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36 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009 Red Devils determined to get back to final championships will go through Notre Dame. And Grade 12 student Sierra Pearson knows that success Though she's one of the in junior doesn't always translate to youngest players on the team, the senior ranks. She won a Halton Alyssa Bull knows as much, if not junior title in Grade 9 but has been more, about the tradition of shut out since then. Oakville Trafalgar field hockey than "Senior is a big step up. Most of any of her teammates. the girls have been playing four Bull's sister, Jenna, captained years," said Pearson, who had three the Red Devils to their last OFSAA goals in OT's season-opening 8-0 medal, earning a win Wednesday against bronze in 2006. But "Senior is a big Bishop Reding. "In junAlyssa's first year with step up. Most of ior, you still have a lot the senior team was the girls have of newcomers who are memorable for an been playing four still learning the entirely different reagame." years." son. Fortunately, the Red Last season, for the Devils don't lack in Red Devils player first time in 10 years, experience. Bull, Leah Sierra Pearson the Red Devils failed to Burke and Erica reach the Halton senior final. Pearson have all played for provinDespite a 7-1-1 season, OT finished cial teams. And their results so far third in its division and was edged have been encouraging. The Devils RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER 1-0 by its nemesis, Burlington's went to a pre-season tournament GOOD START: Oakville Trafalgar's Erica Pearson (right), one of several provincial team players on the Red Devils, gets Notre Dame, in the semifinals. hosted by St. Johns Kilmarnock and past a Bishop Reding opponent during Wednesday's Halton high school senior girls' field hockey game at OT. The Devils "Being a newcomer, it was hard," defeated the three-time defending opened the year with an 8-0 rout. the Grade 10 student said of the OFSAA champs in the final. early exit. "To see the seniors, it was "That was a big morale booster," their last year and they wanted to Hannay said. win so bad." The Red Devils' path to OFSAA OT and Notre Dame were familiar will be harder than ever, though. In Count the Dolphins Swim Club of Oakville among Coaches' Association. post-season opponents. They had addition to OFSAA silver medalists Colin's sister, Sinead, set a national age group those sad to see summer come to an end earlier this battled it out for the last nine Halton Notre Dame, OT will have to conrecord in the 200m backstroke at the same competiweek. titles. OT took three while Notre tend with several programs that It was a successful season for the Dolphins, high- tion. She also narrowly missed setting a Canadian age Dame has captured the last six. have made strides to close the gap lighted by a world-record performance by Olympian group mark in the 200m individual mdley. Sinead That's one tradition OT hopes to between itself and the traditional took home silver in the 50m backstroke and bronze in Colin Russell. end this year. Members of the unde- powerhouses. That includes Nelson Russell and his Canadian teammates set the new the 100m backstroke. feated Halton champion junior (last year's finalist), Aquinas (which The previous month, Sinead and Colin made record in the men's 4x200-metre freestyle relay at last squad that moved up are looking last season handed OT its first reguCanadian history by becoming the first sibling duo to month's British Grand Prix in Leeds, England. forward to continuing their win- lar-season loss in more than three It wasn't Russell's only achievement of the sum- compete on the same Canadian team at the world ning ways. years), Assumption and Burlington mer, however. He set two senior national records, championships. "It's exciting," said Sarah Central. three intercollegiate university marks, was named Sinead also shone at last month's Canada Summer Hannay. "I really think we have a The Devils will take on that chalIntercollegiate Sprint Champion at the national uni- Games, taking home four gold, four silver and a strong group of juniors and the sen- lenge with one weapon in their versity championships and was selected as the bronze. iors have been helping, being really arsenal that may have been lacking The Russells were not the only Dolphins to enjoy University of Toronto's athlete of the year. supportive. Hopefully we'll make it last year: confidence. In recognition of his season, Russell will be pre- success this season, however. Ten-year-old Meryn as far as we can and win Halton and "We have a strong team," Bull sented with the Bob Pirie Trophy by Swim Ontario, McCann set a national age group record in the 100m go to OFSAA." said. "We have a good chance of annually awarded to the top male swimmer in the backstroke at the provincial championships to start But any road to the provincial making it all the way." province as selected by the Ontario Swimming the year. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF By Herb Garbutt Summer to remember for Dolphins www.icesports.com 905-845-6989