They know how to treat their heros in Banff.
Behind Tommy’s blaring golf cart, fire trucks and a boisterous drum band, the Banff High School Rugby boys were paraded through downtown Banff, deservedly celebrated as the school’s first-ever provincial champions.
Hundreds of onlookers honked and cheered on the rugby boys who proudly waved their newly-claimed provincial banner, which appeared to stave off the rain, allowing the sun to shine brightly on the victors.
How sweet it is.
The win is the biggest in school history and the town and high school pulled together a parade in a number of hours thanks to work by town hall, Banff Community High School and the Banff Fire Department.
Mayor Karen Sorensen interrupted a town council meeting to greet the boys with a tearful speech praising their efforts. She had watched the game first hand and recounted the joy she experienced watching the team, and coach John Petroff’s postgame celebration.
“To see the joy on John’s face after the final whistle... was a great sight. On behalf of the Town of Banff, we thank the team for representing the town and doing us all proud,” Sorensen said.
Coach John Petroff, who has been coaching rugby at the school since its inception in 1983, said the boys embodied teamwork and sportsmanship. Underdogs going in, like David challenging Goliath, they knocked off massive schools from larger centres, playing with heart and determination.
“Like the saying goes, we’re small, but we’re slow,” Petroff joked. “But we played as a team and that was the key to our success,” He said.
By the second half, he knew the boys had the win, and he was extremely proud how they pulled off the victory.
He also highlighted the fact the team won the sportsmanship banner as well – an award not usually synonymous with champion rugby teams.
“That usually goes to teams that finish fifteenth, but they gave it to us,” Petroff said.
Petroff also praised the play of Cordell Kuzemka, who helped carry the team to the victory.
“He wasn’t just man of the match. He was man of the tournament. He played unbelievable rugby for us,” Petroff said.
Kuzemka, obviously emotionally touched by the outpouring of support, choked back tears on the parade route.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. I never expected this. To have the support of the whole town behind us is incredible,” Kuzemka said.
Team captain Matt Soukas, grinning from ear to ear, said he couldn’t have imagined this result at the beginning of the season.
“This is weird, but in a good way. I never thought of this, but it’s an amazing experience.
Matching up against Winston Churchill High School in the final, Soukas said the team wasn’t overly optomistic heading into the final.
“They shut us out last year at the provincials, so we weren’t too sure what would happen going in,” Soukas said.
But the team stuck to its gameplan, supporting one another on every play, which was enough to clinch victory, he said.
Coach Petroff thanked the town for all of its support over the years, and singled out members of the Banff Rugby Football Club for helping coach the squad, specifically Sinclair Hunt, Alex Boston, Mark Hooper, Fernley Simmonds and Cody Skrine.
And with a glint in his eye, coach Petroff looked to the future.
“This is a legacy that’s hard to break,” Petroff said.
