Varsity Blues

Spanish & Portuguese

International Students

Linguistics

Subheadline

Xin Yi Lim, who will receive her master’s degree in Hispanic linguistics this fall, says “it’s like I have 11 channels in my brain.”

Born in Malaysia, Xin Yi Lim was raised in a family where English, Malay, Mandarin and Cantonese were all spoken regularly – but that was merely a jumping off point for her multilingual talents.

The University of Toronto student, who will officially graduate this fall, is conversationally proficient in 11 languages – five more than are required for a person to be described as a hyperpolyglot.

In addition to the five languages spoken by her family, Lim now also speaks Indonesian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Turkish and Swahili.

@uoft Meet #UofTGrad24 Xin Yi Lim, who speaks 11 languages 🗣️ Lim is set to graduate this week with a master’s in Hispanic linguistics with a collaborative specialization in diaspora and transnational studies from the department of Spanish and Portuguese in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Originally from Malaysia, Lim says she fell in love with Toronto’s diverse community and hopes to continue living in the city. Following fall convocation, she hopes to pursue a career that combines her passions for graphic design and languages. Discover the full story via our link in bio or at uoft.me/b1j. #UofT #convocation #polyglot #hyperpolyglot ♬ original sound - University of Toronto

And the list continues to grow.

“Languages have opened doors to so many friendships and work opportunities for me,” Lim says. “Learning them is a genuine way of creating connection.”

As part of her master's degree in Hispanic linguistics with a collaborative specialization in diaspora and transnational studies from the department of Spanish and Portuguese in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Lim examined how Spanish evolves and changes for bilingual Colombians in Toronto.

Her linguistic journey began at the age of 12, when she began studying Spanish and joined a team that competed in language competitions.

In addition to language, Lim also competed in figure skating as a member of the Malaysian junior national team. In fact, it was her skating career that inspired her to learn Turkish – after encountering the Turkish national team, and their language, at a training camp in Switzerland.

Lim didn’t intend to focus on languages and linguistics when she arrived at U of T. She initially enrolled in life sciences with the intention of becoming a cardiac surgeon. But it wasn't long before she switched to a specialist program in Spanish.

A key turning point came when she took a course on linguistic varieties of Spanish taught by Professor Laura Colantoni. “She’s an amazing professor and her course was so intriguing, so I decided to pursue linguistics and took more courses with her,” says Lim, who earned an honours bachelor of arts in Spanish with a specialist in Hispanic linguistics and a minor in Latin American studies in 2023.

Along the way, she challenged herself by taking a new language course every year: French, Turkish, Portuguese, Italian and Swahili.

She didn’t need to take a course for Indonesian, though. “Because my dad worked in Indonesia for about 15 years, we picked that up too,” she says.

Lim has competed in and taught figure skating in both Malaysia and Canada

While she added to her list of languages, Lim also advanced her prowess in skating as a member of the Varsity Blues figure skating team in 2020 and 2021. She also holds a 1st Kyu in Kyokushin karate and is a bartender, mixologist and graphic designer.

Going forward, Lim hopes to continue skating professionally, including by performing internationally as a skater with Disney on Ice.

And, no surprise, she also plans to continue expanding her range of languages.

“When you learn another language, you’re really expanding your cognitive load — and that in turn helps you learn your next language,” says Lim, who describes being able to converse in 11 languages as feeling “like I have 11 channels in my brain.”

She adds that the biggest benefit has been her ability to connect with more people and cultures. “Nelson Mandela said, ‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart,’” she says.

“After I learned that saying, I never saw languages in the same light. I realized that even if I could only say a couple of words in somebody else’s language, it would let them know how much time, compassion and effort I have for understanding other cultures.”

Next on her list? Arabic. “I’m so interested to learn it. It’s one of the most diverse and popular languages in Toronto, but the script is really challenging,” Lim says.

“That one requires time.”

