Team Ontario heads into the final day of competition sitting at 123 gold, 81 silver, and 91 bronze — 295 medals and counting on the official GEMS chapter standings. But Friday wasn't just about the count. It was a day of full podium sweeps at the pool and the track, one of the tightest basketball games of the week, and a wave of stories about resilience, sportsmanship, and the kind of team spirit that doesn't show up in a medal tally.
Sweeping the Podium
Ontario went one-two-three four separate times across Athletics and Swimming this week — the kind of result that only happens when a program is this deep. Nicole Ferguson, Kimberly Gorin, and Nadine Simmons went gold-silver-bronze in the 100M Division 2 on the track Friday. In the pool, Amiera Black, Julia Lane, and Zoe Barnes swept the 800M Freestyle Division 1, while Angelina Guttman, Kim Pothier, and Amiera Black had already done it in the 400M Freestyle earlier in the week, and Michael Raytchev, Gael Shindano, and Justin Brown swept the 50M Freestyle Division 11. On top of the full sweeps, Ontario athletes went one-two in more events than we can list — Kayla Marwick and Angelina Guttman doubled up in both the 50M Freestyle and 50M Backstroke, and on the track Friday, Avary Shawnoo and Victoria Young went gold-silver in Shot Put after a gold-silver-silver-bronze podium in Mini Javelin.
Nail-Biters — Including Ontario vs. Ontario
Basketball delivered one of the closest games of the Games this afternoon: in the Medalta Division bronze medal final, Gryphons 2 edged out Gryphons 1 in a nail-biter. Both squads carry the Guelph name, so for a few minutes Friday afternoon, Team Ontario was guaranteed a podium finish. It wasn't the only time this week our own teams faced off for a medal — softball's Falcons and Legion squared off earlier in the week too, with Legion going on to punch their ticket to Friday's Gold Medal Game against Team BC Tigers. Coaches and mission staff have been reflecting on it all week: when two of your own teams end up across from each other with a medal on the line, and everyone still walks away proud of both sides, that says something about the culture of this program.
Striking Gold on the Lanes
Tenpin Bowling wraps up the week sitting at 38 medals on the official count — a huge showing for the sport. Friday brought more Singles finals, with Ryan Kulikowski and Ray Ondrejicka going gold-silver in Division 1, and Ashley Drouillard, Jessica Castronovo, Jessica Baglole, and Georgina Janes rounding out more one-two finishes across the Singles divisions. Saturday morning's All Event All-Around Awards ceremony will be the last word on the sport's final tally.
Spirit, Sportsmanship, and a Little Glitter
Some of the best stories from today didn't come with a ranking attached. Mission staff have fallen hard for Rhythmic Gymnastics this week — many of our mission staff got glitter-ified by the athletes, but it's really about the girls on that team and the spirit they've brought to every routine, cheering just as hard for each other's medals as their own. In Soccer, an athlete who came into the Games with an injured knee scored a goal today, a huge confidence boost heading into tomorrow's gold medal game. Across every soccer roster this week, pick-up players who'd never met their teammates before this week have folded in so seamlessly you'd never know — a real testament to how inclusive these teams are.
Team Ontario, All In
This is the biggest mission staff and leadership team Team Ontario has ever brought to a Games — and by every account, also the tightest-knit. Huge credit is going around tonight to every coach and mission staff member who helped make these Games happen, as the team heads into its final day of competition. Looking back on the week, the word that keeps coming up is resiliency: athletes running 10km in pouring rain, basketball teams playing through injuries, soccer squads that never stopped running no matter the score. Whether a team was up or down, nobody let up — everybody kept giving their best. Swimming wrapped its competition today with a coaches' relay and a full “We Are the Champions” sing-along on deck, athletes cheering and dancing together one last time before the pool went quiet for the week.
Val's Final Tips Before We Travel Home
As Team Ontario gets ready to head home, Val the Health Messenger has two last reminders for the road:
I know it's super exciting being at National Games, but remember it's important to slow down and let your body recover after competing. How do you do that? Make sure you are getting to sleep when you hit the pillow. Shut off your phone and the lights. Take some deep breaths, just like we have been practicing all year. And sleep. Your body will thank you. Stay healthy Team Ontario!
We have talked a lot about mental health over the past year. That is because it's important. Here is an important reminder for you for your mental health: it is okay if you have not won a medal. You have made it all the way to the National Games. You are amazing. Remember our oath — you were brave in the attempt. Celebrate that! Stay healthy Team Ontario!
Looking Ahead: One Final Day
Saturday is the last day of competition, and Team Ontario has medals still on the line. Soccer's Panthers play for gold at 9:15 AM against Team Sask in the Tigers Division, right after Tenpin Bowling's All Event All-Around Awards ceremony kicks off the day at 9:00 AM. At 10:00 AM, Basketball's Gryphons 3 play Team BC Wildcats for gold in the Mavericks Division, and Soccer's Strikers take on the Thunderwolves for bronze at 10:30 AM in the Coulee Division. Bocce's individual Singles finals also run through the morning, with several Ontario athletes already guaranteed bronze and still in the running for gold or silver. One more day, one more chance to add to the tally — let's finish strong, Team Ontario.