2012 senior boys volleyball champs.
Celebrating a 14-and-0 season are the 2012 Renfrew County senior boys volleyball champions St. Joseph’s Jaguars. In front row are, from left, Mike Vice, Josh Naismith, Peter Vice, Rory Whalen; and back row, Ryan McNulty, Ed Fougere, Justin McNulty, Braden Troutman, Evan Naismith, Hayden McIntyre and coach Trent Skelhorn.
Peter Clark, Renfrew Mercury
The St. Joseph’s Jaguars completed a 10-and-0 regular season, and added four more wins en route to capturing the Renfrew County senior boys volleyball champions in the home gymnasium Thursday afternoon.
The Jaguars scored a 25-12, 25-20, 23-25, 25-19 win over the Opeongo Wildcats in the semifinal in a morning match.
St. Joseph’s put the 2012 crown away with a 25-14, 25-16, 25-27, 25-16 win over the General Panet Panthers.
“It was a satisfying season. All year long the team played fantastic ball,” Jaguars coach Trent Skelhorn said.
“We continued off last year, and gained experience from the tournaments we played in.”
“It was a fast (paced) game against Opeongo, with some good rallies, and we were able to get everyone in (against Panet in game 3),” the coach added.
The Jaguars will represent Renfrew County at the Eastern Ontario (EOSSAA) senior boys volleyball championship for A schools.
The event runs today at Iroquois Falls.
The Junior Jaguars came within one match of a successful title defence of their 2011 Renfrew County junior boys crown.
But the Mackenzie Mustangs met the challenge on their home court.
The Mustangs won the final 3-0 in Deep River Thursday afternoon.
Coach Meghan Cahill’s Jaguars went 5-and-2 in the regular season and 3-and-0 in the playoffs to reach the final.
Included was an emotional five-set win over regular-season champion Bishop Smith Crusaders Nov. 6, and a 3-0 triumph over the Fellowes Falcons in the semifinal.
BASKETBALL FINAL
The Jaguars ran into a buzzsaw known as the Arnprior Redmen in the county junior girls basketball final.
Arnprior scored a 49-14 triumph.
However, the Jaguars have earned the right to represent the county at EOSSAA this week (Wednesday) in Ingleside.
Getting to the league final was a good accomplishment for the Jaguars, coach mark Valliqette said.
“It’s the first time I can recall in the last few years that a St. Joseph’s team made it to a basketball final.”
The coach said they lost to a talented team. “They have nine club players. They are pretty deep.”