U of T community members head to Paris Olympics as members of Team Canada

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 13:18:06 +0000

U of T community members head to Paris Olympics as members of Team Canada

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 07/23/2024 - 09:18

Cutline

(L-R) Former U of T Varsity Blues athletes Heather Bansley, Michelle Li, Kylie Masse, Lucia Stafford and Jazz Shukla will be competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (photos by Essene Hernandez/Eyepix Group/LightRocket/Getty Images, Shi Tang/Getty Images, Al Bello/Getty Images, Andy Astfalck/BSR Agency/Getty Images, MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Jill Clark

Topic

Global Lens

Athletes

Olympics

Subheadline

From swimming to track, volleyball and badminton, several former Varsity Blues athletes will head to the Games alongside key staff members

Five former Blues athletes have qualified to represent Canada at the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games this summer – and will be joined in host city Paris by several University of Toronto staff and community members.

Four-time Olympic medalist Kylie Masse has been named a co-captain of the Canadian swimming team at the Games, which take place July 26 to Aug. 11, while former Blues badminton star Michelle Li is set to make her fourth Olympic appearance and beach volleyball player Heather Bansley qualified for her third straight Summer Games.

Track and field alumnae Jazz Shukla and Lucia Stafford are off to their first and second Games, respectively.

Meanwhile, at the Paralympic Games, which take place Aug. 28 to Sept. 8., former Varsity Blues rower Alina Dumas is set to represent Brazil as coxswain of its PR3 coxed four crew.

The athletes will be joined in Paris by several U of T staff members and alumni.

Byron MacDonald, who enters his 47th season as Varsity Blues swimming head coach this September, heads to his 10th Olympic Games as a broadcaster, while assistant head coach Linda Kiefer heads to her sixth Olympic Games as a swimming coach. Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) alumnus and U of T staff member Ron Castro was also named a massage therapist to the Canadian swimming team.

Former Varsity Blues volleyball player and head coach Ed Drakich is set for his fifth Olympic Games as a volleyball technical official. He also represented Canada as an athlete in 1996.

Jane Thornton, Team Canada’s chief medical officer, earned her Doctor of Medicine from U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine in 2014.

Here’s a brief snapshot of the U of T community members who will be representing Canada as the Games get underway later this week:

Kylie Masse reacts after competing in the final of the women's 200m backstroke at the Canada Olympic & Paralympic Swimming Trials at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre on May 16, 2024 (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Kylie Masse – Swimming

A member of the Varsity Blues swimming team from 2014-2019, Masse has already put together a lengthy career full of highlights ahead of a third Olympic appearance.

She claimed her first Olympic medal at the 2016 Rio Games, earning bronze in the 100-metre backstroke. She then set a new world record while winning the 100-metre backstroke at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest.

Masse would go on to defend her 100-metre backstroke world championship at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, propelling her to a three-medal performance at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where she took silver in both the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke events, and added a bronze as part of Canada’s 4x100m medley relay.

During her time with the Varsity Blues, Masse went undefeated at five consecutive Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships without losing an individual or relay race. The five-time OUA female swimmer of the year, five-time OUA first team all-star and the 2015 OUA female rookie of the year also twice won the Dr. Jeno Tihanyi award for individual medley excellence and earned major grand slams in all three backstroke events.

Michelle Li poses during the medal presentation ceremony for the women's singles gold medal badminton match during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England (Photo by Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)

Michelle Li – Badminton

Competing with the Varsity Blues badminton team during both the 2009-2010 and 2012-2013 seasons, Li is appearing at her fourth Olympic Games.

She made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games, competing in both the women’s singles and doubles events, earning an impressive fourth place result with her partner Alexandra Bruce. She then went on to qualify for both the 2016 Rio Games and 2020 Tokyo Games in the women’s singles, achieving a top 10 finish at the latter.

Among the most successful Canadian female badminton players ever, Li is a six-time Pan American Championships singles gold medalist and the first Canadian woman to win singles gold at the Commonwealth Games.

At U of T, Li helped the Varsity Blues to their first OUA championship title in 10 years, earning OUA female MVP and OUA all-star honours during the 2012-13 campaign. In that season she won both the OUA and Canadian university women’s singles titles, while partnering with Grace Gao to win the women’s doubles titles.

