Huntsville teams win big at improv regionals

Main image: Celebrating their win are HHS Improv team Bravo Squad members (from left) Luke Murphy, Oliver Byl, Aria Platts-Boyle, Dylan Jongers, Millie Cassie-Batchelor, John McBrien, Max Hill, and Jordan Ross. (Madi Jones)

For the fourth time in five years, a Huntsville improv team has won the regional Canadian Improv Games title and is heading to the national competition in Ottawa. Not only that, but the second-place team and both individual award-winners were also from Huntsville.

On Sunday, Feb. 23, improv teams from Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Sudbury and Huntsville gathered in Gravenhurst for the North Central Ontario regional finals, cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd.

After three hours of intense, fun, and friendly competition, Huntsville High School’s Bravo Squad came out on top.

The judges awarded the team, coached by Kim Russel-Brooks, with the highest scores in every one of the four rounds of competition.

This was an emotional win for the team members, all of whom competed together to take fourth place at the regionals when they were in Grade 9. Since then, they have been separated by selection to different teams and by several student absences. In this, their graduating year, and their coach’s final year before retirement, Bravo Squad reunited to take the title.

Huntsville’s Bravo Squad pauses for a team hug to celebrate their win. (Madi Jones)

Second-place honours went to the other Huntsville team, Encore, coached by Jennifer Creasor.

Members of Encore with their second-place certificate (from left) Emma Flaxman, Rachel Wilding, Megan Maynard, Xena McLellan, Keenan Paterson, Harper Smith, Josiah Murphy, and Jacob Hunter. (Madi Jones)

At each regional final, two individual prizes are awarded: the Leadership Award and the Spirit Award. The Leadership Award can go to any coach, player or volunteer, and this year’s recipient was Jennifer Creasor. The Spirit Award, for a player who embodies the spirit of the Canadian Improv Games, went to Emma Flaxman, also of Encore.

Emma Flaxman (above left) is overcome by emotion in reaction to winning the Spirit Award. Jennifer Creasor (above right), coach of Huntsville’s Encore, receives the Leadership Award. (Madi Jones)

Bravo Squad is now headed to the Canadian Improv Games national festival in Ottawa from May 10 to 14, where they will take part in workshops and compete against the other 13 regional winners at the National Arts Centre.

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