‘I was always driven to get better,’ Ted Dongelmans told local student athletes on the eve of his induction into the Orillia Sports Hall of Fame.
Exceptional student athletes from Orillia’s three high schools were recognized Thursday morning during the Orillia Sports Council’s annual Breakfast of Champions, held at Eclectic Café in downtown Orillia.
The annual celebration, held on the Thursday before the Orillia Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, spotlights young athletes who have demonstrated commitment, leadership and excellence in their sports and communities. The morning served as both a tribute to their achievements and a reminder of the power of sport in shaping future leaders.
Delivering an inspiring speech to the athletes was Ted Dongelmans, who is among those to be inducted into the Orillia Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday evening at Casino Rama.
A standout basketball player who starred at Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute (ODCVI) in the early 1990s and later led Laurentian University to national success, Dongelmans shared a deeply personal story of perseverance, growth, and the lessons sport teaches beyond competition.
“You are all already more accomplished than I was when I left high school,” Dongelmans told the students. “And that’s part of my journey.”
He recounted a humble beginning in athletics, from being “awkward” as a kid, joking about he got blocked by a chair in his first basketball practice, to becoming a U Sports All-Canadian and playing professionally in Switzerland.
The common thread, he said, was the mindset of continuous improvement.
“I never felt like I was quite there compared to the best players I was playing against. But I was always driven to get better,” he said. “Those lessons of discipline, teamwork, and goal-setting have served me well throughout my life.”
Being honoured on Thursday from Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School were Zeke Neely, Siena Orsini, Bryson Shigwadja, and Billie Rouse.
Neely was praised as a dynamic multi-sport athlete with four OFSAA appearances across hockey and lacrosse. Known for his competitiveness and consistency, he averaged two points per game at OFSAA this year in hockey.
Orsini stood out for her dominance on the volleyball court, playing both high school and club volleyball at a high level. A member of the Georgian Cubs, Orsini helped her team regularly place in the province’s top three.
Shigwadja, quarterback of the school’s new junior football team, helped the Flames surprise many with his breakout season. He’s now training with the Huronia Stallions while remaining a star player for the junior basketball team.
Rouse, a Grade 9 student, has already won four national lacrosse championships and was recently selected for Lacrosse Canada’s National Development Team. She also excels in volleyball and basketball.
From Twin Lakes Secondary School were Mira Cresanto, Kail Huffman, Gunner Wolfe, and Anna Vurma.
Cresanto is a national-level lacrosse player who has represented Team Canada and Team Ontario. Despite Twin Lakes not offering lacrosse, she’s captained the school’s flag football team and earned badminton medals while maintaining Ontario Scholar status.
Huffman, known affectionately as “Rambo” for his red bandana, is a force across multiple sports — soccer, rugby, wrestling, and Nordic skiing. He led his teams to GBSSA championships and impressed enough to be invited to play club rugby in Barrie.
Wolfe has starred as an elite-level hockey goalie with the North Central Predators and was recently drafted in the eighth round by the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. He is set to attend a high-performance camp in P.E.I. this summer.
Vurma excels in cross-country, flag football, volleyball, swimming, Nordic skiing, mountain biking, and track. She won gold at OFSAA in Nordic skiing in Grade 9 and silver in Grade 10. She ranks first overall in U16 girls for Nordic skiing and is on the Junior Ontario Nordic ski team.
From Orillia Secondary School were Ellainna Murdoch, Ava Hann, Daniel Greb, and Devun Colebrook.
Murdoch has anchored her basketball team since Grade 9 and is celebrated for her leadership and resilience, even while battling injury. She also competed on the school’s track team and is viewed as a role model.
Hann led OSS’s flag football team as quarterback, never missing a game or practice in three years. Her leadership extends to volunteering with youth programs, making her an integral figure in the school’s sports community.
Greb earned accolades across several sports — Nordic skiing, basketball, track, cross-country and swimming. Recognized for his sportsmanship and character, he competed at OFSAA and won multiple team awards.
Colebrook has shone in hockey, volleyball, and mountain biking. He was admired not only for his athleticism but for mentoring younger teammates and maintaining academic excellence. Coaches lauded his maturity, leadership, and consistency.
As the morning wrapped up, Dongelmans reminded the students that while their athletic careers may eventually come to an end, the lessons they’ve learned will carry them forward.
“These things will make everyone sitting at these tables successful throughout their lives,” he said. “That is what I truly love about sport — it’s one of the last platforms where you’re held accountable and pushed to be your best.”
Original Article by: Tyler Evans – Orillia Matters
Link to Article: 2025 Breakfast of Champions
Photo By: Orillia Matters
Date: March 8th, 2025
