"We're Central Born, and we're Central bred!"

It's been 10 years this coming June 28th since the SCDSB rammed the final nail into the coffin for Barrie Central, and while that causes me profound pause, a couple of things happened this week to rekindle the flames of my passion for my alma mater, prompting beaucoup de smile and many a warm fuzzy.

This past week ... yep, you missed it despite being warned (CLICK) ... a group of Barrie area rugby stalwarts provided the community with continuing proof that there are those that walk among us with selfless souls and giant sized hearts. If you've never had the opportunity to take in the phenomenon that is OFSAA Boys Rugby, you should still appreciate that to win a medal or award, a team must play 4 forty minute games in 3 days, a grind that often leads to some significant wear and tear on teenage bodies. The teams are seeded #1 through #16, playing an opening round game that determines if they will chase the champion's chalice or compete in the consolation side. 

16 schools representing most of the athletic regions from across Ontario (the 3 northern associations don't have rugby) put on a display of grit, skill, and determination that was awe-inspiring for the hundreds that came to witness the spectacle. At the risk of repeating myself, our athletic association is called GBSSA (Georgian Bay School Sport Association), and our representatives were Champion Eastview Secondary in addition to the host school North Collegiate. 

My BCC partners-in-crime, Ron Andrews and Jay Malandrino, joined me for the championship as we both enjoyed a reunion of rugby minds and the accompanying banter, but also offered our appreciation for the skills that the coaches had gifted their players. I don't mind telling you that while we thought the over all skill set from top to bottom for many of the teams had risen significantly, I'd be lying if we didn't offer a critique or three of the systems that the teams employed, not the least of which was their first-phase attack. Once a coach, always a coach, especially when you've enjoyed the successes that we did (GRIN).

Eastview, seeded #5, bested #12 Kitchener Collegiate in the opening round, but fell to the eventual Bronze medallists #4 seed Medway Secondary (London area) in the quarter finals, ending their Cinderella season. 

North, seeded #11, upset the #6 seed Oakville Trafalgar in their opener, but fell to the eventual Silver medallists Northern Secondary, ending their quest for redemption following their semifinal loss in the GBSSA playoffs.

When all of the dust had settled, Oakville won the consolation championship beating #13 seed Glebe Secondary (Ottawa), Medway beat #2 seed Streetsville Secondary (Mississauga) for the Bronze, and upstart #8 seed Uxbridge Secondary took the difficult pathway through #9 Neil McNeil (Toronto), #1 St Johns (Brantford), and #2 Streetsville before their gold medal victory over #3 seed Northern Secondary (Toronto). I honestly cannot recall a school taking a harder path than through #1, #2, and #3, so KUDOS to Uxbridge!

Part of my role in all of this was to offer counsel, based on having co-convened 2 OFSAA Championships, the first in 2002, and then again in 2015. At the risk of beating a proud chest, Central won gold at both of those tournaments, the last one extra special because both Ron and I had sons playing significant roles in that victory. The other part of my role was to do my best to record it all by freezing the action with my trusty Nikon. If you wish to have a look, CLICK.

This past Saturday night completed the stroll down Memory Lane with a shindig to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Central's demise, the brainchild of Uber-alum Ben Browne, and the work-product of some almost equally passionate Centralites Patrick Jang, Tim Kraft, Cat Harding and Morgan Wilson. Although I wasn't sure what to expect, I knew that I had to make the trek from Wasaga to help remember the Glory Days (a la Springsteen) of the Red, Black, and White.

Any uncertainties were quickly dismissed as a wide assortment of equally excited alumni greeted everyone with smiles, hugs, and handshakes while the slideshows and music dredged those long forgotten memories of yesteryear. The most senior attendee was from the class of '59, but there were ex-students, ex-staff, and even ex-custodians ... I see you Lolita and Marguerite ... who felt compelled to re-live their experiences with friends made from those influential years. Certainly one of the best attended cadres was my brother Rob's era of the mid to late 80's, all fired up and raring to go, with chums flying in from BC and Florida. Another significant presence were those from the early 90's, and they were certainly the most boisterous, offering a rendition of the Central song and some poetic freestyling. 

Being a Central grad (1977-82) and former staff (1998-2016), I had plenty of familiar faces to reacquaint with and share some stories, but BY FAR the widest smile was generated by former Central Football and Rugby chums Dave Waldock, Brian Britnell, and Ric Cloughley. We were certainly WAY better that night that we were back in the late 70's ... HaHa! 

There were my former teachers like Betty-Anne Taylor, Janet Turner, Bruce Rumble, John Irving, John Kraft, and Don Stephen ... hope I didn't forget anyone ... apologies.

There were former colleagues like Robin and Jay Malandrino, Tamara Tiemersma, Syd Lucas, Joanne McLaurin, Heidi Houlgrave-Plaxton, Rhea Kruase, and Doug Young ... again, apologies for omissions.

There were former students, too many to name, each saving a big smile and a warm hug for their old wrinkled teacher. A HUGE shout out to all who took some time to say hello.

I guess the only reservation was the poor attendance of my era since I don't recall anyone from my graduating class. I see some of those fine people every now and again, but there are some I haven't shared a smile with for decades.

In the end, the two events took some of the ache of 2016 away.

"And when we die, we'll be Central dead!"