By Bernie Puchalski - September 2, 2021
When the Notre Dame senior football team last played in 2019, Anthony Battista was the starting centre for the Fighting Irish squad that qualified for its second Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association Bowl game in three seasons.
Fast forward two years and one COVID-19 pandemic later, the 17-year-old Welland resident was back on the field this week as the team went through its preseason training camp.
“It feels awesome. Last year we didn’t get to play but now we are back and I am just as excited as I was in 2019, unfortunately it’s not 2020,” the 12B student said.
Battista admitted it was tough to have school sports cancelled.
“I played hockey and football for Notre Dame and it all got cancelled last year and it kind of sucked,” he said. “You get excited about it and that’s what you do when you come to school on the first day. You play football. It was difficult but I am just happy we are back out now.”
Rather than sit there and feel sorry for himself, Battista stayed busy.
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By Bernie Puchalski - August 17, 2021
Callan Saldutto was having an up-and-down season in his first year of being a full-ride scholarship athlete at the University of Louisiana Monroe when he arrived at the prestigious Texas Relays in late March in Austin, Texas.
“I won the B group with a huge PB (personal best) of 69.46 metres in javelin,” the 19-year-old Welland native said. “My old PB was 61 something.”
Not content with that personal best, the Notre Dame graduate one-upped himself in mid-May at the Sunbelt Conference championships in Mobile, Ala.
“I PBed again. I threw 69.88 and I got second there. That was another big one.”
The throw garnered the four-time Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations medalist not only a sliver medal but it also surpassed the 69.5-metre standard required for Saldutto to attend the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships.
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Good afternoon:
As you may have heard today, the Ontario Government has announced plans for a safe return to school for September. Many things will remain in place from last year as we reopen on September 7, such as the need to wear masks indoors for all students in Grades 1-12. Other things will change, such as allowing students to play outdoors without masks and in mixed cohorts during lunches and recess.
Secondary students will attend school all-day, Monday to Friday (no cohorts). Plans are being discussed how to safely implement a return to extracurricular activities like sports, band, choir and other clubs for both elementary and secondary students. You will learn more about that in coming weeks, as information is made available.
Virtual learning is permitted again in 2021-2022. Secondary families have already submitted plans for student attendance next year. Elementary families will be contacted about their final choice next week. We look forward to welcoming the majority of our students back to school for in-person learning.
The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Niagara Region Public Health continue to promote vaccinations for students aged 12-17 and staff, but they are not required to return to school or work in September.
The Ministry of Education has allowed local public health units to provide insight and to place their own recommended measures on schools in their communities. We will work closely with Niagara Region Public Health to balance the need to begin returning to a more normal school year with the need for continued vigilance as the Delta variant remains strong in Ontario. We expect to have more detailed information for you next week, after we meet with Public Health.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work towards a safe and happy 2021-2022 school year for everyone.
By Bill Potrecz - BP Sports Niagara
Matthew Martel earned brotherly bragging rights, edging younger sibling Michael Martel to capture the boys U19 division at a Niagara District Junior Golf Tour stop Wednesday at Grand Niagara.
The defending champion, who golfs out of Lookout Point, fired a two-under par 70 to defeat Michael by five strokes. Nathan Freure of Sawmill made a late charge to finish second with a 74.
Matthew Martel, who also won earlier on the tour this year at Rockway Vineyards, was aware Michael was in his rear view mirror.
“I had kind of heard from a buddy he (Michael) was a couple over (par) so I was happy for him,” Matthew said. “At that point, it was a four or five stroke gap so I just didn’t want to do anything stupid. I didn’t think anyone was going to be able to catch me so (it was) just play smart.”
Matthew said there is a mutual respect between himself and his brother, who is three years his junior.
“I think most of the time we’re helping each other,” he said. “If it got down the stretch of an event that was very close, it might be a little bit of a different story — there might a little bit of a rivalry — but for the most part it’s just trying to help each other.”
Matthew, a 17-year-old graduate of Notre Dame, said it isn’t uncommon for the two brothers to hit a bucket of balls together.
“I have buddies I golf with a lot but just the convenience of just going pretty well every night, just having someone there to take a swing video or something, it’s really helpful.”
Michael won the first tour stop at Brock last month.
By Bill Potrecz - July 12, 2021
Ben Julie of Sawmill shot 73 to place first in the Boys U13 division Monday at Rockway Vineyards on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ.
Matthew Martel picked up right where he left off last season.
The defending U19 boys champion carded a one-under par 71 to capture first place at the second stop on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour at Rockway Vineyards Monday.
“It felt pretty good,” said Martel, who golfs out of Lookout Point. “The course wasn’t playing too, too long so it gave me a chance to hit a lot of irons off tees and keep it in play and then have mid irons or wedges going in.”
The 17-year-old Notre Dame graduate edged out Nathan Freure of Sawmill and Noah LeBrasseur of Players Club (Ottawa) by four strokes for the win.
“Obviously the end goal is to win but I also go there and focus on my game and try to refine anything for more events, whether it be J tour or provincial stuff,” Martel said when asked for his mindset heading into the day.
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