top 12 finishers (out of more than 150 runners!): Sophie Polsinello, Sienna Manias, Halle Lamb, Camille Rizvi, Charlotte Goldthorpe, Brooke Brasseur, Ayla Coull, Emily Ke and Sydney Mullen.

Making Waves in Swimming

Our swimmers dove into competition with determination, narrowly missing the Bishop’s Cup Championship. Every participant gained valuable race experience, including diving off blocks and competing in a high-energy meet environment.

Building Skills on the Basketball Courts

Five basketball teams spanning Grades 4 to 6 developed their skills and teamwork throughout the season. Our U10 Teams celebrated first-time layups in game situations, while U12 Teams refined their rebounding and defensive strategies. The progress has been remarkable.

Dynamic Play on the Soccer Fields

Our U9 Soccer/Basketball Team embraced new skills with enthusiasm, while the U10 Team brought infectious energy to every match with spirited cheers and creative plays. Both U12 Teams demonstrated excellent teamwork and scoring opportunities throughout the season and at the final tournament. 

Looking Ahead

I am incredibly proud of every athlete’s dedication and honoured to work alongside coaches who are deeply invested in our students’ growth and development.

The excitement continues into the winter season with athletes on our Volleyball, Badminton, Multisport Swim and Hockey Teams who are ready to take the ice, courts and pool!

Ms. Bartlett

A Message from the Student Editor

Catherine T.

Hello everyone, and welcome to the fall 2025 Gator Zone newsletter! My name is Catherine and it is my pleasure to be this year’s Student Editor! 

Throughout my five years at Havergal, sports have been a crucial part of my experience. I am so excited that I can focus my passion for sports and athletics through these newsletters in my senior year. The fall 2025 season showed the skill and power of Havergal Athletics, with our first-ever Friday Night Lights, in partnership with Branksome Hall, being a kicking success. The Senior Soccer Team bringing home the win was electric, and everyone coming out in green and gold really made the atmosphere even better. 

I want to give a huge shout-out to the Sports Prefects, Izzy and Emma, who really do the utmost to keep up school spirit and participation in all things athletics. Gator Zone is meant to give an inside scoop into what the Gators are up to inside and outside of school athletics. We have some amazing athletes in our school whose accomplishments need to be acknowledged. I want to make a point of really getting to know the stories behind the Havergal Gators, how they put the athlete in a student athlete and what their plans are for the future. 

I am so proud to be a part of Gator Zone this year, and I want to give a huge thanks to Ms. Di Filippo, Ms. Bartlett, Ms. Pink and all our Gator Zone writers who report on the world of athletics and who participated in the Fall sports teams. You guys have done a great job and I am so excited for the winter edition to come out. 

Catherine

Message from the Sports Prefects

Izzy and Emma

The leaves may be falling, but our HC teams are rising in the ranks this year! Hey Gators, as we wrap up the fall athletic term, we want to recognize the incredible achievements our school has accomplished in just one season. The excitement our athletes brought to every practice and competition was unmatched, and the energy from our supporters made every moment even more special.

A huge highlight of this term was the inaugural Friday Night Lights, an incredible event that showcased our talented athletes and shone a well-deserved spotlight on women in sport. The energy on campus was electric as the community came together under the lights, filling the stands and cheering on the Gators. It was a massive success, and we can’t wait to see this new tradition grow. This year, we also brought back Athlete of the Week, nominated by teammates from Grades 7 to 12. It has been a total success, strengthening our sense of community and giving well-earned recognition to athletes who inspire those around them. To keep everyone in the loop, weekly game schedules are posted every Monday on our @havergal_gators Instagram account, leading to bigger crowds, louder cheers and even more Gator pride at our home games.

Many teams went above and beyond this season. Congratulations to the U20 Soccer Team, who were crowned CAIS National Champions and CISAA Champions this fall, and to the U14 Soccer Team, who placed third at CAIS. A special shoutout must go to our rowers. Our Women’s U17 4 trained intensely, six days a week, and earned a silver medal at Head of the Trent before taking on the world’s largest regatta, the Head of the Charles in Boston. Despite being one of the youngest crews in an 86-boat field, they powered to an incredible 26th-place finish, requalifying Havergal for next year and making us all extremely proud.

