Graduating trio had hoped to defend gold
Campbell, Michel and Venton kept training in last season with no games
The last game Maddy Campbell, Leah Michel and Sydney Venton played for the Trent Excalibur ended in an OUA women’s lacrosse gold-medal celebration.
It’s a great memory to end on but all three would have preferred an opportunity to defend that title.
Despite this season being cancelled due to the pandemic, the Excalibur trained three times a week from September to the team’s final gathering last Friday.
For all but those three, it was preparation for next season. The trio will graduate in the spring so the team honoured them Friday.
“It would have been really nice to get those back-to-back wins but going out on a high note and having that be our last game is a pretty great way to end it,” said Campbell, a Peterborough native and St. Peter Secondary School grad.
Campbell averaged 20 goals a season and started every game of her Trent career, sharing 2017 rookie of the year honours with Venton. They won OUA gold and bronze medals during their tenure.
“It was hard to swallow at first that we weren’t going to have a season,” Campbell said.
“Obviously, there are a lot more important things, like keeping everyone safe,” she added.
“It was important for everyone to have (training) to look forward to every week. We’re a pretty closeknit team and it would have been hard to go through this whole season without any form of Trent lacrosse.”
“Maddy’s heart, speed, and perseverance is unmatched and will be greatly missed,” said Excalibur coach Tori Wasson.
Venton, another Peterborough native and Adam Scott Collegiate grad, was a 2019 OUA First Team All-Star defender.
“I didn’t know it was my last game when I played it,” Venton said.
“It was such a great accomplishment as a team, it is nice to have that as my last game as an Excalibur. We had a great team coming into this season again and I definitely think we could have won
again, so it’s unfortunate we didn’t get a real season. But we did get time as a team and practised and welcomed some new girls who I’m sure will do great next year.”
“Sydney led our defensive unit with her tough and smart style of play becoming one of the best defensive players in the league,” said Wasson.
Michel, who is from Courtice but has family roots in Peterborough, is the most decorated player in pro
gram history. She was a key part of Trent’s first OUA gold in 2016 and won medals three of her four seasons. She was the ’16 OUA rookie of the year and an OUA all-star all four seasons and team MVP three times.
It’s impressive considering she joined Trent while recovering from a spinal stroke.
Michel said it was a challenging time. She gave up a scholarship to Canisius College to be closer to home through her recovery. It was the best decision she ever made, she said.
“The individual awards are nice and something I’ll always treasure,” Michel said.
“When I’m older, the thing I will remember most are my coaches, teammates and winning two OUA championships. We were a family on and off the field that worked hard, played hard and enjoyed our time together. Having (Wasson’s) leadership created a positive team environment that helped me grow and create so many great memories.”
“Leah Michel has been leading this team on and off the field in a positive direction,” Wasson said.
“She has brought the OUA league to a better level of play and has given more to this game then she might realize.”
With the rest of a strong core returning and new recruits such as local native Jocelyne Lemay, now in teachers college after starring at Central Michigan University, Wasson expects to contend in 2021.
“I really believe the Paterson Cup is in Peterborough to stay,” Wasson said.