Where are they now?  There is a little known secret that SSSAD fields the student athletes of today but the stars of tomorrow. On the fields of play and courts of high school sports entertainment, former SSSAD athletes and graduates from Saskatoon High Schools are contributing to rosters and teams in universities across North America and can be found on professional teams and Canadian National Teams. Some of whom we are watching and admiring as they compete in high school action today are destined to be contributing to the success of teams in post high school competition.  Student athletes, parents, community coaches, and high school coaches and programs have contributed to the development of these fine athletes who are now impressing people with their talents and dedication at the highest level. Aden Bowman boasts the highest number of student athletes now competing in post secondary athleitics, but several schools in the city have forwarded some of their athletic success stories to the next level.

There are many fine examples of SSSAD graduates succeeding at some of the highest levels of play.  Take Laura Cote, for example, a graduate of Aden Bowman who recently broke the all time assist record as a setter in her senior volleyball year at the University of Memphis.  A recent announcement in the media guide at the University of Memphis and noted in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix reads,

          Cote had 48 assists in a match Saturday against Tulsa to increase her career total to 5,683, beating    Clare Dirksen's club record of 5,653 assists that stood for 19 years.

          "I said (when I came to the University of Memphis) that I wanted to make history and this is a great accomplishment," said Cote, a graduate of Aden Bowman Collegiate. "I'm thankful to all of my teammates over my career that helped me reach this goal. I've been lucky to have some good hitters and passers in my career."

Krista Phillips, another Aden Bowman graduate, has contributed significantly for the University of Michagan Women's Basketall Team, a rare accomplishment for a Canadian on the NCAA stage.  The 6'6" centre has averaged 20 minutes per game in her career while contributing 10 points per game from the post position and pulling dowin 6 rebounds per game.  Krista led the Bears to three Provincial Championships in her career and continues her success in the Big Ten Conference in the United States.

Other basketball graduate success stories are obvious close to home at the University of Saskatchewan.  4 Bowman graduates, Jill Humbert, Amy Lackie, Kara Lackie, and Amy Prokop are having great success at the University of Saskatchwan and have helped the Huskies to be one of the top teams in the country.  Nolan Brudehl  of Bishop Manoney and his brother Daniel are having great seasons with the Huskies Mens Basketball Team.. 

Track and Field at the University of Saskatchwan has also benefitted from SSSAD graduates who have chosen to compete on the university stage.   Leanne Schellenberg of Bedford Road, Stephaie and Leah Vause of Aden Bowman,  and Andrew Arndt of Marion Graham will be great contrbutors to the continued success of the Huskies. 

Football has also graduated many post secondary success stories.   Scott McHenry from Holy Cross is a sure handed talent with the Huskes football team and a likely high draft choice in the Canadian Football League College draft.  The MacDougall brothers, Keenan and Conner are also having great success with the U of S football team.  Aden Bowman has contributed 6 players to the Huskies squad, one of the top programs in the country. Included in the list are Nico Higgs, Mark Klause, Steven Kovach, Parker Siemens and Jeff Moore.  

Of course, we have several SSSAD graduates contributing to squads in post university athletics as well including  the Canadian Football League and Canadian National Team. Jeff Piercy(Evan Hardy Collegiate) with the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Graham Bell, a Walter Murray Graduate are two such examples of professional success stories. Jamie Cruikshank(Evan Hardy)is a bobsledder on the Canadain Bobsled team and a likely Canadian Olympian at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

These are only a few examples of SSSAD graduates who have succeeded at the next level.   Cross country athletes and wrestlers and soccer stars of the past are also enjoying success on university campuses. Congratulations to all our SSSAD graduates on their post secondary athletic success.   When enjoying high school sports in Saskatoon, see if you can pick the athletes destined for stardom at the next level.  Some of our athletes will be heard from again. For more information on where some of our athletes are now, college or professional, see Where are They Now on the SSSAD homepage.