By Larry Moko
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic Athletic Association rolled out the welcome mat for the ACMT Jaguars this season and that team ended up walking away with the league championship.
The Jaguars finished first in the senior boys' regular-season volleyball standings (13-1) before advancing to the preliminary-round playoff victories over the St. Mary Crusaders and the St. Jean de Brébeuf Braves. And in Tuesday's final, ACMT defeated the visiting St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-21).
It was the second championship in ACMT's senior boys' volleyball history. The first came in 2004.
The Jaguars -- based on the east Mountain -- have occasionally entered some of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high school sports over the years.
"They are permitted to join our league," convenor Patrick Brennan said. "They are more than welcome to participate.
"It's up to their school. If they can form a team they can pick which sports they want to come in to. Last year, for instance, they played girls' basketball. This year, they felt they didn't have a team."
With the win, ACMT advances to a Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference semifinal at the A level on Monday, Nov. 11 against Milton's St. Kateri Tekakwitha Thunder. And due to the fact that Newman is the highest surviving AAA team, it will also take part in a GHAC semifinal on Monday. Its Halton public board opponent in AAA has yet to be determined.
Second-place Newman (11-3) was seeking its fourth-consecutive Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic title.
"I'm really proud of these guys," said Jaguars coach Bernard Boulianne, who retired in June but returned to guide the team for a fourth year.
"I think we have a chance of winning a medal in Single A OFSAA," he said. "That's my goal. I think we have a chance."
With the first set tied at 5s, ACMT strung together nine unanswered points before coasting to the win.
"A lot of those points we gave them," Newman coach Brian Pavlic said. "They weren't doing anything special to us. We were making it easy for them ... a lot of team errors."
Similarly in the second set the Jaguars led only 12-9 before pulling away with five straight points.
"We were playing from behind pretty much the whole game," the Newman coach added. " We couldn't get it together today. They were stronger and ready to play."
Newman closed the gap in the third set to 18-16 on a kill by Anthony Astone and an ace by Nick Folino, but ACMT showed no signing of collapsing down the stretch.
The Jaguars also came out on top twice against the Cardinals in their meetings during the regular schedule.
"We have a great group of guys," Boulianne said. "They're good at volleyball and they're really nice. Their attitude is always so great."
Boulianne said Newman is strong defensively, but his squad excels at the net and on the attack.
"Our setter, Cedric Dass, is really good ... one of best, if not the best, in the province. He's just in Grade 11. It makes a difference because he can distribute the ball to everyone. And I have five guys that can hit."
Another key member of the Jags is captain Gabriel Picard.
"My captain is a good leader," Boulianne said. "All positive. The guys just follow him."
Other members of the team include Cereus Henay, Geno Matenge, Anakin Morelli, Japhet Zian, Brody Condie, Yves Da-Juste Petion, Logan Gauthier, Lucas Pommainville, Seb Van Gaal and Joshua Mercer.
Newman's recent playoff victories were against the Cathedral Gaels and the Bishop Ryan Celtics. The Cardinals roster heading into the GHAC opener is also comprised of Massimo Cuda, Paolo Fazzari, Wyatt Humphrey, Chris Kummer, Kyle Lukezic, Hayden Matecki, Deson Moriarity, Hayden Odion, Declan McConville, Eli Bane, Daniel Guagliano, Giuseppe Palmero, Uriel Knape, Anthony Rotella and Charles Kamphuis.
"It will be tough against anything over the other side of the Skyway Bridge," Pavlic said of the next game or games needed to qualify for the provincial high school championship.
The St. Mary Crusaders play host to a GHAC final at the AA level on Tuesday, Nov. 12. They'll face the Aldershot Lions.
Photos by Richard Andoga
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