(L-R) Gold medalists Heather Bansley and Sophie Bukovec of Team Canada pose for photos after the women's final match of the NORCECA Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualification Tournament (photo by Essene Hernandez/Eyepix Group/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Heather Bansley – Beach Volleyball

A former Varsity Blues student-athlete between 2005-2010 and assistant coach during the 2021-22 season, Bansley is now getting set to head to her third Olympic Games as a member of Team Canada.

Considered among the best defensive players in the world, she previously competed at the 2020 Tokyo Games and the 2016 Rio Games with partner Brandie Wilkerson, placing fifth overall at both international showcases. Bansley has been a dominant player throughout her career on the FIVB beach volleyball world tour, winning the world's best defender honour three times (2018, 2016 and 2015). In 2018, she and Wilkerson reached the No. 1 ranking in the world.

While a student-athlete at U of T, Bansley was a two-time all-Canadian who finished first on the OUA and U SPORTS leader board in points, kills and serving aces per set during the 2009-2010 season. She helped lead the Blues to a provincial title and a spot in the U SPORTS national championship.

Lucia Stafford reacts during the women's 1500m heats at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 2, 2021 (photo by Li Yibo/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Lucia Stafford – Track and Field

An alumna of the Varsity Blues track and field and cross country teams between 2016-2020, Stafford will be heading to her second Olympic Games after winning her third Canadian women’s 1500-metre title. A semifinalist at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Stafford recently set a new Canadian record in the women’s 2000-metre in her Diamond League debut, breaking the previous mark set 30 years ago by Angela Chalmers.

While with the Blues, Stafford was named both U of T’s T-Holders’ female athlete of the year and the OUA female athlete of the year across all sports in her senior season. She earned individual OUA and U SPORTS gold medals, an OUA silver with the women’s cross country team, nine provincial medals and 10 national medals with the track and field team across her four seasons of competition.

Jazz Shukla prepares for the start of the women's 800m semi-final heat three during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 25, 2023 (photo by Li Yibo/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Jazz Shukla – Track and Field

A Varsity Blues track and field and cross country athlete between 2016 and 2022, Shukla qualified for her first Olympic Games after winning the Canadian women’s 800-metre title. After a steady ascent up the rankings since graduating from U of T, her 1:58.20 time at the Canadian Olympic trials marked the second fastest trials time in North America.

Since jumping back into competition in the 800-metre event in 2022, Shukla has continued to improve her time with each outing. She most recently competed at the 2023 Canadian National Championships, 2023 World Championships and 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Shukla’s time at U of T coincided with impressive results and recognition. With the cross country team, she earned U SPORTS first team all-Canadian and OUA first team all-star honours in 2021.

Cleaner air, better ice: U of T acquires electric Zamboni for Varsity Arena

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 21:42:12 +0000

Cleaner air, better ice: U of T acquires electric Zamboni for Varsity Arena

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 02/16/2024 - 16:42

Cutline

U of T’s Varsity Arena joins an estimated quarter of the roughly 1,000 indoor rinks in Ontario that are now serviced by electric ice resurfacers (photo by Seyran Mammadov)

Jelena Damjanovic

Topic

Climate Change

Subheadline

A growing number of Ontario rinks are moving away from gas-powered ice resurfacing machines since they can pollute indoor air

The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) has acquired an electric ice resurfacing machine for the Varsity Arena, a zero-emissions vehicle that will improve the quality of ice – and air.

Often referred to as “Zambonis” after Frank J. Zamboni, Jr., a block ice salesman who patented the technology in 1953, ice resurfacing machines maintain the skating surface by shaving the top layer of ice, washing the remaining ice and then spreading out an even layer of water that freezes between skate times.

But a growing number of rinks are now moving away from gas-powered Zambonis since they emit exhaust fumes that pollute indoor air.

“An electric Zamboni eliminates the source of indoor air pollution and reduces the ventilation requirements for the arena, which means energy savings and operational cost reductions for the facility,” says Ian Stephen, assistant facility manager at the Varsity Arena and Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

“It also provides a superior system of maintaining ice in the arena.”

