Lawrence named an all-Canadian

Stephanie Lawrence recently became the first member of the John Abbott Lady Islanders to be named an all-Canadian since Kelly Schumacher in 1997. One of the most talented women hoopsters to don an Islanders uniform the six-foot-one guard/forward was a workhorse, playing 32.18 minutes per game. She made 33.7 per cent (31 of 92) of her three-point shots. She scored an Abbott record 50 points in a 104-97 overtime loss to Edouard-Montpetit on Oct. 23, and was a tournament all-star at the 2006 Abbott Invitational.

Lawrence will attend the division one University of Massachusetts on a full ride scholarship starting in September. She graduates in May with honours in Liberal Arts.

Grid Lions honour own

Defending Quebec Bantam AAA Football League champions North Shore Lions held its annual banquet recently, and defensive back Joey Fulginiti made several trips to the head table. Fulginiti, who had a spectacular opening game for the under-17 Quebec Bantam Football League (QBFL) Elites at last summer’s Wilson Challenge, was named team Most Valuable Player, MVP for defensive backs and special teams. Elsewhere, quarterback Matt Leblanc was named offensive MVP, Jesse St-James defensive MVP, Arto Khatchikian offensive line MVP, Francis Richard defensive line MVP, Richard Elias MVP for receivers, Josh George MVP for running backs and Jessy Thompson MVP for linebackers. Phil Hebert and Kevin Kilbourne were named most improved players on offence and defence respectively while Ross Olshansky earned plaudits for being the player who had the most impact on the team. Finally, Greg Lee was named best rookie.

Abbott Swimming, AA hoops medal

Two John Abbott College varsity squads captured medals at recently held post-season events. The swim team earned silver at provincials, held March 24-25 at Claude Robillard Centre. It accumulated 657 points, 34 behind first-place Sherbrooke. Jason Ochiai won gold in the 50-metre butterfly and bronze in the 100-metre freestyle, 100-metre butterfly and 50-metre freestyle. Caitlin Sonnel captured silver in the 50- and 100-metre breastroke while Jason Hillcoat earned silver in the 100-metre backstroke and bronze in the 50-metre backstroke and 100-metre individual medley. Ochiai, Hillcoat, Matthew Khatchodourian and Philip Mann also earned silver in the 4 x 50-metre freestyle relay.

Meanwhile, Abbott’s AA men’s basketball team won bronze at the regional championships, held March 24-25 at CEGEP Vieux Montréal. Head coach Patrice Lemieux’s troops defeated CEGEP Ahuntsic 71-68 in overtime in the bronze-medal game. Anthony Nastas led the Isles with 23 points while Daniel Quansah had 16 and J.P. Gosselin 15. Next on tap for the Isles in the provincials, which take place this weekend at CEGEP Edouard-Montpetit in Longueuil. The Isles enter the tournament as defending champions.