KCI has high hopes for unexpected OFSAA rugby berth

WATERLOO — The KCI Raiders lost a heartbreaker, and their season ended.

And then came the call.

The Raiders, finalists at last week’s Central Western Ontario (CWOSSA) tournament, are a last-minute replacement at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association triple-A rugby championship in Arva. The boys have received the No. 9 seed for the 16-team tournament and play their first game Thursday against No. 8 Thomas A. Stewart of Peterborough.

“We beat the No. 2-ranked team in Ontario (Guelph’s John F. Ross Royals) during CWOSSA and lost in OT to them in the finals. We are down a few bodies from the finals but have some keen younger players who have been working hard all season for an opportunity like this,” said KCI head coach Cody Roberts.

“My expectations are for the boys to play like they have been: not afraid to lose, with heart and passion, and just one game at a time. I am so proud of what they have accomplished this season.”

The Raiders pushed the Royals to the limit in the CWOSSA final. KCI led most of the game, but Ross scored a try in the final minute to force extra time. The teams went back and forth in overtime, but once again, Ross scored with no time remaining on a run of about 70 yards to seal the 17-12 victory.

The Raiders are led by captain and scrum-half Daniel Muzaliwa, a Grade 12 student whose older brother Fernandes Kanyangumu helped the team win its first of three straight Waterloo County (WCSSAA) championships in 2019.

A trio of Grade 11 players — flyhalf Matt Mall, outside centre Cole O’Donnell and 8-man Shahin Yousefi — has also stepped up for KCI this season.

Grant Hallas and Adam Smit join Roberts on the coaching staff, along with former students Alex Carillos and Nolan McClinchey. Carillos and McClinchey moved on to play at the University of Waterloo.

Meanwhile, three Waterloo Region schools will represent CWOSSA on the soccer pitch.

The undefeated Resurrection Phoenix will participate in the OFSAA triple-A girls soccer championship in Grimsby and open the 20-team tournament Thursday morning against Grimsby’s Blessed Trinity. The District 8 champion Phoenix won CWOSSA last week over John F. Ross.

Père-René-de-Galinée is the CWOSSA representative at the OFSAA single-A girls championship in London. The Chevaliers open play at the 20-team event on Thursday against St. Thomas Aquinas of Kenora.

The WCSSAA and CWOSSA champion Grand River Renegades will face the province’s best at the OFSAA triple-A boys championship in Windsor. The Renegades, who defeated the St. Benedict Saints in the CWOSSA final, take on St. Michael’s of Niagara Falls in their opener.