U of T’s Varsity Arena joins an estimated quarter of the roughly 1,000 indoor rinks in Ontario now serviced by electric ice resurfacers following Health Canada’s 2021 recommendations to use electric resurfacers and edgers to improve air quality in arenas.

Ian Stephen, assistant facility manager at the Varsity and Goldring Centre, poses next to a newly purchased electric Zamboni (photo by Jill Clark)

The electric Zamboni also makes better ice by using laser beams, a technology first used in the construction industry to level ground. To set it up, the Varsity Arena rink pad had to be measured first without ice to factor in any high or low spots.

“With the laser mounted on a pole and the receiver on the Zamboni, the blade moves automatically to create the most level ice possible,” Stephen says.

Another new feature is so-called “fast ice,” which is created with misting jets on the back of the electric Zamboni.

“They mist water onto the ice as opposed to it dripping down and a flutter cloth just dragging the water and trying to fill in everything,” says Stephen. “The misting helps take some of the oxygen out of the water, which makes the ice harder when it freezes – so it also creates a better surface.”

While electric Zambonis are more expensive than the gas-powered models, they are expected to save on fuel and maintenance over their lifetimes.

“Think of all the savings on energy, water and time,” Stephens says.

In addition to the electric Zamboni, KPE has also replaced a pick-up truck that hauled equipment with an electric van – one of several environmentally conscious projects underway at the university.

Celebrating U of T's impact on hockey in Toronto

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 14:05:36 +0000

Celebrating U of T's impact on hockey in Toronto Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 02/01/2024 - 09:05

Topic

Sinai Health

Alumni

Hockey

Rotman Commerce

Toronto is a sports city – and hockey is close to its heart.

In a new video, members of the University of Toronto community reflect on how U of T’s Varsity Blues hockey program inspired the Toronto Maple Leafs – and how the future of hockey is diverse and inclusive.

“I’m excited about the future of hockey because I think we’ve never been in a better place – especially with the creation of a professional women’s league,” says Jayna Hefford, a five-time Olympic medallist in women’s hockey who is now senior vice-president of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and a former Varsity Blues Player.

“If we want Canada and hockey to thrive, we need as many people playing as we can.”

Cole Purboo, a fourth-year student at Rotman Commerce and captain of the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team, says he, too, believes the future of the game is one that is “more diverse and more accessible for more people.”

The video also explores how the Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport at U of T and Sinai Health is shaping the future of athletics and ensuring that sports are for everyone.

“We saw an opportunity to encourage engagement, drive performance and accelerate recovery through groundbreaking and globally recognized research,” says Larry Tanenbaum, philanthropist and chair of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, “allowing athletes of all levels and ability to reach their maximum potential.”

Interviews in this video include:

Larry Tanenbaum, chair of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, philanthropist behind the U of T Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport at U of T and Sinai Health
Bruce Kidd, professor emeritus, sport and public policy, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Cole Purboo, fourth-year student at Rotman Commerce, Varsity Blues men’s hockey team Captain
Jayna Hefford, senior vice-president hockey operations for the Professional Women’s Hockey League, Varsity Blues Women’s Hockey 1996-97

Joe’s Basketball Diaries: Season 2 launches with episode on community

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:04:13 +0000

Joe’s Basketball Diaries: Season 2 launches with episode on community Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 11/29/2023 - 11:04

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Joe's Basketball Diaries

Diversity and Inclusion

Subheadline

In a new season of the award-winning series, host Joseph Wong and guests take the conversation beyond the court as they discuss topics ranging from sustainability to inclusion

For Joseph Wong, basketball is more than a hobby or a passion – it’s a platform to foster meaningful conversations about community, sustainability, diversity and equity, and reconciliation.

As host of the award-winning series Joe's Basketball Diaries, Wong explores these and other themes with guests from inside and outside the University of Toronto in a new season that begins today.

