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TOTALSPORTSQUINTE.CA
HOCKEY PLAYER KAITLYN MCNAIR & By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media
Skating to Scholarship
Life on the ice is great for Madison Myers and Kaitlyn McNair. The friends and graduates from Belleville’s St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School are heading to Adrian College in Michigan, beginning in August, on academic and athletic scholarships for their respective sports. Myers, who is from Stirling, will continue her love of figure skating, both individually and with the varsity synchronized team at Adrian College, while McNair of Corbyville will play hockey for the Bulldogs. A longtime skater with the Stirling Figure Skating Club, Myers began looking into college scholarships when she was in Grade 10. Adrian College stood out above the rest during her school tours. “I got to do a few camps with Adrian and their coaching staff,” Myers said. “The experiences I had with them were just crazy compared to the rest.” She appreciated the welcoming approach and a sense of honesty, not just from the coaching staff, but professors as well. The professors told the prospective students that communication is key: keep them informed of their sports schedules and they’ll ensure to work with them and make the student-athlete experience a great one. “They were super honest that they will help us instead of figuring it out on our own,” Myers said. “It’s nice to have that environment of really accepting athletes instead of pushing them aside.” McNair was able to lean on Myers for the in-person perspective of Adrian College since Myers had been able to visit. McNair only began connecting with hockey coaches this past season so meetings and tours were conducted virtually. Despite only speaking with coaches, professors and other staff through computer, McNair still felt a genuine love of the school from each person’s perspective in their own words. The advice from Myers proved to be a big assist as well. “She just talks extremely highly about it,” McNair said. Both girls graduated from St. Theresa with honours as Ontario Scholars and McNair will study biology at Adrian College. She was impressed by the facilities. “They have a really high-standing medical program and they have a health clinic on campus, which I thought was really cool and it’s a way to really work one-on-one with people in your field,” she said. Myers, who also enjoyed competing in shot put and high jump during high school track and field seasons, will be studying to become a secondary school physical education teacher. She previously considered physiotherapy, but the opportunity to be a peer mentor in a phys ed class this past year and at the suggestion of teachers, Myers changed course. Interestingly enough, Myers “wasn’t a big fan” of high school at the beginning. It was a big change from elementary school, which she
missed a lot of time in due to figure skating commitments. “When I got to high school and having to go every day, it got very overwhelming at first,” she said. “By Grade 10 I knew how much my grades would matter to get into university.” Myers set a goal of making the Honour Roll for her final three years at St. Theresa. “I missed it by one per cent in Grade 10 and I was no longer going (fall short again),” she recalled. “I made honours for Grade 11 and 12.” Her teaching ambitions aren’t limited to the classroom. When she was younger, Myers had a choice: hockey or figure skating. She was part of a “hockey family” but figure skating won out. “I’ve always wanted white skates from the beginning,” she said. “I knew I fell in love with skating then and I always wanted to do it.” Her aunt coached at the Stirling Figure Skating Club and got her into the CanSkate program. Myers loved it and not only did she continue to skate there, she eventually became a program assistant and later a certified CanSkate coach as well. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher from the youngest time. That teaching ability for me kind of comes naturally, but I love teaching kids and helping them become better at everything and it’s even better because it’s a sport I love,” Myers said. “Teaching them about something that I’m truly so passionate about, it’s amazing to see how much they progress over a year even. It’s very rewarding.” While representing the Stirling club, she also began training in Belleville with the Quinte Figure Skating Club due to the proximity of her school to the rink. Myers has also trained with Skate Oakville under the guidance of Michelle Leigh, who has coached a number of elite skaters including Elvis Stojko. “I’ve had her since I was 10 so we’ve been together for quite awhile and she’s helped me grow over the past years to help me get ready for this opportunity,” Myers said. Myers said she gained even more appreciation for figure skating during the past year, especially when COVID-19 restrictions prevented her from being on the ice. “This whole pandemic has just shown me how much I truly need figure skating in my life,” she said. “Not being able to do it has just been horrible. There’s no other way to describe it.” McNair can relate. She was frustrated by a cancelled hockey season, but made the most of her opportunities to get on the ice when she could with the Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League. Continued next page ....
