Riverside winter sports on ice

by Evan Mathias
Riverside Secondary School could be without a winter sports season this year due to the effects of Bill 115.
The ice hockey season, swimming and wrestling have already been officially cancelled and basketball will be officially cancelled Nov. 13.
Riverside’s physical education department head Christine Johnston said it is really up to each individual coach whether they want to keep the team.
“That’s the stance across the board, it’s up to every coach whether or not they want to coach. It’s up to every volunteer whether or not they want to volunteer,” said Johnston. “Each coach decides what they want to do, each coach has to talk to their team and give them their decision.”
Johnston said there are different circumstances for each team.
“With the swim team there is no convener, there is no league, there is nothing for them to compete in so there is no team,” said Johnston.
The cancelation of the winter sports season is affecting senior students and returning fifth year athletes who are looking for scholarships.
One returning fifth year said his entire plan for post secondary athletics has changed now because of the decision to cancel the season.
“I thought that I was going to play my sports and have the scouts come and watch me play but now I can’t even do that because high school sports are cancelled,” said Calwin French. “Now I have to go transfer to another school or go and try out for the team now.”
He said many students came back for a fifth year looking for scholarships and now cannot because of the cancellation of the winter sports season.
Johnston disagreed with French about students looking for scholarships.
“To be honest, I don’t know that we have a lot of students looking for scholarships at Riverside,” said Johnston. “If they’re seriously looking for scholarships they should already have track tape laid out with their performances.”
Rebel’s hockey coach Brad Kohuch said the ice hockey season is definitely cancelled because the Windsor and Essex County Secondary School Athletic Association have already made a schedule for the season.
Johnston stressed that each coach is basing their decisions on their personal opinion about their current work situation.
“It’s not an easy choice, it’s not one that coaches just wake up one day and say ‘I’m not going to coach anymore’. It comes with a lot of heartache and contemplation to reach that point,” said Johnston.
As much as kids are upset about what is happening to them, the coaches are equally upset.”
Johnston said this decision isn’t just about the teachers or the students.
“It’s about fighting for you, and the general maintenance of the middle class and ensuring that the middle class is not compromised,” said Johnston.