“The show puts front and centre a lot of key issues we’re grappling with as a society,” says Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international, and a professor in the department of political science and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“These are all big issues that are not exclusive to the world of sport or basketball, but it provides an opportunity for a discussion.”

Season Two begins by following up on a topic explored in the first season – community – and opens with a discussion about the Scarborough Shooting Stars, a local basketball team that won its first championship in the Canadian Elite Basketball League this past summer.

Sam Ibrahim, a business leader, philanthropist and co-founder of the Stars, says during the episode that it was important to name the team after Scarborough to keep its roots authentic.

“Scarborough is not a city anymore, it’s more of a historical region,” says Ibrahim, who is a major supporter of U of T Scarborough. “For us to preserve Scarborough and what it means to us – it was important regardless of what it meant to the Greater Toronto Area.”

Will Lou, writer and co-host of the Raptors Show podcast, adds that locals understand the social and cultural of importance of Scarborough.

“People always make jokes, but at the end of the day a lot of Toronto’s culture comes from Scarborough,” he says.

Aleer Leek, a player on the Varsity Blues men’s basketball team who grew up in Scarborough, says he saw first-hand how excited the community was about local sporting events, while Fabienne Blizzard, co-founder of the Capital Courts Academy and the Cadette National Team coach, speaks about how sports brought her community together growing up.

Airing biweekly on U of T’s YouTube channel, future episodes of Joe’s Basketball Diaries will delve into the intersection of sports and reconciliation, the significance of sustainability in sports and the complexities that surround transgender athletes. For instance, while much of the mainstream debate on issues of transgender inclusion and sport focuses on elite athletes, Wong says the show is deliberately steering the conversation towards the underlying issues – from the science of sports performance to the sociology of gender and the need for inclusion.

On the topic of sustainability, Wong notes that few sports fans stop to consider the volume of greenhouse gases that are emitted when tens of thousands of people travel to a stadium to watch a big game.

“Sports attract a lot of people – and all the work that goes into putting on a sporting event comes with a carbon price,” he says.

Wong says he puts a lot of thought into his hosting the series, often reading hundreds of pages in preparation for an episode, in an effort to go “beyond the headlines.”

Even so, the series’ success – the first season received more than 1.3 million views on YouTube and won several awards – has surprised Wong. “It’s talked about in the extended Toronto community,” he says.

Guests of the show have included three-time Olympian Miranda Ayim and former Toronto Raptors basketball coach Nick Nurse. In addition, the MLSE Foundation, NBA Canada, Sinai Health Foundation, Raptors for Research, and Canada Basketball have all shared interests in connecting with U of T and potentially engaging in future partnerships, Wong says.

He adds that he’s confident viewers will find the second season of Joe’s Basketball Diaries as compelling as the first – and encourages new viewers to explore older episodes.

“They’re timely, but they’re also timeless.”

Prehistoric: U of T alum Alex Wong explores the Toronto Raptors' origin story

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:41:30 +0000

Prehistoric: U of T alum Alex Wong explores the Toronto Raptors' origin story

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 11/01/2023 - 10:41

Cutline

U of T alumnus Alex Wong signed copies of his book Prehistoric: the Improbable and Audacious Origin Story of the Toronto Raptors at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport (all photos by Dewey Chang)

Jelena Damjanovic

Topic

City & Culture

Joe's Basketball Diaries

Subheadline

Alex Wong's book delves into the launch of the Toronto Raptors and examines the power of sport to foster community

The origin story of the Toronto Raptors – and the team's subsequent impact on community-building in the GTA and beyond – are the subject of a new book by University of Toronto alumnus Alex Wong, who discussed the stories and themes from the Raptors' rise at a launch party held at U of T's Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

Wong, producer and co-host of Canada's most popular basketball podcast – The Raptors Show with Will Lou – delved into Prehistoric: the Improbable and Audacious Origin Story of the Toronto Raptors during a recent panel discussion hosted by U of T's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) that featured key figures in the founding of the Raptors.

