For the first time since 1999, the Regina Mundi Titans are headed to the OFSAA Basketball Championships.
The Titans will be the 13 seed at the AA tournament, which is being played this week in North Bay, Ont.
“It’s a new experience for us as none of us have ever been here before, so it’s fun to see the new teams,” said Amari Sinclair, one of the Titans’ captains.
The Titans earned their berth in the Ontario Championships by beating St. Thomas St. Joseph’s in the WOSSAA finals last week.
“It was a really great feeling,” said Miguel Giraldo, a Titans captain. “I hadn’t felt that before in sports yet, and it means a lot to go to OFSAA.”
Head coach Nathan DiLoreto had his boys working hard at practice all week, and they will open with seventh-seeded George Henry Academy from North York at noon Monday.
When asked why they believe they are TVRA champions, both players referenced “dedication, and friendship.”
“We’re like a family here at RMC, and it’s really great,” said Giraldo.
The Mother Teresa Spartans are the seventh seed in the AAA event in Kingston and will face St. Peter’s from Barrie Monday afternoon.
Woodstock Collegiate Institute is hosting the single-A tournament and will be the number three seed. Their first game in their home gym will be Monday at 9 a.m. against number 13 ESC Renaissance from Aurora.
In Girls Volleyball, the Oakridge Oaks might have the best chance of any area team to bring home a medal.
The Oaks are the number three seed in the AA tournament in North Bay.
“I think our team is peaking right now, which is always the goal at the end of the season,” said Jon Marr, Oakridge head coach. “We have weapons from out everywhere on the court, which is pretty amazing.”
Marr said what is unique about his team this year is that he has starters in Grades 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.
The Oaks are a powerhouse – having not lost a set in the TVRA regular season, playoffs or WOSSAA.
They have skill spread out through the court and have a pair of six-foot players.
“Ana Stojanovic as an absolute phenom,” said Marr. “She actually just played for Team Canada this past summer in Peru.” They also have 6’1” Jenna Tunks, who could be a future Olympian in discus.
“We can literally aggressively attack the ball from anywhere,” said Marr. “What I try to do is just basically say that whatever comes at us, we’re going to just give them something aggressive back. Eventually it gets pretty exhausting for teams to try to figure out where it’s going to come from.”
He said his girls are confident to attack from anywhere, and his goal is to confuse the defences with what is coming at them.
Woodstock Collegiate is the number six seed in single-A volleyball in Toronto, and the AB Lucas Vikings are the 15 seed in the AAA tournament in Burlington.
OFSAA Wrestling is also taking place this week in Kitchener.
