Celebrating OFSAA’s 75th anniversary of high school sports
Established in 1948, the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) has been around awhile.
OFSAA is a federation consisting of 18 regional school athletic associations. Organized geographically, and operating as a not-for-profit organization, OFSAA is comprised of student-athletes, teacher-coaches, principals, and sport administrators all committed to the philosophy of education through sport.
Currently more than 900 secondary schools and 250,000 students compete for provincial titles. Peterborough area schools belong to the Central Ontario Secondary Schools Athletics Association region (COSSA) which includes the counties of Haliburton, Northumberland, Hastings, Peterborough, Victoria, and Prince Edward.
Each school year, OFSAA collaborates with volunteer teachercoaches to provide 45 provincial championships and festivals across 21 sports for Ontario’s student-athletes. In addition, OFSAA offers scholarships and awards, student leadership programs, coach development programs and resources, and tournament sanctioning.
In 1948, there were only six official provincial championships for high school sports: track and field, cross country, hockey, football, basketball, and gymnastics. Currently there are 45 championships and festivals.
Today, student-athletes can compete at OFSAA in alpine skiing, badminton, baseball, basketball, cross country running, curling, field hockey, field lacrosse, golf, hockey, nordic skiing, rugby, slopitch, snowboarding, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, ultimate, volleyball, and wrestling.
Over the years, Peterborough has hosted several OFSAA championships. The first was the OFSAA hockey tournament that was organized and run by Ken Wass, the former Kenner Collegiate Head of Boys’ Physical Education. That event consisted of nine teams and was played in April 1959.
Kenner opened that tournament with a convincing 7-1 win over St. Peter. After securing a thrilling 5-4 win over North Bay, highlighted by Murray MacCormick’s overtime winner, Kenner advanced to the consolation final. Leaside Collegiate shutout Kenner 5-0 in the consolation championship game.
Weston Collegiate captured the championship with a 5-1 win over Copper Cliff Collegiate.
Peterborough has hosted other OFSAA hockey championships. Perhaps the most memorable was held in 1995 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in front of about 2,000 fans. The Kenner Rams and the Sudbury St. Charles Cardinals were deadlocked 2-2 after regulation time.
In overtime, Kenner’s Bob Roode, who went on to be a WWE wrestling star, scored, giving the Rams the Provincial AAA Championship.
“After the goal, it was all a blur,” remembers Bob. “I remember the celebration on the ice, and the celebrations that continued away from the rink.”
Peterborough and area schools have hosted a total of 24 OFSAA championships in hockey, lacrosse, cross country, volleyball, basketball, soccer, field hockey, nordic skiing, curling, and rugby. Over the years Peterborough Schools have captured 18 OFSAA championships. Adam Scott leads the way with nine titles.
Individual OFSAA titles in cross country, track and field, and wrestling have been won by Peterborough area athletes.
From June 3 to 8 Peterborough will host its 25th and 26th OFSAA Championships. Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School is hosting the AAA Girls’ Rugby Championship and Adam Scott Collegiate will be hosting the AAA Boys’ Rugby Championship.
On April 18, OFSAA celebrated its 75th Anniversary Luncheon. Logo submissions to commemorate the milestone were sought. Adam Scott Collegiate student Reese Rossignol had the winning submission. Congratulations Reese.
Two Peterborough teachers have been president of OFSAA. About 30 years ago Bev Goulding headed the organization and Jennifer Knox recently concluded her twoyear term as president.
From modest beginnings, OFSAA’s success is due to the commitment of its volunteer teachercoaches and administrators. In recent years OFSAA has expanded. It now offers para athletic competitions in cross country, skiing, swimming, and track and field.
In the future, don’t be surprised to see OFSAA competitions in pickleball, cricket, and no-checking hockey.