Published Jun 24, 20258 minute readZachary Connell was named the 2024-25 Three Oaks Senior High School male athlete of the year recently. ContributedArticle contentThe Three Oaks Senior High School Athletic Awards Banquet provided a moment to remember for a Summerside family.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentNora Connell knew she was going to watch her son, Zachary Connell, receive a major award.Article contentArticle contentWhat Nora did not know was that she would also be called to the front of the room to receive the Three Oaks Alumni Award.Article content“It was pretty surreal, to be honest,” Nora told The Guardian in a recent phone interview.Article contentArticle contentThree Oaks athletic director Joel Arsenault notified Nora and her husband, Rob Connell, that Zachary would be the recipient of a major award – the 2024-25 male athlete of the year.Article content“That could have been multiple awards as there are three or four that are major awards in my mind,” said Nora. “That was exciting in itself and then to be surprised with my award, especially with Zachary being in Grade 12 and this is kind of capping off his sports career as such.”Article contentZachary said winning a major award with his mother moments apart at the same school was a perfect ending to his high school athletic career.Article content“It’s really neat to have those awards and a big memory to have,” said Zachary, 18. “It’s nice for my mom to be recognized for all the work she does for sports at TOSH.”Article content Dia-Lynn Keough, left, of the Three Oaks Senior High School athletic department presents Nora Connell with the Three Oaks alumni award recently. A youth services worker at Three Oaks, Connell has made significant contributions to the athletic program and student-athletes at the Summerside high school. ContributedArticle contentThe Connell family’s ties run deep at the Summerside high school. Along with Zachary and Nora’s contributions, Rob, a well-known basketball official, has worked many games at all levels in the school’s gymnasium, while the Connells’ daughter, Jordyn, is a Three Oaks graduate and former Three Oaks student-athlete.Article contentArticle contentFour sportsArticle contentFor the 2024-25 season, Zachary wore the Axemen’s green and gold colours in four P.E.I. School Athletic Association (PEISAA) senior sports. They were golf, basketball, badminton and flag football.Article content“Excellent leadership skills, strong work ethic, and a ‘never-quit’ attitude were certainly common themes voiced by those who coached Zachary,” said Arsenault.Article contentZachary said a highlight of his graduating year was Three Oaks winning the PEISAA Senior AAA Boys Basketball League championship. It marked Zachary’s first provincial high school championship after finishing runner-up in 2024.Article content“We came pretty close the year before, and both years we were underdogs, so it was kind of nice to be on the other side of the score the next year,” said Zachary, the most valuable player of the 2025 playoffs.Article contentZachary also gives back to sports in Summerside and became involved in coaching at Summerside Intermediate School (flag football and basketball) while a student at Three Oaks.Article contentZachary also played tackle football and quarterbacked the Summerside Spartans U18 team.Article contentLongtime volunteerArticle contentNora, a youth services worker at Three Oaks, has been volunteering with the Summerside high school’s athletic program for a long time with hospitality suites during tournaments, facilitating communication with parents and assisting in arranging transportation to away games when busses are not used.Article contentAs part of her job, Nora also works to ensure student-athletes are supported to succeed in the classroom.Article content“I love supporting the athletes here. I love supporting the students here,” said Nora, who understands what it’s like to balance schoolwork and sports.Article contentNora competed in multiple sports in both junior and senior high school.Article content“It’s just my way of giving back for all the things I got as an athlete, especially for my kids and all the coaches they had throughout the years,” said Nora, who has impressed many people with her culinary skills.Article contentArticle contentArsenault said Nora is known around the Maritimes as the ‘Chili Lady’ for her contributions to hospitality rooms.Article