This fall also marked the start of House Intramurals, where all 10 Houses faced off in volleyball. The friendly competition was filled with spirit, teamwork and so much joy as students came out ready to represent their Houses with pride. The energy in the gym was contagious, and it was amazing to see such strong participation across all grades.

Finally, we want to congratulate and thank every athlete who tried out for or participated in a fall sports team. Being on a Havergal team is an experience like no other: the friendships, memories and connections you build truly last a lifetime. Let’s carry this momentum and spirit into the winter season. We still have two exciting terms ahead, and we know you will continue to amaze us with your dedication, skill and Gator pride.

Go Gators!

Your Sports Prefects,

Izzy and Emma

The Success of Havergal’s First Friday Night Lights Event

Audrea Au-Provonost

This year, Havergal partnered with Branksome Hall to host its first ever Friday Night Lights, also known as FNL. This year, Friday Night Lights featured an intense varsity soccer game between the Havergal Gators and the Branksome Highlanders. There was much anticipation for the game between the announcements in Prayers and posts on Instagram and everyone was ready to cheer on our U20 Soccer Team. 

From the first whistle, our Gators proved they were ready to make history. Meredith Howard scored within the first 11 minutes, igniting the crowd in a deafening roar. The Havergal fans were ready to show their pride and came decked out in green and gold, screaming their hearts out. The Havergal Soccer Team was a dominating presence and finished with an impressive score of 10 to 0. FNL also featured an outstanding halftime show, which featured our Havergal cheerleaders performing an exciting dance that kept everyone captivated.

This event also marked a milestone in female athletics as it is the first Friday Night Lights highlighting female sports teams. Seeing two different communities come out to support female athletes was both powerful and inspiring. 

The bright lights beaming onto the field, the echoes of the crowd and pride in our community created a memory that will be remembered for years to come as the first FNL event Havergal hosted. The future of female athletics is looking bright and the anticipation for next year’s Friday Night Lights has already begun. 

Reflections from The Head of The Charles

Emma Hounsome

The Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, also known as the most prestigious regatta in the world, was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I had the privilege of rowing with four other incredible, hardworking young women who, despite our many challenges, continued to show up at 5:30 every morning with the collective understanding that we were going to push ourselves past our limits, no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem. When our crew came together, we rowed not only for ourselves but for each other, which is what made us unstoppable. These girls, who were once only my teammates, had become my family and had taught me the true meaning of what it means to show up for others. Rowing beside some of the best crews in the world, we were able to hold our own and prove to ourselves that, despite being a U17 boat in a U19 category, we could come 27th out of almost 90 boats. It was one of the most empowering experiences of my life. Crews from top D1 universities like Yale and Harvard were competing on the same river as us, sponsors and vendors filled the streets, and bridges had packed crowds shoulder-to-shoulder watching each crew row past. The atmosphere was incomparable to any other race any of us had ever rowed before. The Head of the Charles had marked the end of my first full year rowing at Havergal and had helped me realize that rowing isn’t just a sport to me, it’s a way of life.

Vivian Johnston

The Head of the Charles Regatta, set in Boston, is pretty much the biggest rowing event in the world. It was also one of the most surreal experiences of my life. I had seen photos and videos before, but nothing prepared me for what it actually felt like to be there, with thousands of athletes everywhere, crowds lining the river, boats weaving through bridges, and this crazy mix of nerves and excitement in the air. Some practices felt impossible, the kind where every stroke hurt and the boat felt heavier than ever. But something always clicked when we rowed together. We weren’t just five people in a boat. We were a crew. My teammates went from being people I rowed with to being people I know I can always trust, laugh with and lean on. They taught me what it means to show up for others and to know what it’s like to be counted on. I was lucky to row with four other amazing ladies who worked harder than anyone I know, who showed up every day ready to push. Our two coaches were the same, right there beside us every single morning — no matter the weather — encouraging us, motivating us and refusing to let us give up on ourselves. Racing the Charles was absolutely unreal. We were one of the youngest crews in our division, racing a U-17 boat in the U-19 category. Instead of being intimidated, we proved we could keep up with and even beat some of the best juniors in North America. Crossing that finish line was the most exhilarating experience, and I’m so glad to have done it with these amazing people and for my school, Havergal.