From left to right: Alex Wong, John Bitove Jr., founder of the Toronto Raptors, David Peterson, founding chairman of the Toronto Raptors, and Tom O'Grady, designer of the original Raptors' logo

“This is a story about the people who bonded over a common purpose – the launch of a professional basketball team,” said Wong, who graduated from U of T Scarborough. “But the core element of the book is community, which is at the core of basketball and is at the core of the Raptors.”

Helping Wong tell the story – in the book and on the Goldring Centre stage – were John Bitove Jr., founder of the Toronto Raptors, David Peterson, founding chairman of the Raptors and U of T chancellor emeritus, and Tom O’Grady, designer of the team's original logo.

“I got emotional over some of the passages in the book,” said Bitove. “When we started this venture, we believed in it, of course – we hoped that it would turn into something with a legacy. But when you see the positive impact the Raptors had on the community over the years, it’s really something.”

Attendees packed U of T's Goldring Centre to hear the origin story of the Toronto Raptors.

Peterson, who was premier of Ontario from 1985 to 1990, said he had never even been to an NBA game when Bitove, who he described as a diehard basketball fan, approached him about putting in an ownership bid for the team.

“I went home to my three kids and told them about this guy who wants to go after an NBA franchise and they said, ‘Do it, it’s more fun than politics,’ so the next day, I called John to say I’m in,” said Peterson.

Asked to share how the team's logo came about, Bitove said the goal was to come up with a design that was different, bold and had a global feel. To the delight of the audience, many of whom were decked out in Raptors gear, O’Grady shared a few slides showing the logo's evolution.

The design of the Raptors' original logo aimed to be different, bold and project a global feel.

“The kids from the focus groups loved it,” said O’Grady.

The audience also learned that the Raptor almost ended up being lime green, but the owners decided to go with red to highlight the team's association with Canada.

Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice president, international, and host of Joe’s Basketball Diaries – the second season of which launches soon – led another panel discussion that featured Shireen Ahmed, a sports journalist and activist; Sam Ibrahim, president of Arrow Group of Companies, co-founder of the Scarborough Shooting Stars and U of T supporter; and Tamara Tatham, head coach of the U of T Varsity Blues women’s basketball team. They spoke about their introduction to the Raptors, how they became devoted fans and where they were when the Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019.

From left to right: Joseph Wong, Shireen Ahmed, Tamara Tatham and Sam Ibrahim.

While the pre-Raptors professional sports landscape in the GTA was dominated by hockey and baseball, the panel discussed how the accessibility of basketball and soccer carried more appeal to minority and immigrant communities.

“I lived in Scarborough and we knew the basketball court was a safe place,” said Ibrahim. “That’s the power of sport – to build relationships and communities.”

“We spent all our time in the gym,” added Tatham, who started playing basketball in community centres, also in Scarborough.

KPE Dean Gretchen Kerr addressed the audience in the Goldring Centre.

When the Raptors came to town, Ibrahim, Tatham and Ahmed said they saw themselves reflected on the big court – and in the stands.

“It’s one thing to talk about inclusivity, it’s another to do something about it,” said Ahmed, who noted the Raptors were the first NBA team to offer an athletic hijab for Muslim women. “The Raptors saw their communities and they were intentional about making them all feel included.”

Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, said all proceeds from the ticket sales from the event would go to the Indigenous and Black student-athlete bursary and described the evening as a “wonderful reminder and testament of the power of sport to bring people together, and foster access and inclusion.”

U of T swimmer rediscovers the pool – and the positive impact of athletics

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:22:54 +0000

U of T swimmer rediscovers the pool – and the positive impact of athletics

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 09/06/2023 - 11:22

Cutline

Despite the challenges of being a student athlete, Amelia Narduzzo says her grades improved during her undergraduate years after she decided to return to competitive swimming (supplied image)

Perry King

Back to School 2023

UTogether

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Graduate Students

Subheadline

Amelia Narduzzo will compete in the 800-metre freestyle while studying for her master’s degree in teaching at OISE

Before joining the University of Toronto Varsity Blues this summer, Amelia Narduzzo had set aside competitive swimming for years so she could better navigate her undergraduate studies.

