Celebrating Our Student-Athletes – Part 2

The burning in your lungs and the frantic sprint up the first hill of a mountain trail. The galloping sound of horse hooves hitting the dirt. The metallic click of an épée and the split-second calculation of an opponent’s next move. These moments define the daily lives of many St. George’s students whose athletic journeys happen in the quiet, solitary spaces of individual sport.

A Legacy in the Saddle: Elizabeth M.

For Grade 9 student Elizabeth M., the bond between horse and rider started before she could walk. She first sat on a pony at the Ormestown Fair when she was two years old. Today, she competes in the Children’s Hunter division and recently qualified for the Royal Winter Fair in downtown Toronto. “I look forward to spending time with my team at Fox & Oak Farm with my trainer, Taylor Brooks, every weekend. I’m very fortunate to have the family support behind me to do this sport,” Elizabeth M. says.

Her discipline isn’t about speed. Instead, it focuses on aesthetics and control. The goal is to navigate a difficult course with such precision that it appears effortless. This partnership requires hours of quiet work outside the ring, from the physical demands of the ride between Elizabeth M. and her horses, Rockafeller, aka “Rocky”, and Chi Town, aka “Cheeky”.

“It’s all legwork, and it’s all core. If you can’t guide the horse without the reins, you aren’t balanced. Everything has to be flawless and look like the horse is doing all the work.”

— Elizabeth M.

The Mental Game of the Mountain: Olympia D. and Elliott P.

For Grade 8 runners Olympia D. and Elliott P., cross-country is a battle against their own internal mental game. Both are leaders in the GMAA and Halo Road Races. Olympia D. took first place in this year’s cross-country meet.

Coached by Social Science teacher and Social Impact Coordinator Luke Welton, who leads the cross-country running team, the two runners head directly from the school doors to the wooded trails of Mount Royal to train twice per week.

“It’s been incredible to see Olympia and Elliott evolve as athletes over the past two years. Their success is more than just dedication or hard work; it comes from a passion for competition and love of the sport that is evident every time we lace up.”

— Luke Welton, HS Social Sciences Teacher, Social Impact Program Coordinator, and Cross-Country Coach

While they represent the school together, the race itself is one of isolation. Both runners speak about the psychological effort required to push through the initial resistance of training. Once they are moving, the thrill takes over.

Olympia D. has learned to treat every race as a strategic puzzle. She carefully calculates her pace, deciding exactly when to hold back and when to use her energy. “Before the race, you get so nervous. You really feel like rabbits running from a fox,” Olympia D. says. “In a team sport, you can rely on others. But solo, it’s all on you. You learn how to trust your own preparation and find your own strength.”

Elliott P. understands the drive to keep improving. “Getting first place is impressive, but it’s more impressive if you beat your own previous time,” he explains. “Once you get over that first hill and start running, you really feel the thrill of it.”

Chess on a Skateboard: Georgia C. and Imogen R.

Fencing is often called physical chess, but Georgia C. calls it chess on a skateboard. It is a high-speed game of adaptability. While many students choose traditional sports, Georgia C. and Imogen R. found a genuine passion in the technical world of the épée. Even though they compete individually, the sport has built a bridge between friends. Georgia C. enjoyed her first sessions so much that she introduced Imogen R. to the sport. Now, they train together twice a week at Club d’escrime Gadbois as part of a dynamic team.

They both bring very different strengths to the strip. Imogen R. relies on physical power and presence, using assertive movements to smash the blade and create an opening for a point. Georgia K. takes a more analytical approach.

“I’m not very physically strong, so I use my opponent’s momentum against them. I circle the blade. If I notice a pattern, I can react before they even know they’ve made a move.”

— Georgia C.

At a recent GMAA Tournament, this combined dedication paid off, with Georgia C. navigating several difficult bouts and a direct-elimination round to win her medal. Imogen R. won gold in the Cadet Girls division. “This was the first competition where I won a bout. It felt great because I could see that I had made progress in my technique. With fencing, you don’t necessarily see it until you do it and win,” she explains.

Finding Their Own Path

Our students live the “Learning by Doing” philosophy in every arena they enter. They manage their own training schedules and push through physical fatigue before and after the school day. We celebrate the grit it takes to stand alone at the starting line, the gate, or the strip. As Elizabeth M. continues her journey with Rockafeller and Cheeky, and Elliott P. looks toward the challenge of a marathon in the years to come, our community is proud to stand behind them. Georgia C. eyes a future that might one day lead to the national team, but for now, she is focused on her upcoming competition in Sherbrooke.

Do you know a St. George’s student with a story to share? We’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to our communications team.