Family, friends and prominent figures in the university community gathered at the beginning of the month to honour a group of athletes whose dedication to excellence has made U of T well-renowned in national and international sport. The evening was devoted to commemorating the very best of Varsity Blues athletics over the past 50 years.
U of T’s Sports Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony on June 1 at the Bader Theatre. The evening was filled with emotional tributes, heartfelt thank-you’s, and memories of humbling accomplishments.
Five athletes, two teams and a doctor were among the class of 2005, including soccer star Carlee C. Alderson; divine diver Stephanie Jaremko; gridiron guru Mark Magee; track & field phenom Robert Pitter; hardwood hero Denise Scott; daring Dr. David L. Macintosh; the celebrated 1965-66 men’s hockey team; and the fantastic 1988-1989 men’s soccer team. Inductees were carefully chosen from almost 100 nominations of athletes, staff, and the members of the community.
“These athletes have brought admiration and respect to U of T and the international community,” said Bruce Kidd, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health.
Carlee Cardwell Anderson was integral in helping the women’s soccer team win an Ontario Women’s Interuniversity Athletics Association bronze medal in 1989 and a silver in 1990 (the OWIAA was later amalgamated into OUA). Meanwhile, Stephanie Jaremko collected a staggering eight OWIAA gold medals in diving during her tenure at U of T, and Robert Pitter claimed a gold and silver medal in high jump at the 1978 Ontario University Athletics Association Outdoor Championships (OUAA was also later rolled into OUA).
“These athletes didn’t do it for the money or endorsements, but for enjoyment and to be the best there is,” said Mike Rollason, Chair of the T-Holder’s Association.
Speeches honouring the inductees were by necessity filled with such descriptors as “all-time leader”, “first”, “only” and “undefeated.” Mark Magee is still the Blues’ all-time leading receiver, with 145 receptions for 2,385 yards and 20 touchdowns, while Denise Scott is the only female basketball player in U of T’s history to be a four-time conference all-star.
The 1988-1989 men’s soccer team not only won the OUAA title, but a Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU, now CIS) championship-Canada’s top soccer prize-as well. The 1965-1966 men’s hockey team acquired the celebrated University Cup, finishing the season with an impressive 12-2-1 record.
The 1965-1966 team also did well internationally, finishing first at the Great Lakes Invitational College Tournament in Detroit after defeating first-ranked Michigan Tech. in the title match.
The Hall of Fame also recognized David L. MacIntosh, a pioneer in sports medicine. An integral component in the Blues’ success, he provided medical services at Hart House from 1951-1958 and was the first to accomplish an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction-a procedure that has since salvaged the careers of many professional athletes.
U of T’s rich history of athleticism and achievement serves to encourage and inspire current Varsity athletes. As Liz Hoffman, Assistant Dean and Director of Athletics at U of T, stated, “our future is as promising as our past.” The current crop of Blues athletes have an outstanding group of past champions to model themselves after.
