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Skaters busy winning medals BUSY SEASON: Skate Oakville member Zoe Defrang won medals at the recent STARSkate sectionals, the local club competition and March Mania. Defrang is just one of many local figure skaters to earn medals at major competitions in the last couple of months. PHOTO SUBMITTED 25 · Thursday, March 15, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com It's been a busy couple of months for Skate Oakville members and other local figure skaters. Here's a recap of several recent notable competitions for Oakville skaters: Synchronized skating nationals Skate Oakville's Edge novice synchronized skating team posted a top-10 finish at the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships in Windsor. The novice squad, making its first appearance on the national stage, finished ninth. The 16-member team qualified for nationals with a bronze-medal showing at last month's regionals in Kingston, becoming the first Skate Oakville team in many years to compete at the Canadian championships. Members of the novice team are Veronica Correia, Emma Curtis, Madelyn da Silva, Delaney Dunford, Kayla Fabiano, Juliana Guiliani, Rebecca Hill, Melissa Hopkins, Kristen McKain, Cassandra Morgado, Caroline Neely, Alexa Shelley, Samantha Wong, Stephanie Wong, Amy Yamamato and Amanda Zimmerman. The team is coached by Lisa Mazzocato and M.K. MacDougall. The novice team's bronze at regionals was one of two medals earned by Skate Oakville teams. The Edge juveniles finished second out of 13 teams from across the province. Members of the juvenile team are Nikhila Butani, Isabella Del Villar, Daniela Fisico, Morgan Harrietha, Isabel Heykoop, Jasmine Hines, Julianne Li, Taylor Locke-Ribble, Madison McCowan, Anna Nemcsek, Victoria Novak, Sarah Olivo-Espinosa, Hailey Roseland-Barnes, Madison Shaw and Olivia Xie. Michelle Snow and Pauline Caballero coach the team. Edge's adult III team added a seventhplace showing at regionals. March Mania Local teams and individuals represented Skate Oakville at the March Mania competition, combining to earn five medals. The Edge elementary synchronized team won its division, while the juvenile squad collected silver. FIGURE SKATINGRESULTS In individual action, Zoe Defrang won gold in pre-preliminary STARSkate. Madeline Schizas (pre-preliminary STARSkate) and Shelby Sondej (introductory A freeskate) added bronzes. STARSkate sectionals Two Skate Oakville members won bronze medals at the Central Ontario STARSkate sectional championships. Zoe Defrang placed third in the pre-preliminary freeskate, while Clara Chisholm collected bronze in the junior bronze freeskate. Chisholm advanced to the provincial Trillium STARSkate championships, which were held last ­weekend in North Bay. In addition, local resident Keiko Marshall represented Burlington Skating Centre at the Ontario Winter Games in Barrie last weekend. Marshall qualified for provincials with a third-place showing at Western Ontario sectionals last fall. Club competition Skate Oakville held its annual club competition, where more than 150 skaters competed at a variety of skill levels. Event winners included Shelby Sondej (introductory A free skate flight 1), Laura Cao (introductory A free skate flight 2), Lisa Morkovina (introductory A free skate flight 3), Katherine Brewer (pre-preliminary A free skate), Natalie Walker (pre-preliminary B free skate ladies), Julianne Li (pre-preliminary STARSkate free ladies), Alexander Moses (preliminary A free skate men), Olivia Xie (preliminary A free skate ladies), Jaime Gabbard (preliminary STARSkate free ladies), Chelsea Lachine (junior bronze A free skate ladies freeskate), Natasha Beaudoin (junior bronze STARSkate), Natasha Morita (senior bronze STARSkate freeskate ladies), Emma Dinda (open free skate ladies), Sarah Hayman (preliminary solo dance), Kaitlyn Chubb (junior bronze solo dance), Kayley Monks (senior bronze solo dance), Rebecca Stevenson/Jamie Stevenson (preliminary dance couples), Yasemin Zeki/Sophie See Club, page 27 MOHA teams poised for another OMHA championship haul Minor Oaks Hockey Association rep teams have won a pile of Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championships the past several seasons, and it appears that 2012 won't be any exception. Many Rangers teams are still in contention for OMHA titles, having either qualified for their championship tournaments (AAA level) or having reached the finals of their playdowns (A, AA and AE levels). AAA championship weekends Oakville will host four of those AAA championship tournaments over the next two weekends. The OMHA minor atom, atom and peewee championship tournaments will be held this weekend at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, with the novice tournament slated for the following weekend (March 23-25). The minor peewee AAA Rangers hope to qualify for their OMHA championship tournament when they compete in the South Central Triple A tournament this weekend in Welland. The bantam, minor midget and midget Rangers were all denied OMHA championships at their AAA tournaments recently. The bantams went 2-2-1 in Whitby, the minor midgets posted an 0-3-1 mark in Hamilton and the midgets went 2-3 in Welland. Playdown finalists In addition, 13 Rangers teams began or will begin their OMHA finals series this week. The minor atom A Rangers will take on Cobourg in their final, with Game 1 slated for 7:30 tonight (Thursday) at Joshua's Creek Arenas. The Rangers are coming off a 3-0 sweep of Grimsby in the semifinals. The minor atom AA Rangers will face Barrie in their championship series. Barrie needed six games to get past Kingston Area in its first-to-six-points semifinal, while the Rangers swept Woolwich. The final begins tomorrow (Friday) with Game 1 at River Oaks Recreation Centre, a 7 p.m. start. The minor atom AE Rangers began their OMHA final Tuesday with a 4-3 loss in Barrie. Game 2 of the series is slated for tomorrow at Oakville Arena, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Rangers qualified for the finals with a 3-1 series win over Peterborough Church in the semis. The atom AE Rangers opened their championship series with Georgina last night (Wednesday) in Georgina. The series will shift to Joshua's Creek Arenas for Game 2 tomorrow, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Oakville is coming off a 3-1 series win over Kent in the semifinals. The minor peewee AA Rangers will take on New Tecumseth in the OMHA final after dispatching Flamborough in three straight games in the semis. The championship series will begin Saturday in New Tecumseth. The minor peewee AE Rangers and Georgina also have to wait until Saturday to get their championship series underway. See Thirteen, page 28 For House League and Select Programs for all Players Born 1994 to 2007 Teams and divisions are filling up. Spots are still available in most divisions. Do not be disappointed. Register Now. Register online at www.baseballoakville.com or download registration form and mail with payment. Or Visit our clubhouse on Saturday's From 9 AM to 12 PM at 1236 Speers Road, Unit #4 For more information email us at info@baseballoakville.com 2012 Player Registration