Grade 9 Biathlon

Radhika Goenka

The biathlon is a major component of the Grade 9 Physical Education course because it introduces us to the end-of-year triathlon and helps us understand how physical fitness skills like accuracy, coordination, focus and balance contribute to success and lifelong active living.

The biathlon is structured so that Grade 9 students first run a 400m course around Ratcliffe Field, then they get four attempts at one of the following stations: Nerf gun shooting, bean bag toss and frisbee disc throw. Each missed attempt adds a 50m penalty lap. Undertaking the biathlon is no small feat, challenging everyone to complete as many laps as possible while still staying accurate under pressure.

Though I enjoy playing various sports, by no means do I consider myself a runner. I was dreading the biathlon from the moment Ms. Lau introduced it. My only comfort was that we were all doing it together. 

After several training days practising pacing and improving our skills, we each made progress. My biggest challenge (shockingly) was running. But race day came, and with it the support from my peers and the memory of all our preparation. I ran, each stride a fight, but pushed through and managed to complete eight laps within the time. I remember collapsing on the grass afterwards, exhausted but proud.

A unit like the biathlon teaches us how to persevere. It shows that with practice and support, we can overcome challenges and push beyond what we think we can do.

Success and Sportsmanship in Women’s Rugby

Isabel Snare

Women’s rugby has experienced a recent surge in popularity across the globe, with rates of attendance and viewership rising higher than ever for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. In fact, a study conducted by World Rugby finds that 49% of current women’s rugby fans started following the league within the past two years, a true testament to the impact of the increased media visibility they have received.

In particular, the Canadian women’s rugby team has seen massive growth in their fanbase, a response that is truly merited given their exceptional performance throughout the 2025 season. The team continuously made headlines as they carved their path to the final, remaining undefeated as they secured win after win. Despite losing 13 to 33 to England in the closing match, the silver medal awarded to the Canadian team yielded national glory and celebration.

While every try earned and match won is a triumph worth cheering for, perhaps most incredible of all is the sportsmanship displayed on the field. Every player demonstrates a clear sense of teamwork alongside respect for their fellow competitors. Across women’s rugby, the caliber of the competition has been proven to be just as uplifting as it is fierce.

At Havergal, our U14 and U20 Rugby Teams chase after wins (and the ball) with grit and grace. Through rainy practices and muddy matches, they are continuously inspired by the professional women in their sport, of whom the world has finally begun to recognize.

Staff Spotlight: Sophia Khikhlovskyy

Catherine Tassone

HC is so happy to welcome Sophia Khikhlovskyy to the Athletics Department, whose passion for sports goes above and beyond the classroom. 

When asked what she likes most about HC so far, she said it’s the community. Specifically, its dedication and energy to athletics. “From innovative facilities to programs that challenge students to grow in skill, teamwork and resilience, HC provides every opportunity for student athletes to shine. As a teacher, it’s inspiring to watch and support students as they push their limits, celebrate their victories and build confidence both on and off the field.” She shared that Hockey Day is the event she’s anticipating the most this winter, noting, “I’m excited to experience the energy Havergal brings to its athletes.”

Ms. Khikhlovskyy’s favourite activities are playing pickleball and going for hikes, but her favourite sport to play and to coach is soccer. She is a big fan of the soccer player Tanya Boychuk, a proud Ukrainian-Canadian athlete who currently plays for the Montréal Roses. Before joining Montréal, Boychuk played college soccer at the University of Memphis, competed professionally in Iceland and, most recently, was called up to the Ukraine women’s national team. Aside from being known for her impressive celebration backflips on the field, Tanya Boychuk is a true inspiration. She is a role model for Ms. Khikhlovskyy, demonstrating how resilience, ambition and pride in your identity can make anything possible.