“For three to four years in total I stopped for a multitude of reasons,” says Narduzzo, who graduated from Western University this past spring and is now studying for her master’s degree in teaching at U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

Although Narduzzo initially struggled as a student athlete, she found her way back to the sport she loved before graduating – and will now swim for the Blues in the 800-metre freestyle this year.

“I realized that I actually missed swimming," says Narduzzo, 21. “So then in third and my fourth year, I joined the team, and my grades actually got better – way better.”

As a third- and fourth-year student at Western, she broke personal bests in the pool, finally reaching a level she once thought was impossible.

“It just goes to show you that student athletes are a different breed sometimes,” she says. “We can make it happen, but it just takes that extra hour in the morning and at night. Yeah, you have to make sacrifices.”

It’s that discipline that has seen her excel in the classroom as well. With a focus on primary and junior education, Narduzzo comes to OISE looking to realize a lifelong love for education and educational leadership – a passion she has held since middle school.

“I always enjoyed learning,” she says. “I would notice that different teachers made different impacts on me, for the better or worse, and I just resonated with the ones who really took the time to help me out.”

When Narduzzo was looking to begin graduate studies, keep swimming at a high level and return to her hometown Toronto, OISE was a natural fit.

The Blues’ swim head coach, Byron MacDonald, thought so too.

“The recruiting was a bit easier than most because Amelia is from Toronto and was likely heading to U of T as her first choice no matter what. The swim team became a bonus,” MacDonald says. “I had also seen her as a high schooler, as her club team actually rents time at the U of T Athletic Centre.”

(supplied image)

The recruiting process came late for Narduzzo, as she only found the courage to email MacDonald earlier this year. “I told him, ‘Hey, my trajectory is positive right now,’” she says. “‘I know I don't have many times yet because I'm still pretty new.’

“I gave my whole story.”

MacDonald responded and asked to touch base later in the year. So, when Narduzzo was training with Toronto Swim Club at the Athletic Centre, MacDonald came to get a better look.

“Byron came up to me and he said, ‘How would you feel if I told you that you're on the team?,’” she recalls.

Narduzzo has since honed a solid relationship with MacDonald and Linda Kiefer, the team’s assistant head coach.

The key for her, MacDonald says, will be managing everything on her plate, at OISE and in the pool.

“Amelia is a distance swimmer and it's one of the tougher events to master as there is so much training involved,” he says. “As such, Amelia has to have a great internal drive and motivation to stay with that intensity day after day. And, as she is one of the smaller swimmers, she has to be even tougher to overcome the strength advantage some of her rivals will have.”

Despite the challenges, MacDonald says Narduzzo has all the tools she needs to succeed. “Amelia trained with our group this summer as she returned home after graduating from Western,” he says. “I was impressed with her persistence and drive to get better.”

Narduzzo says staying focused on her many responsibilities will be a team effort.

“I find that a strong support system is what makes or breaks you as a student athlete,” she says. “Because if you don't have people around you – that support system – then you crumble because there's only so much you can do by yourself.”

‘I didn’t have time to be anxious’: Varsity Blues player Jett Alexander on playing with the Maple Leafs

mattimar — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 02:02:54 +0000

‘I didn’t have time to be anxious’: Varsity Blues player Jett Alexander on playing with the Maple Leafs

mattimar Wed, 04/12/2023 - 22:02

Cutline

Jett Alexander, a third-year U of T student and goalie for the Varsity Blues, warms up for the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to playing in an NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens (photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Hockey

Undergraduate Students

Jett Alexander planned to spend last Saturday studying, running errands and watching the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens on TV.

Instead, the Varsity Blues goalie – and third-year University of Toronto student in the Faculty of Arts & Science – found himself sitting on the Leafs’ bench when the puck dropped, having been called on as a back-up goaltender for the NHL team. He had signed a one-day amateur tryout contract with the Maple Leafs a few hours earlier.

“It’s pretty crazy – you watch these guys on television and then you’re sitting next to them in the change room,” he says, noting that his family was watching from inside a packed Scotiabank Arena.

