09/19/2026
Taken from Orillia Matters article Sept 14/26 by Danielle Pittman.
When Haileigh Gammon, 16, first started playing basketball, she had no idea how big a part the Orillia Lakers would have in her life.
The same is true for Mark Meeks, who played on the Lakers’ first boys team in 1991 and now sits on the board of directors.
“It’s starting to get to that age where you’re seeing generations,” he explains about the players he once coached who are now involved in other ways, keeping the Orillia Lakers active in the community.
It’s been over a decade since Gammon first asked her parents to join a basketball team and her passion for the sport has since blossomed.
“Being that little, stepping onto a big court, like, that was kind of intimidating because you’re also … with people that are older than you,” she says about her house league days.
With help from coaches and the close friendships built with teammates, Gammon’s drive to excel both on and off the court was nurtured.
“They always motivate you and get you going,” she says about her coaches.
In the fall, as the Orillia Lakers organization celebrates its 35th anniversary, Gammon will play on the U19 girls team. The Lakers have teams ranging from U10 to U19 for both boys and girls.
Just before the pandemic, Meeks says, they had 19 rep teams plus the house league. Drawing younger kids to basketball as opposed to hockey, swimming, or dance was one of the challenges over the years
The pandemic made things harder.
“My first coaching experience coming back, we were a very disciplined and hardworking team; those kids really bought into what I would call the culture that we created,” says Meeks.
The “culture” so many kids “bought into,” he explains, is about learning integrity with basketball concurrently.
“We did Stamp Out Hunger food drive, we would run tournaments, we would get the kids to go to the Salvation Army to see and give back on their own, they used to give their Halloween candy away to the shelters,” Meeks says.
Over the years, Gammon says she learned through her coaches that mistakes will happen and they can be let go. Thoughtful mentorship taught her that “you have to go down the court and shake it off and think about the next one. You can’t let that one bad moment define you. That’s something I’ll carry both, like, with me and on the court,” Gammon says.
In weaker moments, she was nudged with a gentle confidence boost, a reminder to believe in herself.
In elementary school, when young boys were trying to define basketball as a male sport, Gammon chose to ignore it and keep improving her skills. She was motivated to prove that she and other girls belong on the court just as much as they do, she says.
Often playing up with an older age group, Gammon observed that fewer girls are drawn to basketball. Especially as she got older, she says, juggling school and a part-time job and extra commitments gets hard. It’s her teammates offering a pat on the back at an evening practice after a long day that reminds her of her strengths.
At the beginning of high school, Gammon started coaching the house league.
“That’s where I got my love for the game. So I wanted to give that to other kids … I’ll continue doing that until I go off to university,” she says.
Having grown up with the team, she has taken away fond memories and quintessential friendships. The 35 years are signified by the relationships built through the sport and everyone involved, says Meeks.
“It’s a big testament to a lot of my cohorts, the executives, because as you know it’s a job that is all behind the scenes and no one really sees the time that’s involved,” he says.
During the playoffs in April, Gammon’s team faced a difficult loss. The next game would have led them to a medal.
“We were trying everything,” the teen explains.
They were missing a player due to injury and she was also injured halfway through that game.
“But as it was a loss we had our heads held high and just kept going and saying that we look forward to next year. And everyone’s coming back for their last year and we’ll go from there.”
For someone who has fulfilled several roles with the Lakers over the decades, Meeks noticed the athletes making the choice to dedicate themselves.
“It became them being the leaders and taking the responsibility and love of the game to really push and be in control,” he says about showing up and taking the time.
He says none of this would be happening today if it weren’t for the Lakers’ founder, Ted Williamson. Meeks extends his gratitude to the volunteers in the organization past and present.
“I’m just really grateful for everything basketball and the Lakers have given me,” says Gammon.
On Sun. Sept. 27, the Orillia Lakers are celebrating 35 years beginning at 9 a.m. at the Orillia Recreation Centre. The community is invited to enjoy family-friendly festivities. In the morning, youth will participate in basketball drills and mini-games. Past players and coaches will return to the court for an alumni game. Teams for the upcoming season will be introduced, and new uniforms will be unveiled.
The official ceremony starting at 3 p.m. will involve Mayor Don McIsaac's address with the proclamation of Lakers’ Day in Orillia. Find more information about the Orillia Lakers here.
