Mark Wyatt emerged from Victoria High School to become one of the most elegant yet lethally dangerous rugby players Canada has ever produced. He was only five-foot-nine and 160 pounds but overcame that to become one of the finest fullbacks and goal kickers in the world. His career with the University of Victoria Vikings, Velox of the Island Union, Crimson Tide nationally and Team Canada Internationally was nothing short of dazzling as he lifted Canada to rugby respectability in the 1980's. Mark earned his first international cap in 1982 at age 20. In his 29 brilliant Test match appearances over 10 years, he became Canada s leading international points scorer of the day. Mark played in the 1987 and 1991 World Cups of rugby, captaining Team Canada in the latter. Three times he was named to the All World XV, which is essentially the world all-star team. He played in their celebrated fixture at Australia's Bicentennial in 1988 scoring a try and dominated with his kicking. He was twice named Victoria male athlete of the year.

Taras Hryb began wrestling with the Victoria Y Club at age 14 under the expert guidance of local wrestling guru Ed Ashmore. The powerful young man from Oak Bay Junior High School rose from the YMCA mats to win bronze medals at both the 1971 Pan-American Games in Cali, Colombia and 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand. He ended a long national drought and dramatically kick started a revival in Canadian amateur wrestling in 1969 when he won bronze in the 180-pound freestyle class at the world junior championships in Boulder, Colorado. That was Canada s first international wrestling medal since the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. Taras made it to the 1972 Munich Olympics as a mere 18 year-old but chronic knee injuries eventually ended his career. Taras' accomplishments included winning the Canadian university title four times and competing in the world championships and World University Games. Taras was named Victoria male athlete of the year for 1969 and was inducted into the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1988.