It’s year to remember for Père-René volleyball teams
It’s been a banner year on the hardwood for volleyball teams representing École secondaire catholique Père-René-de-Galinée.
The Cambridge school is a perfect four-for-four at the regional level after its junior and senior girls’ teams swept the Central Western Ontario (CWOSSA) single-A championships in Walkerton.
The boys’ teams did the same in the fall season.
The Chevaliers senior girls’ team, led by Libby Spence and Na’yah Bhatia, is off to next week’s all-Ontario (OFSAA) championship in Elliot Lake and Blind River, thanks to a 3-1 win over Delhi in the CWOSSA final.
The senior team, coached by Fred Mercier, has won four of the past five CWOSSA tournaments.
The junior team, which also won the District 8 championship over the Monsignor Doyle Mustangs, triumphed at CWOSSA with a 2-0 shutout of Erin.
Emilie Gervais, Sareena Tutunjian and Maia Macovei had strong seasons, and Vince Sylvestre handled the coaching duties.
“Success breeds success; in the past five years, we have won two OFSAA volleyball medals and multiple District 8 and CWOSSA championships,” said Père-René athletic director Philip Paradis. “Students are aware of this, and they want to be part of this winning culture.”
The CWOSSA sweep is the first in school history, and the junior results bode well for future success at the senior level.
Père-René is a combined middle school/high school, and the athletic programs benefit from having youngsters connect as student-athletes before participating in District 8 as first-year high school students.
“Our students start developing team chemistry as early as Grade 7, and this continues all the way to their Grade 12 season. That gives them many years to learn and develop together,” said Paradis.
‘‘ Success breeds success; in the past five years, we have won two OFSAA volleyball medals and multiple District 8 and CWOSSA championships. Students are aware of this, and they want to be part of this winning culture.
PHILIP PARADIS ÉCOLE SECONDAIRE CATHOLIQUE PÈRE-RENÉ-DEGALINÉE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
“Also, our coaches are extremely committed and knowledgeable. They run many engaging practices a week, and the commitment from our students is incredible, which, in turn, translates into success on and off the court.”
Paradis also credits a supportive administration for playing a role in the success.
At other CWOSSA volleyball championships, the Cameron Heights Golden Gaels captured the senior triple-A championship with a 3-0 win over the Jacob Hespeler Hawks. Cameron Heights advances to the OFSAA championship in Markham.
Cameron Heights also captured the junior championship with a 3-1 victory over the Centre Wellington Falcons.
At the double-A championship, the Glenview Park Panthers took the senior tournament with a 3-0 victory over the St. David Celtics and advanced to the OFSAA tourney in Sydenham.
Glenview Park also won the junior championship, topping Guelph Bishop Macdonell, 3-1, in the final.
Basketball
Cameron Heights struck gold at the CWOSSA triple-A senior boys’ championship in Guelph with a 5048 win over the Brantford Collegiate Mustangs. Cameron Heights advances to the OFSAA championship in Stoney Creek.
The Resurrection Phoenix cruised to the triple-A junior title with a 78-44 win over the Laurel Heights Hurricanes.