By: Angelo Lucier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
It was an action-packed month for the Sandwich Sabres, featuring WECSSAA champions and strong seasons across the board.
Wrestling:
Last month, the Sandwich Sabres wrestling team competed in their biggest event of the season, the WECSSAA tournament finals, where they placed sixth overall. Several athletes earned medals, including bronze for Jordan Strickland and Mohammed Waleed, and silver for Landon Howlett, Oden Smith and Layla VanDerPryt. Zayd Abdelrazzaq captured gold and was also named WECSSAA’s Most Dedicated Wrestler.
“Cohesion means a lot to us. We need each other to be pushed to our limits,” Howlett said.
Senior boys basketball:
The senior boys basketball team fell short in the WECSSAA final, losing 83-60 to Holy Names. The Sabres reached the final after a hard-fought 75-60 semifinal win over St. Anne. Despite an up-and-down regular season, the team turned things around in the playoffs, with all five starters scoring double digits in the semifinal. Blake Brnardic scored 22 points, and Ajay Bopari added 20.
Bopari also earned a spot on the WECSSAA all-city team, finishing sixth in voting.
Junior boys basketball:
The junior boys basketball team’s season ended in heartbreak, with a 54-52 first-round playoff loss to Massey. Despite a rocky 1-5 start to the season, the Sabres rallied late with a three-game winning streak, including dominant performances against Tecumseh Vista and Catholic Central. The team showed resilience and growth, with high hopes for next season.
Junior girls volleyball:
The junior girls volleyball team capped off an impressive season with a 6-4 record, earning a home playoff game. The Sabres defeated Massey in the quarterfinal but were eliminated in the semifinal by St. Anne. The team can be proud of a strong season and looks forward to building on that success next year.
Senior girls volleyball:
The senior girls volleyball team overcame a late-season three-game losing streak to win their quarterfinal match against St. Joseph’s. However, their season ended in the semifinals against powerhouse Holy Names, who remained undefeated against Sandwich. The Sabres continue to grow and improve, setting the stage for a promising next season.
Girls hockey:
The Sabres girls hockey team dominated the regular season, finishing with the best overall record and only one loss and one tie — both against St. Anne. The team’s high-powered offense posted notable wins, including an 8-0 victory over Belle River and a 5-0 shutout of Riverside. Goaltenders Gracie Copia and Aubrey Simetic anchored a defense that earned shutouts in 60 per cent of games. The Sabres are set to compete in the WECSSAA semifinals.
Boys hockey:
The boys hockey team battled through an injury-plagued season to finish with a 2-6-2 record. After a key 3-1 win over St. Joseph’s — with two goals from Brodie Renaud and one from Avery McIndoo — the Sabres secured a spot in the semifinals, where they will face a strong St. Anne team.
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