As the 2017–18 school year and the athletic campaign began this fall, a record number of Ridley alumni were also gearing up to represent their new post-secondary institutions in competition. Forty recent Tiger graduates have made university rosters throughout the North American system. While 23 alumni are making contributions on Canadian university sports rosters. Meanwhile, 17 alumni have crossed the border to represent in NCAA programmes; including schools like Brown, Princeton, Tennessee and Boston College. Eleven hockey alumni are also actively pursuing Junior hockey careers, with three ORs currently facing off in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Add to that our three professional athletes, one current member of the Canadian Men’s National Rowing Team (with three others currently in the National Rowing pipeline,) and it becomes clear just how special Ridley’s athletes are, and how many opportunities stem from the school’s athletic programme.
The success of these grads is rooted in our 128-year-old philosophy of dedication to quality daily physical activity. Their accomplishments are also a testament to the incredible coaches, mentors and facilities from which Ridley athletes benefit from every day. The school is a national leader in the adoption of the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) pathway, whereby different stages of athletic development have a specific focus for students, helping to build all-around athletes first and preparing them for more varied athletic experiences. This approach is clearly working, as 12 different university sports are represented in the graduate pursuits listed above. As well, the school’s focus on developing high-performance programmes in hockey, rowing and basketball have helped to elevate the competitive environments in those sports to the highest levels available in North America for high school students.
Our dynamic approach to schoolwide, sport-specific and elite-level programming puts Ridley’s overall development system in a league of its own.
It is clear that prospective students and North American university programmes are taking notice. The number of inquiries and applications to the school has increased, with interest noted in hockey, basketball and rowing. There has also been a jump in the number of university and college coaches making regular trips to the Tiger Arena, Griffith Gym and Ridley Boat House. Why? An internationally renowned, rigorous academic institution that is fostering high-performance athletes creates a very compelling story.
With some of our current student-athletes having already secured offers to schools like the University of Southern California (USC), Oregon, Stanford, Syracuse, and McGill, we can take pride in the knowledge that 21st century Ridley continues to build on a legacy of sporting excellence which has been foundational for over a hundred years. Go Blacks Go!
2017–2018 Alumni Athlete Update
Graduates Playing University/College Sports 2017-2018 at Canadian Schools
Tim Sullivan is playing rugby for Brock University too.
Thanks so much for letting us know! We have added him to our list!