Page 12 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 91

Home for the Summer!!

Cornwall and area post-secondary athletes

By Casey Leger

Name: Fiona Peets

ngleside’s Fiona Peets is 20 years old and going into her fourth year of Honours Biology at
Ithe University of Waterloo. A St. Joseph Catholic Secondary School graduate, Fiona continues
to play rugby, a sport she excelled at in high school. She chose to attend Waterloo because of
its excellent reputation for their science programs, and she had known for a long time that she
wanted to study science in university. “I also liked the idea of their co-op program,” says Fiona,
who is hoping to complete a master’s in biology in a field related to animal science.
As a rugby player, Fiona plays hooker, a position that puts her right in the middle of the scrum,
an arduous physical undertaking. “I was a bit late to the game in my university athletics,” Fiona
says. “This was my first season playing despite being in third year. I’ve been playing team sports
since I was very young but after high school, for the most part, I stopped playing completely.
Getting to be a part of a team again is so amazing; I have a great support system and group of
people around me, and I’m back to playing rugby and being active, which I didn’t realize was
something that I missed so much.”
The OUA has cancelled all fall sports for the upcoming year, and like a lot of university athletes, the Waterloo rugby team took that news hard.
“Right now, we’re following a workout schedule from home and doing our best to stay active with no actual rugby happening,” says Fiona. “We’ve
been keeping in touch with team Zoom calls and group chats.”
Playing rugby has changed Fiona’s life at university. “I didn’t play for my first two years at school because I thought it would be too much of
a commitment,” she says. “But being a part of the team has been one of the best things that I’ve done. It was a big adjustment for sure, but it was
totally worth it, and I wish I had done it sooner. The support that I have from my teammates, coaches, and the school is great.”
“I wasn’t expecting to be at home this summer at all. It’s been nice to spend more time with my family than I’ve had the chance to in years past,
and of course I love being home to see my dog,” Fiona says about having to come home due to quarantine and COVID restrictions.
Fiona also has this advice for young potential athletes: “If you’re thinking about trying out for a team but you might be nervous or intimidated
by it, just do it. Go to the tryout or contact the coach. I promise it is so worth it and you will not regret it.”

By Casey Leger
Name: Sydney Seymour

Cornwall’s Sydney Seymour is a recent graduate from Algonquin College’s Bartending Program.
“I’ll be starting a pre-service firefighting course in September of 2021,” says the 19-year-old
former St. Joseph’s Panther. “I’ll be taking this year off unless the COVID situation changes,”
explains Sydney, whose long-term educational goals include graduating from the firefighting
program, and then joining the military to become a smoke jumper.
Sydney is attending Algonquin on a rugby 7s scholarship, and her long-term rugby goal is
to represent Canada at the Olympics as part of the Women’s 7s side. “As soon as I visited the
school, I knew I’d love it there,” she says of Algonquin. “I already knew the coaches.”
She also likes that the campus is close to her family and home.
This year, Sydney’s rugby accolades include Ontario College Athletic Association Rookie of
the Year for the Eastern Division, Algonquin College Rookie of the Year, and winning the OCAA
rugby 7s title with her school. Not a bad first season by any stretch.
Sydney plays scrumhalf, which is the rough equivalent of playing center in hockey or quarterback
in football. “Playing rugby at Algonquin in Ottawa has really changed my life,” she explains. “I made a lot of new friends, and the people I play
with are very supportive and positive. I don’t remember the last time I stepped on the field without a smile.”
The Algonquin rugby 7s squad practices four times a week for two hours a session and plays every second or third weekend.
“The best part of being home for the summer,” Sydney says, “is that I get to see all my high school friends and my parents. When I come home,
it’s like a whole new life is meeting my old one.”

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