Athletics

A GAME FOR THE AGES

Can you think of your favorite moment in sports, the one that brings you goosebumps when you recall the memory? The Selwyn House Bantam D3 Basketball team created that glorious moment for themselves on April 7, 2022, when they defeated the Hebrew Academy Heat to win the GMAA championship by a score of 75-73.

The game was a roller coaster ride of emotions for the packed stands in the Speirs Gym. The outcome was impossible to predict. Indeed, the final score is a reflection of how close the game was. The opponents seemed to have it in the bag, as they pulled ahead of the Gryphons by 16 points. Was all hope lost at that point?

Propelled by a sense of mission, the team clawed back during the fourth quarter, in large part thanks to winger Amani Ho Sang’s dominant play. He led the team in scoring with 30 points.

Just two points shy of a tie moments before the end of regulation, Oliver Maurovich ’09 requested a time out. ‘‘Coach Matt Addona and I felt confident that we could tie it up. There was enough time on the clock for the team to get it done.” With just two seconds remaining, guard Jai-len Chopra seized the moment that instantly carved a place in the mind of every fan cheering on the Gryphons. Standing on the right side of the basket, Chopra took a shot from a pass he received from guard Izzy Ullah. Gryphons fans held their breath as the ball seemed to be suspended above the basket. The buzzer rang, and a moment later the ball fell into the hoop. With the game tied, players and fans alike erupted.

‘‘I ran across the floor and took off my jersey. My teammates and the people in the bleachers started running towards me on the court. The environment was nuts,’’ recalls Jai-len. ‘‘You only see those plays on TV or in movies,’’ he adds. ‘‘It was amazing.’’

This pivotal moment allowed the Gryphons to ride on a wave of confidence and seal the victory in double overtime in front of exhilarated fans. ‘‘There was a lot of commitment from the crowd,’’ says Coach Maurovich. ‘‘I thought their energy pushed us forward. It gave the game an extra air of importance.’’ The support from Senior School students, in particular, who showed up in impressive numbers, wasn’t lost on the players. ‘‘Selwyn is not just a school. It’s a community,’’ says Jai-len.

GMAA RUGBY BANNER COMES HOME

Under the tutelage of coaches Stephanie Lynam and Kirk Brydges, the Juvenile Rugby Team won the GMAA championship on June 3, 2022 at Rutherford Field, conquering the Spartans from Châteauguay Valley Regional High School. The entire Senior School came out to support the team in a “Golden Game” and witnessed the return of the banner. It was a great finish to the 2021-22 athletic season!

ROWING TEAM EARNS GOLD

The Senior School Rowing Team earned a gold medal in its division at the “Défi du Canal de Lachine” regatta, an annual event held by The Lachine Rowing Club, the oldest rowing club in Canada. Led by Coach Colin Robertson, the eight rowers finished the 5 km route down the Lachine Canal on a hot day.