Mark Isfeld student-athletes are getting excited about the coming spring... although it may have a little bit about the warming weather, it has more to do with hosting two provincial high school championships in late May.
On May 27-29, Isfeld will host the top 22 AAA holf teams in B.C. at Crown Isle. Top golf programs in the province are excited about Crown Isle's venue... it will be the first time in the history of the tournament where players can compete, attend the banquet, stay overnight and participate in the skills competition all in the same place, notes Isfeld athletic director Colin Cunningham.
Mark Isfeld would like to thank Crown Isle for their awesome treatment of their junior golfers and Isfeld's golf program. Isfeld has approximately 20 golfers comprised of boys and girls in Grades 8-12 involved in the program in some capacity. Thanks to Crown Isle teaching pro Bert Jaeger, 11 golfers have just finished a four-lesson series designed to improve their play and prepare them for tournaments. A big thank you to the David Court Foundation for supporting Isfeld Junior Golf.
The top five players in Isfeld's program will compete in the AAA North Island Championships May 3 at Myrtle Point in Powell River, the AAA Island Championships at Nanaimo Golf Club and finally the B.C.'s at Crown. The Ice just played in their first tournament yesterday at Morningstar finishing as the second AAA team (out of 14 total) to Claremont in Victoria. Golfer Nick Crookall led the team with a 2-under 70 and Matt Irvine shot a 2-over 74. Isfeld will be looking to improve on their best ever provincial placing of sixth in 2009.
Meanwhile, the Ice senior girls soccer team is another excited bunch as their season is now in full swing. The girls have had early season success with wins over Vanier, Highland and Port Alberni. The Ice hosted their annual Icebreaker Tournament last week losing only to Brentwood College. They are at Carihi's tournament Thursday and Friday of this week. Twenty girls are involved in the senior girls soccer program with another 20 girls playing at the junior (Grade 9/10) level.
On May 30 to June 1, the team will host the AA Provincial Girls Soccer Championships. The top 16 teams from 88 schools competing in the province will qualify for this three-day tournament. The Ice girls last qualified in 2008 and they aim to improve on their 12th place finish that year. All games will take place on the Isfeld and Valley View fields, with a large banquet being held in the Isfeld gym on Friday, May 31. This will be a great showcase of soccer for the Valley, Cunningham said.
Other spring sports underway at Isfeld are junior boys rugby, girls rugby, track and field and spring league basketball.
Anyone in the community interested in volunteering to help with or sponsor either provincial tournament can contact Cunningham (golf team) or Jonathan Bos (girls soccer) at the school at 250-334-2428.
– Isfeld Ice Athletics