By Mark Squibb/October 28, 2022
The Mobile Monarchs are among some of the best in the province — and they have the score to prove it.
“School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador (SSNL) have a points system based on how many sports your school plays,” explained athletic director Andrew Mackey. “If you host, you get points, if you win, you get points, and sportsmanship is worth just as many points as winning provincial banners.”
At the end of the school year, SSNL tallies up each school’s points. Typically, said Mackey, the award goes to bigger schools, but last year, the honour went to the Mobile Monarchs, who number just over 400 students.
“Its’ truly amazing that a school our size can compete provincially,” said principal Gary Petten. “As a Phys ed teacher by trade, I definitely respect the importance of school sports… Andrew has dedicated numerous hours to make this work, and it pays off in so many different areas.”
Mackey has made it a priority to expand the school’s athletic offerings.
“It’s always been basketball heavy along the shore, and we’re still heavy on basketball, but we’re playing other sports, which is great,” said Mackey. “We’ve played badminton, we’ve played volleyball, we’re doing some ball hockey, this year we’re going to start some table tennis. These are sports that are outside of our realm, which is good, and it’s bringing in different kids. We’re not seeing the same kids over and over.”
All told, the school offers softball, soccer, ball hockey, volleyball, basketball, cross country running, track-and-field, badminton, and, new to the line up this year, table tennis. Other students have even taken up golf and ultimate Frisbee.
“Doyle used to say, and Andrew and I feel the same way, ‘A child can find at least one sport that they like,’” said Petten of Mackey’s predecessor, the much liked, much respected Petty Harbour native Shawn Doyle, who himself earned a SSNL coaching award back in 2015.
“I’ve taught a few that have graduated, and they’ve come back and wanted to help coach a sport, which for me is awesome to see because they want to give back,” said Mackey. “And if they had never had the opportunity to play, they probably wouldn’t get involved. Same thing with playing sports in high school. We’ve had a few kids that I would never think would play a sport and they come out for badminton or something different, and all of a sudden they’re a star at it and they love it and they’re playing it after they graduate, an
d they’re playing it at MUN. So, that’s really good to see.”
And from raising funds to running score clocks, there are plenty of folks who are eager to lend a hand to staff to help keep the programs up and running.
“We have a great volunteer community here,” said Mackey. “We wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
True to form, just this past weekend, Mobile girls won the AAA Girls Slo-Pitch provincial championship and sportsmanship award, while the boys won the sportsmanship award.
Petten pointed out that aside from athletics, students are busy with other clubs, from drama to music to the Gay Straight Alliance.
