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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 30, 2008 - 29 Sibling acts head local hopes at OFSAA badminton By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It was a different kind of sibling rivalry that determined this year's Halton and Golden Horseshoe mixed badminton titles. Two brother/sister teams battled for regional supremacy this year and, beginning Thursday at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) in Niagara Falls, both will be chasing provincial high school medals. Greg and Natalie Rook of Iroquois Ridge will head into OFSAA with the upper hand, having bested St. Thomas Aquinas' Nick and Megan Elliot in both the Halton and GHAC championships. The chances of the two Oakville duos meeting again are slim, though. They are on opposite ends of the draw and would have to reach the gold medal game to renew their rivalry. The familiarity between the teams goes beyond the gold-medal battles. Greg and Nick, both in Grade 12, are former doubles partners at their Mississauga club; Natalie and Megan, both in Grade 10, have also teamed up in the past. And all four share the same coach. While that helps in knowing the tendencies and strengths of the opponent, it's a two-way street. "It's no more of an advantage for us than it is for them," said Greg. "It's really who's playing better on that day." The Elliots will have a slight edge in OFSAA experience. They won the Halton and GHAC titles last season and then took their opening match at OFSAA to CHANTAL AYOTTE / OAKVILLE BEAVER OFSAA-BOUND: Iroquois Ridge students Natalie and Greg Rook won the Halton and Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference mixed badminton titles this year. The siblings will shoot for provincial medals this week as they compete at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations tournament. earn a spot in the A flight. "They're both strong badminton players," said Aquinas badminton coach Jean Major. "They come from a badminton family. They can analyze a game and they know how to play teams." And like many siblings, they occasionally have to deal with not only the other team, but each other. "We definitely do bicker on court sometimes," said Megan. "But overall, we're pretty good at saying sorry." Greg Rook also comes in with OFSAA experience, advancing to the provincial tournament the past two years in singles and winning the boys' C flight gold medal last year. This year, the Grade 12 student decided to take a pass on singles play to form a mixed doubles team with his sister. "It was my last year so I thought, `Why not?' I thought we would have a better chance because the singles are always so strong," Greg said. Greg and Natalie play mixed doubles outside of school and reached the quarter-finals at provincials. They try their best to be supportive of one another on the court. "We're actually pretty good," said Natalie, who will be going to OFSAA for the first time. "We know we're both trying our best," Greg added. "If I miss a shot, it's not because I didn't want to get it." Having the Elliots to push them has helped the Rooks get ready for OFSAA. They went to three sets in both the Halton and GHAC finals. Each time, the Rooks won the opener, only to have the Elliots force a deciding set by taking the second. "It takes a lot to come back after losing the second set because you lose all your momentum," Greg said. "But both times we started strong in the last one and got three or four points right away." They didn't let the close matches rattle them either. "I think our mom was more nervous than we were," Natalie said. Meanwhile, the Elliots have closed the gap, coming a little closer to turning the tables on their former partners each time out. "Each time they have played them, they got a little stronger," Major said. Also on their way to OFSAA are the Oakville Trafalgar boys' doubles team of Dave Smith and Cole Harris, and Loyola girls' singles player Natasha Wong. Trinity wrestler wins national gold Zack Falcioni's 100-pound frame belies his abilities By Adam Johnston Zack's natural weight is 115 pounds. In order to qualify for the tournament he was required to trim down to a lean 100 pounds. Don't be fooled by Zack Falcioni's 100"(I had to) not eat bad foods, stay away pound frame, or his thick, black-rimmed from sugars and eat carbs before practice to glasses, or his mild-mannered demeanour. burn it off," said Falcioni. He just might make you pay for Zack's father, Ed Falcioni, was "(My buddy) said it. a significant influence on his "This one time my brother he'd give me two son's keen interest in the sport. told my other buddy that I was dollars if I could He wrestled in university and national champion and he said take him down. I volunteered to coach the team, he'd give me two dollars if I could along with the school's staff take him down," said Falcioni. "I was like `sure, sponsor, Dan MacPherson. The was like `sure, why not', and I why not', and I elder Falcioni is a teacher at took him down." took him down." Brampton Centennial Secondary The Grade 9 student from Holy School. Trinity Catholic Secondary Zack Falcioni Zack cruised through most of School won the gold medal his wrestling season undefeated, recently at the Canadian Cadet (16 and until he was upset by the son of one of his under) Wrestling Championships. father's friends from inside the sport. He is The tournament -- which took place confident that the outcome of a rematch April 11-13 -- was held at CNH place in would be different. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. "It was a really close match," said Falcioni. "Ever since then, I've got better. If Defeats wrestlers from across country I rematched him, I think I could take him." Zack's competition was truly the best Falcioni says that his next step is to train wrestlers from the entire nation. En route hard over the summer, compete in a couple to victory, he defeated wrestlers from of tournaments and prepare for next season. Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Calgary and British He also has aspirations of landing a spot on Columbia. Coincidentally, he squared off the 18 and under provincial team that will against a fellow Ontarian in the finals, compete in the Canada Summer Games in defeating Wade Leaman of Kitchener. Prince Edward Island next summer. SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER DANIEL HO / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER CADET CHAMP: Holy Trinity student Zack Falcioni shows off the gold medal he won recently at the Canadian Cadet (16 and under) Wrestling Championships.