The Macdonald-Cartier Secondary School Panthères Senior Boys Volleyball team recently brought home the provincial title, clinching the OFSAA “A” championship gold Nov. 22, the team’s first in 39 years.
Their challenging path to victory included eliminating the undefeated, four-time reigning OFSAA champion, Hamilton District Christian High School, in the semi-final.
The story was completed in the final, where the Panthères claimed revenge against École secondaire catholique Monseigneur-Bruyère, the same team that eliminated them in the quarterfinals last year.
Over the past three months, the athletes have also won three tournaments, a municipal championship and a NOSSA championship.
This triumph, the first of its kind in nearly four decades, is the culmination of a dream that these athletes have shared since starting high school, said a press release.
The team was formed during the pandemic, when there was an absence of official leagues due to health restrictions.
Coached by Brigitte Coutu since Grade 9, this cohort not only reached its goal but also built a foundation of passion and discipline, shaping the sports program at this French-language high school in Sudbury. The coach views this victory as the passing of a tradition.
“This historic title is the culmination of a dream this cohort has carried since Grade 9,” she said. “Today, they bring home much more than a banner; they leave a flame, an invaluable foundation that will inspire and guide the next generation of Panthères. This is not the end; it is the passing of the torch.”
Now that the title has been secured, this success becomes a crucial springboard for their post-secondary future, as post-secondary institutions are already actively recruiting the Panthères.
Several students have been approached since the OFSAA victory and are now in discussions with colleges and universities across Ontario.
The story of this team is a powerful testament to the dedication of these young athletes. “They already serve as role models and participate in coaching the school’s younger teams,” said Coutu.
Team members include:
- Jeremy Rhéaume
- Olivier Tremblay
- Kaden Major
- Hayden Quevillon
- Cedric Larouche
- Spencer Rousseau
- Mykaël Gagné
- Maxim Gilroy
- Riley Payzant
- Aziz Aissa
- Justin Lafontaine
- Coaches Marc Savage and Brigitte Coutu