Seyed tops list of District 8 MVP hardware winners

Zubair Seyed of the St. Benedict Saints has been named MVP of the District 8 senior boys’ basketball league for the third straight season.

The electrifying point guard led the Saints to an undefeated season in D8 play, a Central Western Ontario championship and scored 52 points in the all-Ontario (OFSAA) final as the Saints fell by a single point and settled for silver.

St. Benedict teammates Justin Malnerich and Evan Rodenburg, who both recently committed to the University of Waterloo, join Seyed on the first-team all-star unit along with Mason Cummings of St. David and Muyang Iluya of Resurrection.

Devante Douse of St. Benedict was a second-team selection, along with Avery Martin of Rockway, Brent Lasovich of St. David, Ali Rashid of Resurrection and Ethan Passley of St. Mary’s.

The District 8 league also announced MVP recipients and all-star selections in boys’ and girls’ hockey and senior girls’ volleyball.

Outside hitter Jenna Banz of St. Benedict is MVP of the D8 senior girls’ volleyball league after leading the Saints to the league’s title game against the St. David Celtics. Banz will attend the University of Hawaii later this year to play beach volleyball.

St. Benedict teammate Maya Danis is also a first-team selection, and Monica Zeglan and Hope Harnack are second-team picks.

The champion Celtics are represented on the first team by Rachel Sothern, Maya Sokolowski and Marley Dowling.

Lorena Tasedan of St. Mary’s and Maddy Antwi of Resurrection rounded out the senior first team all-star selections.

Resurrection also had Tara Omand and Jade Hickey honoured as second-team selections, along with Makenna Edissi and Ava Harun of St. Mary’s.

Megan Fergusson of Resurrection is MVP of the D8 girls’ hockey league, after leading the Phoenix to their second straight title.

Last year’s MVP, goaltender Morgan Heinbuch-Filipowitsch, was named as a first-team all-star as she helped collect seven shutout wins for the Phoenix.

St. David is represented on the first team by Kristen Staus and Emma Mulhall.

Grade 12 defender Clara Lochner was named to the first team from Monsignor Doyle, while Ella Murphy from St. Mary’s was the lone Grade 9 student to be named as a first-team selection.

Jen Bean and Sammy Dietrich played key roles in capturing gold for the Phoenix and were secondteam selections, along with Chloe Davidson and Abby White of St. David, Darcy Windlinger of St. Mary’s and Emma House of Monsignor Doyle.

Hayden Berger of St. David is MVP of the D8 boys’ hockey league after playing a key role in leading the Celtics to a championship.

St. David’s Matt Shouppe and Liam Hartman were also firstteam selection, along with Zach Ribeiro and Justin Schneider of Resurrection. Zach Bint of St. Mary’s rounded out the first-team unit.

St. Benedict’s Stewart Wilson and Nick MacDonald made the second team, along with Matt Hertner of Monsignor Doyle, Zach Hatt of Resurrection and Ethan Bulovas Cam Hyjek of St. David.