Athletic Lives of Distinction - A - L
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Coons, Donald '82 - Squash
Donald Coons '82 ran with the Harriers for four years, serving as team captain and representing the school at OFSAA. As captain of First Squash, he led his team to four ISAA championships, won the prestigious Bulldog Trophy and represented Ridley on tours of both England and the U.S. Donald captained the cricket team and fondly recalls winning the 1980 ISAA championship, which was followed by a Bermudian tour with the team in 1981.
Donald went on to study at Princeton University, where he was a decorated member of the varsity squash team—while also playing rugby, varsity football, club wrestling, and hockey. In the years that followed, his obvious love of sport kept him active in national and international squash competitions. His well-honed leadership skills led to positions as a coach, administrator, and junior development coordinator, and he helped ensure future generations could experience the many opportunities sport can provide.
Donald fondly recalls his Jesters squash tour of South Africa in 1990—which was a transformational time in the country. For five weeks, Donald revelled in his immersive exposure to sport, fellowship, dramatic geography, and the experience of getting to know a new world.
Donald went on to study at Princeton University, where he was a decorated member of the varsity squash team—while also playing rugby, varsity football, club wrestling, and hockey. In the years that followed, his obvious love of sport kept him active in national and international squash competitions. His well-honed leadership skills led to positions as a coach, administrator, and junior development coordinator, and he helped ensure future generations could experience the many opportunities sport can provide.
Donald fondly recalls his Jesters squash tour of South Africa in 1990—which was a transformational time in the country. For five weeks, Donald revelled in his immersive exposure to sport, fellowship, dramatic geography, and the experience of getting to know a new world.
His greatest lessons learned through sports? “Discipline, work ethic, overcoming adversity, perseverance, learning how to lose gracefully, and win even more so.”
P.O. Box 3013, 2 Ridley Road St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7C3 Canada 905 684 1889
With more than 700 students from 60 countries, the largest boarding programme in Ontario and the third largest in Canada, Ridley College is a truly international, co-educational, day and boarding school of the world that prepares students for the world. It has provided enriching learning and life-shaping experiences focused on the arts, academics, and athletics since 1889. Ridley’s Lower School offers JK-Grade 8, its Upper School consists of Grade 9-PG, and Ridley graduates attend some of the top universities and colleges around the world. Ridley is the only co-ed independent boarding school in Canada and one of only three in North America authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum programme.