Alexander, who previously served as a back-up goalie for the Colorado Avalanche, says he was not expecting to be called on to play in the final 70 seconds of the game.

“I didn’t really have too much time to be anxious because it all happened so quickly.”

U of T News spoke to Alexander about his NHL ice time, his pre-game ritual and what he’s learned from being a Varsity Blues player.

Walk me through what happened on Saturday. How did that moment on the ice feel?

It was a normal Saturday when I woke up. I was going to study, run some errands and watch the game at home or with my buddies. Suddenly, I got a phone call from [Maple Leafs] management and they told me to grab my equipment and head to the rink. It all happened really quickly. Luckily, there was just enough time to get my parents and girlfriend there.

I was getting ready in the same locker room as the rest of the team. It’s pretty crazy – you watch these guys on television and then you’re sitting next to them in the change room.

Being in a locker room around teammates and friends my entire life, you get comfortable with that camaraderie, the jokes and the goofiness. Then you see it at an NHL level and realize it’s the same. They like to have fun, but they also take it very seriously and they’re very professional.

Sitting on the bench was so special. The players use iPads on the bench to watch their shift so they can make quick adjustments to their play. At the Varsity games, our coaching staff usually watch video in between periods or after the game.

[Maple Leafs Head Coach] Sheldon Keefe comes down the bench and he’s like, “Get in there, Jett.” I hop over the boards, get my helmet on and get in the net. I didn’t really have too much time to be anxious because it all happened so quickly. I tried to soak it all in after the game.

What is your pre-game ritual?

I wasn’t starting, so when I’m starting it’s a bit different and more detailed. I get to the rink early, get a good amount of stretching in, listen to music and get ready for about 20 minutes before I go on the ice for warmup.

I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way or mess up their pre-game routine, so I was trying to find that balance on Saturday.

How did your family react to the news?

They were just like, “No way – you're kidding, right?”

Since I was able to get out there for the last minute, I just feel really lucky and grateful that I got to enjoy that with them there. It means way more that I had my family there.

My dad is a Habs fan, but I’m sure he was a Leafs fan for the night. A Montreal versus Toronto game on a Saturday – it doesn’t get any bigger than that. That rivalry has been around for decades and it’s pretty cool that’s the game I got to be a part of.

Auston Matthews, left, and goalie Ilya Samsonov, middle, congratulate Jett Alexander, right, on his first NHL game (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

How did being on the Varsity Blues team prepare you for this opportunity? What has sports taught you?

At this point, I can’t imagine my life without sports. Being on the Varsity team has kept me motivated and wanting more from hockey. It’s taught me organizational skills and time management – just striving to be the best you can be in the classroom and on the ice.

Getting the opportunity to come to U of T is a privilege. It’s given me this connection to the Leafs. Being part of the emergency goalie rotation, much like my old [Varsity Blues] goalie partner, Alex Bishop, is pretty great. He’s one of my best buddies, so it’s cool getting to share that experience with him.

You have to make your schedule at the beginning of the year for both semesters around what your practice times will be. Our games are typically on Friday and Saturday and they’re usually around 7 p.m. You have to plan your days and your weekends accordingly. You’re a student first, so getting good grades is important. After class, I’m usually on the rink or in the gym. It makes for a busy time throughout the hockey season, which is from September until early March.

It also teaches you how to be a good teammate and how to work well with each other. I think something that hockey players typically have is an abundance of that team-first mentality. It gives you an appreciation for the work that other people put into it as well. It takes everyone involved to make the ship run.

It’s taught me my biggest life lessons and it’s a huge privilege to be where I am.

Varsity Blues goalie Jett Alexander makes his NHL debut: Toronto Star

mattimar — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 15:56:59 +0000

Varsity Blues goalie Jett Alexander makes his NHL debut: Toronto Star

mattimar Mon, 04/10/2023 - 11:56

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Varsity Blues goalie Jett Alexander warms up after being called up by the Toronto Maple Leafs during a game against the Montreal Canadiens (photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mariam Matti

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