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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 26, 2008 - 71 Looking for young talent OYS takes care of its own Continued from page 70 WEST HAM CAMP: While West Ham United Football Club was in the area this week for the Major League Soccer all-star game at Toronto's BMO Field, the Oakville Soccer Club was playing host to the West Ham Football Academy ID Camp at River Oaks Park. Above, Paul Heffer leads a series of drills. Right, Joseph Kuta (in orange) makes a sliding save on Ishan Rehal during a scrimmage. The ID camp, which featured a number of local players, was an opportunity for young Canadian talent to be identified as a West Ham prospect and earn an invite to the club's academy in London. DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER This is likely Johansson's last chance at an Olympic medal, knowing that the Tornado class almost certainly will not be contested at the 2012 Games, if ever again. The International Olympic Committee demanded last year that the sport reduce its medal events from 11 to 10, and the Tornado class was the odd one out. Johansson, who will get married later this year, said it would be nearly impossible for him to change to a different class and be able to compete at the international level in four years. "To start fresh in a new class and try to get up to the international level takes four years, even with my experience now," he said. "It's not really fair when you have someone more significant in your life and you're ready to move on and start a family, especially when you're not making money at this. Kevin and I are just starting to hit our stride as a team, and there's not really another boat Kevin and I could sail together, so we would have to start with new teams. "It's sad (Tornado will be discontinued) because it's probably a result of Canada not voting for it (to stay in the Games)," he continued. "When your country votes against you in the midst of a campaign where you're giving up all these years of your life, it's pretty hard to accept. It has lit the fire within." Johansson took advantage of Thursday's fundraiser, titled `Oskar Night', to interact with the youth that graduated from the club's sailing school that day. He and Stittle autographed photographs, T-shirts and other memorabilia, and the night's attendees signed a good-luck banner for the two sailors. Through raffle tickets, a live auction and a silent auction, the OYS managed to raise $11,668 for the Olympic-bound sailors -- money that will be used for new sails (jib, mainsail and spinnaker) to use in Beijing. "The sailing school here puts 250 kids a year through our programs, and they all grow up to love sailing. Many of them grow up to compete, and every little while one of them does something really terrific. Oskar is the guy who will represent us at the Olympic Summer Games, and we take a lot of pride in that," said OYS commodore Murray Fischer. "When somebody accomplishes something great in (the sport), the club rallies behind them. There's a lot of support that goes into getting one of these kids to the Olympics. Emotional support from the parents (Oskar's parents, Tor and Erika, have been members of the OYS since 1974) is probably the biggest deal, and their peers help them out a lot. But, at the end of the day, they need some money too." Johansson and Stittle will leave for China next week. Olympic sailing competition is scheduled to begin Aug. 9. JV Invictas host first-round playoff game The Oakville Invictas junior varsity football team earned home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a 21-9 win over the Toronto Jr. Argos last weekend. The two teams were scheduled to meet again in post-season action today (Saturday), an 11 a.m. kickoff at Bronte Athletic Field. Josh Adams completed five of six pass attempts in last Saturday's victory, including a 30-yard touchdown completion to Tim Doyley. Ashton Rochester scored Oakville's other two majors, one coming on a 65-yard run, and earned five first downs for the Invictas. Marco Michetti snagged an interception in the Invictas' end zone, snuffing out a Toronto drive, and Connor Moen blocked two punts -- one of which was recovered by Oakville's Matt Hamel. Adam Powell added the converts on all three Invictas touchdowns.