April Snapshots: A roundup of local sports news

By Ottawa Sportspage

Synchro swimmers near podium at FINA Artistic Swimming Worlds

Two of Ottawa’s top synchro athletes participated in the 2018 FINA Artistic Swimming World Series in March, including Olivia Jensen-Large, who nearly made the podium as part of Canada’s top three teams at the event. Jensen-Large placed 4th in the women’s team free event and the women’s team highlight, as well as 6th in the women’s team free combination. It’s her third year competing as a member of Ontario’s Regional Training Centre team. Ottawa’s Barbara Mount was also a part of Synchro Canada’s competing roster.

Griffin starts season with Jr Team Canada stint

Caden Griffin, 16, of John McCrae Secondary School was one of the youngest players to play with Canada’s Under-18 national baseball team for its spring training camp in March. Against the Philadelphia Phillies prospects squad on March 18 in St. Petersburg, Florida, the lefty pitcher pulled Canada out of a pinch in the third inning, in which he came into the game with only one out and the bases loaded. He struck out one batter and caused the next to fly out to end the inning. Griffin fizzled out the next inning, allowing four runs including two homers.

Woods wheels to 42nd at Pais Vasco

Mike Woods raced as the lead of his EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale team in the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco in Spain’s Basque Country region in early April. His team finished 42nd overall in the six-stage race. Last season was a career year for Woods, with the cyclist captaining his team to a 7th overall finish in the Vuelta a España.

NCSSAA Wrestlers wrangle medal haul at OFSAA

Six National Capital Secondary School Athletics Association wrestlers brought home medals from the OFSAA Wrestling Championships held in Windsor in March. Sir Robert Borden’s Jessica Hong (women’s 44kg), Brookfield’s Taha Chahrour (men’s 77kg), Longfields-Davidson Heights Ismail Ayyoub (men’s 83kg) and Sacred Heart’s Evan Walker (men’s 89kg) each won gold at OFSAA. Bell High School’s Mackenzie Lagrove (women’s 57.5kg) and Maurice Lapointe’s Mathew Vecchio (men’s 38kg) took home silver as well.

Capital United FC joins prestigious University of Maine ‘M’ club

Capital United FC’s Kendra Ridley was awarded the University of Maine’s ‘M’ Club Dean Smith award, given annually to the university’s top student-athletes. Ridley’s list of athletic and academic accomplishments at Maine is beyond impressive: A three-year captain, Ridley, a senior, boasts a 3.994 GPA and is a seven-time Dean’s List member, and three-time Presidential Scholar. She was previously a member of the America East All-Rookie team and was twice named to the America East All-Conference second team in her soccer career at Maine.

Ottawa Irish help Ontario blues win men and women’s Jr 7s Nats

Ottawa athletes played a part in two Ontario teams’ National Under-18 7s Rugby Championship wins. At a soldout championship at B.C. Place in early March the Ontario Junior Blues men’s team defeated Alberta 22-21, while the Junior Blues women’s team defeated British Columbia 29-10 in the final. The Ottawa Irish’s Erick Baptiste suited up for the junior men’s team. Olivia De Couvreur of the Irish played for the junior women’s Blues.

National men’s canoe sprint team relocates to Rideau Canoe Club

The Rideau Canoe Club will be the new home to Canada’s national men’s canoe sprint team. The club made the announcement in mid-March. The site will host the men’s canoe sprint team before competitions such as the 2018 and 2019 World Championships as well as the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Kendrick perfect at Junior European Judo Cup

Ben Kendrick bested five opponents in one day to win a gold medal at the Junior European Judo Cup in March. Kendrick defeated opponents from Poland, Bosnia before defeating Moldovan Eugen Matveiciuc in only 19 seconds at the event held in the city of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He defeated Serbian Darko Brasnjovic to win gold in the 90kg division.

Ottawa volunteers to support Ontario at 2019 Canada Winter Games

Two leaders in the city’s sports community will be a part of Team Ontario as volunteers at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta. Marci Morris and Kelsey McIntosh will serve as volunteers on Ontario’s Mission Team. The staff of the mission team are described by Team Ontario as the “team behind the team”. They are responsible for ensuring the needs of athletes, coaches and managers, by working with them in all matters from scheduling to promotion. Morris, the executive director of the Ottawa Sport Council, will work primarily with ringette and archery athletes. McIntosh will work with tables tennis and figure skating athletes.