Tuesday, May 19 proved to be a historic night for the Leamington District Secondary School Lions Ultimate Frisbee team as they captured the WECSSAA championship title and secured their place at OFSAA ( Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) after an unforgettable playoff run. Entering the evening with momentum, the Lions opened the semifinals with a strong performance against Villanova, earning a decisive victory and advancing to the gold medal game against the undefeated Sandwich team.
The championship final delivered everything fans could hope for. It was intense with various momentum swings and a dramatic finish. Both teams traded points throughout the game in a tightly contested battle that remained close until the final moments. With just 30 seconds remaining, Sandwich managed to tie the game 8–8, setting the stage for a thrilling finish. Refusing to let the opportunity slip away, the Lions responded with one final offensive push. In the game-winning moment, Drake Wigle delivered a precise throw to Roshane Richards, who secured the catch for the championship-winning point. The victory titled the Lions as WECSSAA champions and punched their ticket to compete provincially at OFSAA in Kingston from May 25-27.
Lions athletes also represented the school proudly at the SWOSSAA Track and Field Championships on May 20-21, with several athletes earning top finishes and qualifying for OFSAA West Regionals. Kirby Polius placed third in the junior boys 100m, while Morgan Reiter delivered a strong multi-event performance, placing fifth in junior girls 1500m, fourth in senior girls 2000m steeplechase, and sixth in junior girls 3000m. Ellie Reiter earned fourth in senior girls 1500m and sixth in senior girls 3000m. Henry Heaton placed fourth in senior boys discus and sixth in senior boys shot put, while Kevin Khliv finished fifth in junior boys long jump and fourth in junior boys triple jump. Samuel Heide placed fourth in novice boys shot put, and Kallen Driedger earned third in novice boys triple jump. The junior boys 4x100m relay team consisting of Kirby Polius, Kevin Khliv, Charlie Ketler, and Carlon Warmington captured second place. Congratulations to all athletes who qualified for the next stage of competition.
The Lions’ slo-pitch season came to an end Tuesday, May 19 following a playoff loss to Essex. Despite a strong defensive effort, the team struggled offensively. Congratulations to senior Jadyn Coates for earning a spot on the All-Star team, as well as to all graduating seniors on their final season representing the Lions.
Junior girls soccer continued its successful season with a commanding 3-0 victory over the Essex Raiders on Tuesday, May 19. Klara Van Roie led the offense with a hat trick, while Aubree Curchin, Astrid Andino, and Karly Franklin came in strong with the assists.
The junior boys soccer team faced a pair of difficult matchups this past week. On Wednesday, May 20 , the Lions battled hard against the strong Belle River team, suffering their first loss of the season. Emiliano Zapata Campos scored the team’s lone goal. The team returned to action Friday, May 22 against L’Essor, where they faced another tough challenge in a 10–0 defeat. Despite the setbacks, the Lions continue to compete with determination and resilience.
