OSDSS Wolves and St. Mary’s Mustangs make history ahead of OFSAA

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The Wolves are ready to run with the big dogs.

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For the first time in Owen Sound District Secondary School history, a sports team is headed to the provincial OFSAA ‘AAA’ championships, and it’s the locally-dominant girls’ rugby squad breaking the barrier.

After years of dominating the Bluewater Athletic Association with undefeated seasons only to lose at the regional CWOSSA championships, this year the Wolves topped J.F. Ross to punch their ticket to provincials.

“It’s been tough sledding,” said OSDSS head coach Rob Lee. “There is no shame in some of the losses we’ve had in the past. They’re some of the best teams in the province.”

The Wolves have been building toward this moment for years. The school’s girls’ rugby program has grown into a top-class high school team with Lee heading dogged recruiting efforts and taking on all-comers. They’ve learned to respect the game through international trips, exposure to top clubs at tournaments and by bringing in national team and university players for seminars.

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“It’s like a secret I don’t want to keep. Once they’re a part of it they love it. It’s a great game and a great culture. The game is full of so much aggression but it’s also a sport of respect and love,” Lee said. “It’s amazing the growth you see, and that’s really gratifying for the coaching staff just to see how far they’ve come and now we can compete on a level with some of these bigger schools.”

This year two former Wolves in Sarah Pretty and Bryanna Bryans have returned to help coach.

The Wolves went on yet another undefeated run in the BAA regular season and playoffs to earn the local crown after a season in which the squad went 5-0 outscoring their opponents 180 to 17. The Wolves then beat Waterloo Oxford 22-0 and St. John’s Collegiate 37-0 in pool play to earn a berth into the Central Western Ontario championship contest where they topped Guelph’s J.F. Ross 20-12.

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“The girls are full of character. There are so many momentum swings in the game of rugby. One knock-on in the wrong place, a penalty, or one missed tackle can change the momentum of the whole game, but these girls don’t let that happen,” Lee said. “When they get challenged or if something goes wrong they bounce back and go at it. They go on the attack. They don’t let it phase them. That’s what is special about these girls.”

It’s a deep team. Several of the girls have touched down in the end zone for tries, and more than a few have scored multiple times in a game. The Wolves attack as a pack, Lee said, and it’s hard for opposing teams to stop.

“We have so many weapons,” he said. “It feels like in any game somebody could surprise and contribute and make a difference.”

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Now they’ll face their toughest test yet as the best high school rugby teams in the province head to Bolton Monday for the three-day sixteen-team championship tournament.

The Wolves enter the bracket ranked fourth despite it being their first time on the big stage. Lee said he expects the seeding is the result of impressive performances against tough teams at tournaments throughout the season.

“A feather in the cap for the girls for sure, but now they have to go earn it for real,” he said. “It’s going to be hard, and hopefully we’re not overwhelmed by the moment because we haven’t been there before.”

Owen Sound’s tournament begins Monday at 4 p.m. when they take on London’s Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, ranked 13th heading into play.

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The consolation and championship final games are set for Wednesday.

“Regardless of our results, going there and experiencing that kind of rugby and that kind of organization and just being there together for a little bit longer this season . . . I think it will be tough, painful and hard but it will be hopefully one of the best experiences of their high school career,” Lee said.

LACROSSE

Coming off securing back-to-back CWOSSA ‘A/AA’ championships with a sudden-death winner in triple-overtime the St. Mary’s Mustangs are riding high into next week’s OFSAA festival championships.

The OFSAA ‘A/AA’ Field Lacrosse festival is set for June 5 and 6 in Peterborough.

The 12-team tournament begins Monday at 8 a.m. and concludes Tuesday with the championship game beginning at 3:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s enters the tournament ranked second out of 12 teams, the highest seeding in school history.

The Mustangs open their tournament schedule early Monday morning against Peterborough’s Crestwood Secondary School before facing St. Mark Catholic High School out of Manotick.

For more information on the OFSAA championships visit www.ofsaa.on.ca.