TYLER hit the ground running in his
SPORTS UPDATE
freshman year as a member of the men’s baseball team at Wright State University in Ohio. He took home Freshman of the Year honours and was selected to the Horizon League’s First Team and All-Freshman Team. Now in his third year, he is drawing a fair amount of MLB Draft interest as one of college baseball’s top infielders. He was recently named to Baseball America’s list of Top 300 Draft Prospects, along with four other Canadians.
The HISTORY of the HISTORY WALL By Paul Mosey
Off to the next level Here are SAC’s most recent NCAA and U Sports commits:
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WELLINGTON DINNER
EST. 1993
> It’s pretty clear we like to display our histories on walls. We’ve been doing it for millennia. Think about the simple, prehistoric drawings in Lascaux Cave in France or the elaborate tomb murals in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. A good story, a blank wall what more do you need? As part of the Bedard renovation project, an 80-foot expanse of wall became available, and it was the perfect canvas to display in words and pictures the first 100 years of St. Andrew’s athletic history. The finished piece tells our story on three levels. First, and most prominent, is the athletic narrative. Starting in 1899 with football, and then following in 1900 with cricket and hockey, the story of sports at St. Andrew’s picks up momentum through the decades with new teams added and new athletes blossoming along the way. The second layer of SAC history covers the major school events throughout the first 100 years. Campus moves, leadership changes, building additions, and facility re-namings highlight this tier. Thirdly, the history wall looks beyond our gates to the world at large, where major events give our SAC experience a global context. World wars, international incidents, and Canadian milestones are dotted along the century-long timeline. On installation day in April, the Bedard hallway was buzzing with activity as our athletic history came to life.
Installation took place over the April break. When the campus fully opens up after the pandemic is finally in the rear-view mirror, make sure to stop by the Bedard hallway. For now, open the centre spread to see a rendering of the four panels.
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Q&A How have COVID-19 protocols affected the way you prepare, practice, and play this season? As an NCAA athlete, we are constantly being tested and have to do a really good job of self-isolating and limiting exposure as much as we can. One positive test could risk a good chunk of our season. In terms of the baseball side of things, not much has changed. We practice how we usually would, but in smaller groups and have to wear masks. It’s definitely challenging, but I tend to look on the positive side as many schools aren’t playing at all. Whatever we can do to make sure we stay on the field, people are more than happy to abide by those rules.
Tyler Hotson ’22: Hockey Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
AJ Nichols ’21: Volleyball University of Waterloo
Two prospect organizations had you ranked preseason all-conference and conference Player of the Year. How do you handle that kind of recognition? The recognition is very cool and humbling for me, especially because I didn’t get a lot of attention from scouts in high school. It drives me to become that much better and motivates me to continue to raise the bar and chase my full potential. Thoughts on the upcoming MLB Draft and what it would mean for you to get picked? Honestly, I am not really focused on the Draft, and instead just trying to win as many games as I can with my team right now. However, it would be a dream come true for me and would be a special moment for not only myself but also all the people who helped me get to the point I’m at today.
Aydar Suniev ’22: Hockey Harvard University
Every military mess dinner has its own set of unique traditions and eccentricities. Specific to St. Andrew’s is the Chain of Shame, awarded to a student for the most egregious infraction of mess dinner etiquette, which could be anything from lateness
How did your experience at SAC prepare you to be an NCAA D1 student-athlete? SAC taught me a lot of things. The main thing they prepared me with was time-management skills and prioritizing things that would help me succeed. Being a D1 athlete, it is very tough to manage time, and balancing athletics and academics at a high level can be a big challenge. Coming into my freshman year at Wright State, I felt like I was way ahead of everyone else in managing my time and prioritizing things that would make me successful because of SAC. X
34 The ANDREAN Spring 2021
This annual dinner is a highlight of the Cadet year for the SAC Corps’ senior leadership. It was established in 1993 and is a study in proper mess etiquette. The event was first hosted in the Royal Canadian Military Institute library in downtown Toronto. For a few years, the event was moved to the 48th Highlanders mess, the hub of social activity for military personnel while in garrison. The tradition was brought to campus in recent years. The menu includes Scottish fare such as haggis and entertainment by the Pipe Major. A highlight of the evening is the guest speaker, who is a member of the military or business community.
Mason Watson ’21: Football Laurier University
to boisterous behaviour to table manners. At the end of the dinner, attendees nominate a peer for etiquette oversights, and the “winning” nominee must either defend himself or deflect the accusations toward another attendee. The guest speaker and Corps CO then deliberate and determine who earns the Chain of Shame, which must be worn for the remainder of the evening and throughout the following school day (the duration of the wearing of the chain has varied widely, but this
Jonathan Parker ’95, guest speaker at the 2019 Wellington Dinner.
is the accepted norm for the past couple of years). The Wellington Dinner was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. X Spring 2021 The ANDREAN
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