ALUMNI

TESTIMONIALS

Joining Holy Cross Rugby in Grade 9 was one of the scariest yet best decisions I have ever made. This team made me the person I am today and I can whole heartedly say I would not be the same without it. The values of Holy Cross Rugby are ones that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It taught me that without commitment, hard work and discipline you cannot be successful in rugby or in life. It has been the best part of my 4 years of high school. It gave me some of my favourite memories and has gifted me many lifelong friendships. Winning OFSAA with my teammates and our outstanding coaches was one of the best feelings in the world and I owe it all to Holy Cross Rugby. 

Kathleen Walsh '22

Over these past few years, Hurricanes Rugby has given me several opportunities that have changed my life. I have learned so much and grown immensely as a person and a team player. Hurricanes Rugby has shown me what happens when you are committed, work hard and are disciplined. There is no feeling like being a Hurricanes Rugby player, the pride you have wearing the rugby jacket is like no other. However with that being said, prepare yourself to work harder than you ever have before. Being part of this team is no easy task but has made my high school career something to remember and I often feel like I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my rugby family. Enjoy every practice, game, tackle, try, pass, kick and cheer while you have the chance. I remember my hands shaking, lacing up my cleats at my very first tournament; and now it’s all a memory. 

Eliza Buchanan '21

Hurricanes Rugby to me, isn’t just described as any other sport or team, it’s a family. A family that sweeps the sheds to be the BEST.  A cheer that consists of “commitment, hard work, discipline, win,” that is what a Hurricane rugby player is. Positivity & motivation is what kept my head up the last 3 years on the field. I may have taken the sport a little more serious then others, but that is what made me able to drive my teammates to work just as hard as me. I’ve never felt so involved in such an activity before let alone a sport. Practices & games are not just what we did as a group. We bonded outside of school, had dinners, went to tournaments, & I will never forget our tour to Scotland. As I went into a higher grade each year, that pushed me to always be a good example for the younger ones. I’ll never forget the practice Fowler described Eliza and I as a captain & to listen to what we say. I never had an opportunity to be a captain and that built me as a character full of many skills that I will never lose. I didn’t even know what Cossa or Ofsaa was until I joined this team in grade 9, now that I look back it was nothing we couldn’t handle. Thanks Hurricanes Rugby, you will be dearly missed. 

Lexie McKnight '21

All thanks to Hurricanes Rugby I now know what it is like to be apart of such a hard working team. This team taught me that it takes more than just physical training to succeed in a sport. Being an athlete and part of the rugby team allowed me to understand it takes hard work, dedication, leadership, responsibility, lots of practice and so much more to be the best. All thanks to the coaches and teammates I not only learned lessons on how to do better in the game but also a great amount of life lessons that I will carry on with me forever. Every athlete should wear that jersey  with pride. The team created by the coaches and athletes each year make up some of the most mentally and psychically tough girls I know. Hurricanes Rugby is something every athlete should be beyond proud to be apart of.  

Alexis Nusink ' 21

Hurricanes rugby is about more than just the sport. Playing on this team has lead me to find some of my best friends, and also taught me so much about myself. It’s about mental and physical strength, which help in so many other aspects of life. Playing on this team is the one thing in high school I would do over and over again. Playing rugby has shaped me into the person I am today. It has taught me that in order to succeed, you have to push yourself, and that’s what this team did. This team became family to me, and that is something I will never forget. Looking back, I see how much this team changed our lives, and made us all amazing people. I am extremely grateful for what this team has done for me, and I am excited to see what it does for the future.  

Grace McDonald '20

Being a part of Hurricanes Rugby was the biggest highlight of high school for me.  We worked harder then anyone else and it showed.  I built amazing relationships with some amazing people. In high school there can be ups and down whether it's stress with school or friends, but as soon as I walked onto that rugby field it was like all the stress lifted off my shoulders and I was able to just have fun with the people I love and play my hardest!    

Kathleen Smith '20

Rugby is not easy and takes a lot of hard work and commitment to succeed. There were some times that I did want to quit and thought I couldn’t do it, but I never did, and I wouldn’t be the person or player I am today if I had. This team became my family and provided me with experiences I will never forget. It did not matter what was going on in my life, I always had this sport and team, and both got me through many difficult and stressful times. Many of the things I learned through rugby will benefit me throughout my life, and I will be forever grateful. 

Avery Spoelstra '20

Playing rugby for the team gave me an outlet for any stress or frustration I was feeling that week, and gave me the ability to clear my head for a while. It was a place where I could work on myself, to build up my physical and mental toughness, while at the same time was a place where I could still have fun with my friends and the coaches. I had the chance to have once in a life time experiences through rugby such as going to Scotland and England on a rugby tour, and going to OFSAA.

Not only was being a part of the team beneficial in high school but it also has continued have a positive impact on my life today. Rugby’s busy schedule in high school provided me with the time management skills that I’ve used throughout university. I was able to make connections with coaches and other players that have provided me with opportunities and experiences that will benefit me in my future career as a teacher. And most importantly in my opinion, all of the best friendships and memories that I have held on to from high school came from that rugby team.

So some advice I would give to current athletes, keep with it, because I am truly grateful to my old coaches and teammates for everything that playing rugby gave me. 

Lea Davis '19

For me, the Holy Cross team was a family. Our team was a family that didn’t always see eye to eye, but we never gave up. To future athletes who need some motivation to keep going; no matter what you do, you will always have at least 14 other girls who have your back on and off the rugby pitch. Some of my best memories from high school were from the rugby team.

Erin Preston '19

The girls rugby team at Holy Cross perfectly highlights the heights that girls in sports can reach. Throughout my years on the Holy Cross rugby team, I was able to meet many talented and powerful girls. The rugby program at Holy Cross instills a sense of commitment and discipline in its players. The support and environment that the coaches and players provide is something that every student deserves to experience!  

Madyson Graham '19

For me rugby is more than just a game. It continues to be a healthy outlet to navigating the negative stresses and emotions that life brings. Rugby is a sport for all, that test not only your physical health, but also your mental health. Your mind will tell you to quit or stop trying, before your body will actually quit. Rugby is a sport that allows for me to push these limits, and experience growth and confidence within myself, a sensation I haven’t been able to find anywhere else.

Rosie Aiello ' 18

My time playing for the girls rugby team was very valuable to me. We were the first ever Holy Cross rugby team, and had an undefeated season until placing silver at COSSA, which was still something to be incredibly proud of. Most of us on the original team got to play with each other three straight years in a row. Besides learning about the sport from the ground up, our coach, Mr. Fowler, taught us how to become team players, and how to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses, on and off the field. In addition to learning about ourselves and about the sport, we also created long-lasting friendships with one another. I think I speak for everyone when I say it brought us a great deal of self confidence, and an understanding of how commitment and hard work truly pays off. It’s an experience I will never forget and will always be grateful for 

Jensyn Clark '17

For me, rugby meant two hours of practice after school with numerous game days in which I was free from my normal life, schoolwork, and stress. I could be who I was and enjoy working hard with my teammates. I was a shy person, but rugby let me put myself out there and push past my limits.

I recommend trying out for the team if you would like to work hard and play harder; as trying out for the team and overstepping my boundaries helped me make more friends and become more open in my high school life than a shy me could ever have

Melissa Duong '17