The St. Theresa Catholic Secondary community remembered one of their own Tuesday, as for just the second time in school history (opened in 1999), they retired the number of a former student-athlete.
Following in the footsteps of the late Alex Sagriff, the school retired the number of Jon Ogden, who died earlier this year, after a battle with bi-polar disorder, at the age of 31.
A celebration took place before the senior and junior games between St Theresa and their cross town rival, Nicholson.
Hundreds of students took part in a Buy Out, with the proceeds going to mental health awareness.
For Jon Ogden, who had left high school more than a decade ago, his teams had never defeated Nicholson. Something was different this day, as not only were the seniors victorious, but also the juniors. The final score was 46-36 in the senior game. In the junior game, St. Theresa knocked off Nicholson 50-37.
During the pre-game ceremony, there were talks, a video tribute, and a trip down memory lane for the star remembered as the best basketball player in school history.
Sandy Sidsworth is the Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association Hastings-Prince Edward. She told the packed gymnasium some of Ogden’s personal accolades.
Audio PlayerSt. Theresa Principal Carey Smith-Dewey talked to the students about the importance of asking for help if they need it.
Audio PlayerOgden’s coaches Trevor Gregory and Kevin French spoke. French talked about the dedication of the teams they had, lead by Jon.
Audio PlayerThey played 85 games in Ogden’s final year, and that included a trip to OFSAA.
After the game was over, Jon’s mother Michelle told Quinte News that the team likely had a little help from above.
Audio PlayerEach team named a player of the game: Scott Flemming for Nicholson and Jaxen Reid for St. Theresa. Reid was presented a Toronto Raptors signed jersey of Pascal Siakam, donated by the Raps.
MORE PHOTOS AND AUDIO BELOW
The full talk by Sandy Sidsworth is below.
Audio PlayerThe full comments by coaches Trevor Gregory and Kevin French are below.
Audio PlayerSOME GAME PHOTOS BELOW
Tip-off at the Nicholson Crusaders/St. Theresa Titans game honouring Jon Ogden (Photo: submitted by Rylie Somerville)
The Nicholson Crusaders watch a video tribute to Jon Ogden, wearing special warm-up jerseys made for each team (Photo: submitted by Rylie Somerville)
Former St. Theresa Basketball Coaches Trevor Gregory and Kevin French speak about former star player Jon Ogden (Photo: submitted by Rylie Somerville)
St. Theresa Player of the Game Jaxen Reid taking a free throw (Photo: submitted by Rylie Somerville)