content“But here at home, she’s so much more,” Arsenault went on to say. “She’s the quiet force that keeps us going, and in the busiest of weeks, her homemade granola bars in the phys. ed office are a sign that she’s already been there, thinking of others first.Article content“Her compassion, reliability and deep commitment to our school community are felt every single day. She checks in, steps up, and shows up – without ever needing the spotlight.”Article contentNora was certainly not expecting to be in the spotlight, accepting the TOSH Alumni Award.Article contentArticle content“I don’t get involved to be rewarded, that’s for sure. I certainly just pitch in wherever I can and I’m happy to help.” — Nora ConnellArticle contentArticle content“I don’t get involved to be rewarded, that’s for sure,” said Nora. “I certainly just pitch in wherever I can and I’m happy to help, especially with my kids involved as well.Article content“I was very overwhelmed and in fact, I said to Joel, ‘I don’t think I heard a word you said.’Article contentArticle content“It was quite an honour.”Article contentFemale athlete of the yearArticle contentSenior Lauryn Monkley was named Three Oaks’ 2024-25 senior female athlete of the year.Article content“I was super excited about it,” said the 18-year-old daughter of Steve and Noella Monkley of Summerside. “There’s a lot of really great athletes for the girls in my grade.”Article contentMonkley represented Three Oaks in five different sports – cross-country, powerlifting, track and field, flag football and the friendship hockey tournament.Article content Lauryn Monkley was recently announced as the 2024-25 Three Oaks Senior High female athlete of the year. ContributedArticle contentOutside of school, Lauryn plays Premier Division soccer with the Summerside United and played U18 AA hockey with the Western Wind last season.Article content“Lauryn is a versatile multi-sport athlete who had already been on stage to receive four team awards before the (female athlete-of-the-year) trophy, which goes to show how valued she was by folks who coached her,” said Arsenault.Article contentOne of those coaches who had a big impact on Monkley was Tracy Gillis, who coached her in volleyball from Grades 7 to 11.Article content“(Gillis) was super encouraging all throughout, and she pushed me to be better throughout the whole time,” said Monkley. “Then, immediately, when I got that (female-athlete-of-the-year) award, she texted me and told me how proud she was and it’s just she had been really encouraging throughout my time (playing for her).”Article contentMonkley also praised the efforts and impact of personal trainer Dan Archibald.Article content“(He) was a big support for me the past year,” said Monkley. “I’ve been training with him, and he helped me push through a tough injury and get back to the top of my game,” said Monkley.Article contentMonkley’s future plans include studying health sciences at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. Monkley’s long-term goal is to become a neurologist.Article contentArticle contentMajor awardsArticle contentAlso receiving major awards were Caleb Gallant, alumni scholarship; Karli Snow, Melissa MacDonald bursary; Gwen Arsenault, female rookie of the year, and Ian Mosher, male rookie of the year.Article contentGallant, who played for the Axemen’s senior AAA rugby, basketball and baseball teams, described the alumni scholarship as a prestigious award. Gallant’s future plans include studying business and playing rugby at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S.Article content“I’ve had a lot of fun playing sports at TOSH,” said the 18-year-old son of Darren and Patti Gallant of Travellers Rest. “I play to have fun and make the memories, but it’s nice to be recognized.”Article contentArticle contentThree Oaks Senior High School 2024-25 athletic awards:Article contentCross-countryArticle contentCoaches choice award – Abby McMahon.Top juvenile runner – Brennan Simpson.Top senior runner – Alivia Johnston.Article contentArticle content****Article contentBaseballArticle contentMost valuable player (MVP) – Caleb Gallant.Coaches choice award – Seamus Ramsay.Rookie of the year – Griffen Campbell.Article content****SoccerArticle contentSenior A girlsArticle contentLeadership award – Emma McMahon.Unsung hero award – Montana Arsenault.MVP – Bryn MacCallum.Article contentSenior A boysArticle contentRookie of the year – Evin Neill.Outstanding leader award – Nolan Aitken.Most sportsmanlike player (MSP) – Brian Chen.Article contentSenior AAA girlsArticle contentCoaches choice award – Nya Martin.Hardest worker award – Abby Simpson.MVP – Grace Simmons.Article contentSenior AAA boysArticle contentRookie of the year – Cole Cormier.Coaches choice award – Ian Sharpe.MVP – Aiden Rossiter.Article content****Article contentField hockeyArticle contentTeam spirit award – Hailie Chaisson.Coaches choice award – Karli Snow.MVP – Elly Smallwood.Article content****Article contentGolfArticle contentRookie of the year – Malcolm James.Male golfer of the year – Alex Gaudet.Female golfer of the year – Hailie Chaisson.Article content****Article contentVolleyballArticle contentSenior A girlsArticle contentRookie of the year – Sienna Arsenault.Coaches choice award – Payton Laporte.MVP – Lexie Gregory.Article contentSenior AAA GirlsArticle contentRookie of the year – Lexi MacDonald.Coaches choice award – Lauryn Monkley.MVP – Nina Kenny.Article contentSenior AAA BoysArticle contentMost dedicated player (MDP) – Riley Harris.Coaches choice award – Nate Buchanan.Most improved player (MIP) – Bleron Sadiku.Article content****Article contentUnified bocce ballArticle contentMSP – Cody Docuette.Rising star award – Andrei Catacutan.Article content****Article contentBasketballArticle contentSenior AA boysArticle contentRookie of the year – Jacob Stewart.Leadership award – Cohen Woods.MVP – Jackson Colarosa.Article contentSenior AA girlsArticle contentRookie of the year – Sienna Arsenault.Defensive player of the year – Brooke-Lyn Winchester.Player of the year – Dana Lewis.Article contentSenior AAA boysArticle contentMIP – Colby Andrews.Defensive player of the year – Aaron Trenholm.Coaches choice award – Zach Connell.Article contentArticle contentSenior AAA girlsArticle contentRookie of the year – Lauren Simmons.Coaches choice award – Alexis Evans.MVP – Mila Mahar.Article content****Article contentPowerliftingArticle contentTop female lifter – Lauryn Monkley.Top male lifter – Jessie Bryant-Hunter.Coaches choice award – Jacob MacDonald.Article content****Article contentWrestlingArticle contentMost improved wrestler – Phillipe O’Connor.Wrestler of the year – Kierra MacDougall.Article content****Article contentBadmintonArticle contentMIP – Alvin Tran.MDP – Seamus Ramsay.MVP – Evan MacFarlane.Article content****Article contentFriendship hockeyArticle contentFemaleArticle contentCoaches choice awards – Rylan Hearn, Lauryn Monkley.Article contentMaleArticle contentMVP – Nathan Moreland.Rookie of the year – Brodie Ellis.MDP – Kaleb Dodds.Article content****Article contentFlag footballArticle contentFemaleArticle contentMVP – Grace Simmons.Clutch performer award – Lauryn Monkley.MDP – Mila Mahar.Article contentMaleArticle contentMVP – Jack Darrach.Offensive player of the year – Zach Connell.Defensive player of the year – Aiden Campbell.Article content****Article contentRugbyArticle contentSenior A boysArticle contentCoaches choice award – Reid Warrick.Most valuable back – Farai Hove.Most valuable forward – Nathan Martin.Article contentArticle contentSenior AAA GirlsArticle contentRookie of the year – Tia Allison.Rugger award – Brooke McGuigan.Coaches choice award – Alexa McCarthy.Article content****Article contentSoftballArticle contentRookie of the year – Brooke Newman.MVP – Karli Snow.Axewomen of the year – Hailie Chaisson.Article content****Article contentTrack and FieldArticle contentCoaches choice award – Dana Lewis.Rookie of the year – Gwen Arsenault.Team spirit award – Cody Doucette.Article content****Article contentBall hockeyArticle contentRookie of the year – Jett Mills.MDP – Christian Cameron.MVP – Mason Cook.Article content****Article contentTriathlonArticle contentTop finisher – Aiden MacEwen.Article content****Article contentSchool awardsArticle contentAlumni scholarship – Caleb Gallant.Melissa MacDonald bursary – Karli Snow.Alumni award – Nora Connell.Female rookie of the year – Gwen Arsenault.Male rookie of the year – Ian Mosher.Senior female athlete of the year – Lauryn Monkley.Senior male athlete of the year – Zach Connell.Article contentArticle contentJason Simmonds is the sports editor at The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached at jsimmonds@postmedia.com and followed on X @JpsportsJason.Article content
Multi-sport athlete Lauryn Monkley takes home top female honours at Summerside high school
