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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2012 39 QUEENS OF ONTARIO: The Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils gather for a team photo after winning the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) girls' rugby AAA/AAAA championship Wednesday in Ottawa. Devils' OFSAA gold took years of preparation When the three whistle blasts finally signaled the end of "That game (last year's semifinal) in particular lit a fire the match, the OT players were caught off guard for the first under them," Sennik said. OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF time this season. For the players who had been members of those teams, "We were so prepared for what to do on the field and so gold was the only option. They had been there, done that, got Two years before she started high school at Oakville Trafalgar, Claire Newman -- knowing the school's rich rugby focused on what we had to do, we never really knew what to the medal, had the OFSAA T-shirts. do when we won," said Newman. "We didn't come into the tournament thinking it would tradition -- signed up to play for the Oakville Crusaders. "I honestly just sat down," said Greer, who was named be cool to get a medal," said Greer, a member of the Ontario At 13, she was one of the club's youngest female players so under-16 team last summer. "No, we there was no team for her age group. As a result, she ended OT's player of the match. "It was so surreal. I'd given everything in that game, I were going to win." up playing on an under-18 team. didn't even have enough Lui saw that determination early in "I'm not going to lie, I didn't like it," she energy to stand. I couldn't the season in a game against Holy Trinity, said. "But older girls raved about (high "We were so prepared for what to do on the field believe it." OT's eventual opponent in the Halton school rugby) so I stuck with it." Newman walked over final. Bethany Greer also joined the Crusaders and so focused on what to Greer and hugged her "At one point, Alex Wilson turned to before starting high school and the sport we had to do, we never teammate as they began Heather Bonnell and said, `I'm going immediately clicked with her. really knew what to do to realize they had high, you go low.' And this big girl comes Wednesday afternoon in Ottawa, the achieved their goal by running right at them and they met her Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils teammates when we won." 2012 OFSAA girls' rugby champs winning the Ontario and just smashed her," he said. "They had found each other in the moment they had Charlotte Dunn Molly Labenski Federation of School a different focus coming in this year. been preparing for before they even stepped Oakville Trafalgar girls' rugby Alyssa Wain Claire Newman Athletic Associations They were hungry and they knew they inside a high school classroom -- playing in captain Claire Newman Neha Bhasin Danielle Spice Hannah Binnie Alex Wilson (OFSAA) championship. had what it takes." the gold medal game of the provincial high Dean Bailey Lauren Arthur "Words can't really describe it. It's one OT demonstrated that with convincschool championships. Courtney Fang Heather Bonnell Meaghan Hiscock Allie Clement ing wins to open the tournament. After After OT built a 17-0 first half lead, Ottawa's Ashbury of the best feelings in coaching," said Hannah Howden Sydney DeMarchi beating St. Peter (Peterborough) 26-0 College had fought back to pull within a try. The four-time Adrian Lui, who coaches the team with Daniela Sydney Johnson Deschamps Monday, the Red Devils got a pair of tries champions had rallied to upset top-ranked Barrie 13-12 in Dan Valley and Sonia Sennik. "From seeSarah McClure Bethany Greer Sydney Newton from Danielle Spice in a 22-5 victory over the semifinals a day earlier and now in a matter of minutes ing them come in as Grade 9s and having Collette Pryce-Jones Jessica Penman Hannah Rauseo Mayfield. The Red Devils wanted no part had scored as many points (12) as the Red Devils had allowed to teach them to pass the ball backwards Megan Pryce Jones Taylor Wade Madelaine Shales Julia Zigrossi and then to grow into leaders on and off of another close semifinal, as they beat in any game this season. Claire Webster Nicole Reagan St. Peter (Ottawa) 17-0. Newman was not about to let six years of preparation slip the field. They knew exactly what they had Ellie Cookson to do and how to do. That sounds easy but Since beating Ashbury in the final, the away, though, and neither were her teammates. Coaches Tess Sprawson Adrian Lui Abbey Cameron team has been the toast of OT. "There was no way we were not winning," the OT captain at the level they have to play at to win this, Dan Valley Emma Henry it's very difficult." "The school is so proud of them," said. Sonia Sennik Maddy Seatle OT had proven that with talented teams Valley said. "In the 12 hours since we Molly Labenski set up Maddy Seatle's second try of the won, there have been a whole lot of game to give OT some breathing room and Charlotte Dunn in the past. In Newman's first year on the converted it to stretch the lead to 24-12. The clock was sud- team, the Devils finished fifth at OFSAA. The next year they e-mails from alumni and parents. And as a program, to get denly the Devils' best friend. With each passing minute, the lost the semifinal in penalty kicks and came home without a where we're at, it's great to see them rewarded for their hard goal OT had been working toward since Jacquie Bale-Pece medal after losing the bronze medal game. Last year, they work." "The school, and the whole community, have been so supand Valley established the girls program 12 years ago was lost the semifinal on a late try but rebounded to win the program's first OFSAA medal, a bronze. See Graduating, page 40 that much closer. By Herb Garbutt Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils