• Leaders & Exceptional Athletes Program (LEAP) is an in-school Cross-Training course for exceptional student-athletes. This course is intended to provide students with the opportunity to develop transferable skills such as speed, agility, coordination, endurance, power, and flexibility that will serve to enhance their sport specific training and performance.

  • The term: “Exceptional” is used rather than “Elite” because the program is designed to expose athletes to the quality and quantity of fundamental training needed to reach their full potential.

  • Applicants should be working towards a provincial championship or higher with a coach outside of school (e.g. Rep sports teams such as travel OBA, OPFL, etc.).
  • Applicants should have a 70% average across all areas of study as determined by their most recent report card

  • No—some of our athletes are funded by these sports bodies, but the majority of students are working toward provincial or national championships independently.

  1. Grade 8 Students from our feeder schools will receive detailed information on how to register with the school and complete their course selections.
    • Complete Steps 4, 5  & 6 below.
  2. Students who are already registered at St. Benedict
    • Complete Steps 4, 5  & 6 below.
  3. Applicants that are not within our school boundaries and/or are looking to transfer to St. Benedict must:
    • First: Register to become a student at St. Benedict for the upcoming school year and/or successfully complete the transfer process.
    • Second: Complete Steps 4, 5  & 6 below.
    • Third: Complete Phase I and II of the Application process.
  4. Complete the online application form – Use link on this page
  5. Download the LEAP Application Package – Use link on this page
  6. Complete and Submit all forms and supporting documents by the deadlines indicated in the application package.
  • Note: Application packages can also be picked up during the Grade 8 Parents’ Night or anytime from the St. Benedict PHE Office.

  • Qualifying applicants will be invited for testing (Phase II). See the application package for specific dates.

  • St. Benedict C.S.S. is similar to all other high schools in the region. A student-athlete will attend his/her academic classes with the general school population but will be timetabled with the LEAP teachers for their physical education class. LEAP teachers are responsible for the design and implementation of the physical education program.

  • Once you are in the program you should maintain an overall average of 70%; and be a good ambassador of the St. Benedict Community and LEAP.
  • A Committee will review the status of all students at the end of each reporting period. This Committee will review academic progress, attendance, and student behaviour.
  • Current grade 9, 11, and 12 LEAP students simply select LEAP as one of their courses for the next school year.
  • Current grade 10 LEAP students must go through the application process in order to take LEAP in grade 11.
  • Students that have left the program and wish to return must also reapply.

  • Yes—All students coming to SBCSS from Grade 8 and all current SBCSS students are eligible to compete for SBCSS teams.
    Transfer Students after grade 9 to SBCSS from another school will be required to complete the OFSAA Transfer Procedure just as any other student would.

  • St. Benedict C.S.S. has a well-equipped weight room, three gymnasiums, 2 sports fields, and track and field facilities.
    LEAP also has access to the YMCA and other community facilities.

  • Student-athletes perform their dry land/cross training at the school in the LEAP program. This format allows the student-athlete an additional 110 hours of fundamental training designed to enhance overall performance.

  • For further information please contact Nathaniel Dufresne:

Steps To Apply

St. Benedict Exceptional Athletes Alumni

Name Year School Sport
Aiden Borges 2024 Soccer University of Guelph
Ethyn Cintis 2024 Basketball Nipissing
Mikaela Dimaline 2024 Cheer University of Guelph
Tyler Graham 2024 Hockey Oshawa Generals
Jacob Skuta 2024 Hockey Cambridge Red Hawks
Erin Langdon 2023 Cheer Trinity Valley
Katie Leudy 2023 York University Basketball
Camilo Vasconcelos 2023 The Halifax Wanderers Soccer
Lily Vrugteman 2023 University of Prince Edward Island Basketball
Colt Bettencourt 2022 Spain – UD Vall de Uxo FC Soccer
Maya D’arcy 2022 Syracuse University Hockey
Steven Leskovar 2022 OHL – Peterborough Petes Hockey
Emerie Maltby 2022 Wilfrid Laurier University Hockey
Dylan Mun 2022 University of Waterloo Soccer
Lauren Stanley 2022 University of Guelph Great White Sharks
Elyse Hutchinson 2021 Presbyterian College Volleyball
Luke Meadus 2021 Carleton University Alpine Skiing
Josiah Stairs 2021 Cornerstone University (Michigan) Baseball
Hannah Yantha 2021 StFX University Soccer
Brianna Zakrzewski 2021 Gannon University (Pennsylvania) Soccer
Tyler Graham 2020 OHL – Oshawa Generals Hockey
Makayla Cabral 2019 George Brown Soccer
Lysa Lowe 2019 Niagara College Basketball
Lauren Mage 2019 Queens University Swimming
Shaunna Walker-deJong 2019 Univeristy of Ottawa Swimming
Terrell Webb 2019 Southeastern Louisiana University Track & Field
Cohen Campbell 2018 University of Guelph Lacrosse
Maya Danis 2018 Fanshawe College Volleyball
Jet Greaves 2018 OHL – Barrie Colts Hockey
Hope Harnack 2018 McMaster University Track & Field
Andrew Horscroft 2018 University of Guelph Football
Logan Perreira 2018 University of Windsor Soccer
Jake Polski 2018 University of Windsor Basketball
Hannah Sears 2018 University of Guelph Cheer Sport
Cooper Walker 2018 OHL – Guelph Storm Hockey
Sevanne Ghazarian 2017 Yale Track & Field
Justin Malnerich 2017 University of Waterloo Basketball
Makayla Pearl 2017 Chicago State University Soccer
Evan Rodenburg 2017 University of Waterloo Basketball
Mya Tostik 2017 Fanshawe College Volleyball
Afifa Salad 2016 University of Waterloo Basketball
Abby Van Groningen 2016 University of Guelph Snowboarding
Ashleigh Brimo 2015 Pfeiffer University (North Carolina) Tennis
Jenna Menjolian 2015 Wilfrid Laurier University Cheer
George Monaghan 2015 York University Football
Samantha Fraser 2014 Kutztown University (Pennsylvania) Fast Pitch
Daniel McArthur 2014 University of Windsor Track & Field
Dana Milani 2014 Gannon University (Pennsylvania) Soccer
Bradley Vince 2014 Acadia University (Nova Scotia) Football

For more information about LEAP please contact Nathaniel Dufresne