Prom queens 25 · Friday, August 31, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com CHARITY GAME: Members of the Oakville Crusaders, Burlington Centaurs, Mississauga Blues and Stoney Creek women's rugby teams pose for a group photo after participating in the Crusaders' seventh annual Prom Dress Charity Rugby Game event last week at Crusader Park. The teams combined to raise $3,700 for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation in memory of Sgt. Shirley Fan, a family member of one of the Crusaders. Swimmer had to move to England for three years From the moment Great Britain Continued from page 24 moved to Canada when he was 17. was announced, the roar from the But in order to represent Great crowd...it still gives me gooseBritain at the Olympics, Knobbs had bumps," Knobbs said. "I can still to meet international aquatics fed- picture the whole thing. It's someerations' three-year residency thing I'll never forget. When we requirement. So despite concerns were swimming, we fed off the enerabout being so far away from her gy from the crowd. We really took a family, Knobbs packed up and moved step up." Buoyed by the an ocean away. home crowd, Great Although she "From the moment Britain turned in trained with the Great Britain was its best-ever interBritish team on a announced, the roar national result, findaily basis, Knobbs from the crowd... it still ishing sixth. was not eligible to gives me goosebumps. And if living her compete for a year, Olympic dream nor was she eligible I can still picture the wasn't enough for funding. On top whole thing." excitement for one of 40-plus hours of week, there was one training every week, Jennifer Knobbs more surprise in she took shifts as a store for Knobbs. A couple of days lifeguard to help pay her expenses. But Knobbs never regretted the after the synchronized swimming decision. Last year, she helped a event ended, Knobbs and her boyyoung British team -- whose aver- friend Shaun Biffen were walking age age at the time was under 20 through Olympic Park. When they -- to a ninth-place finish at the stopped to take a picture in front of the Olympic rings, he dropped to world championships. Though the routines were not as one knee and proposed. Knobbs, along with Biffen -- technical as Knobbs was used to, the British team missed no opportunity yeah, she said yes -- will return to to improve its performance, includ- Canada in February where she will ing working with Olympic champi- continue her studies at the University on figure skater Robin Cousins to of Toronto. And, instead of dreams, Knobbs will have a lifetime of memhelp improve their lifts. "It was so much fun and uplifting ories. "It was more than I ever dreamed and the choreography was great," Knobbs said of the team's Peter Pan- of," Knobbs said. "To know that everything you have done has paid themed free routine. And when it came time to per- off -- especially for my family and form in front of the home crowd, the sacrifices they made -- it was Knobbs said rather than feeling amazing." pressure, the team thrived on the -- Herb Garbutt can be folowed support it received. on Twitter @Herbgarbutt "Honestly, it was incredible. DOUBLING UP: The Oakville junior rookieball A's won both the Central Ontario Baseball Association regularseason and playoff titles this season. Successful year for jr. rookieball A's The Oakville junior rookieball A's recently concluded a successful season, their first as a traveling rep team. The A's finished first in the Central Ontario Baseball Association regular season. Oakville then won the COBA playoff title in dramatic fashion, scoring in the bottom of the final inning to edge the Mississauga Tigers 7-6 in the championship game. Members of the team are Troy Elson, Santiago Rincon, Cole Leonard, Connor Vainio, Brayden Gillespie, Chris Frauley, Jake Fisher, Jack Grant, Mason Bondoc, A.J. Guerrero, Jacob Wise and Easton Kirkpatrick. Scott Kirkpatrick, Davie Gillespie, Bruce Frauley and Dave Grant coach the team. Tryouts for the 2003 senior rookieball AAA and AA teams will be held next week. Dates and venues for tryouts of all age levels are posted at www.baseballoakville.com under 'rep'. Burloak won previous three national titles Continued from page 24 and Perrone claimed the juvenile women's C4 500m; Tessa Oldershaw, Potts, Haines and Bray-Lougheed won the open women's C-4 200m; and Mark Oldershaw, Aaron Rublee, Cory Rublee and Klevinas won the open men's C-4 200m. Silver medalists at nationals included Josh Havin, John Meisner, Sam Pennyfather, Rachel Dance, Michelle Olson, Tessa Oldershaw, Courtney Stott, Jeremy Stott, Potts, Haines and Mehrvar. Jeremy Stott, Perrone and Haines earned bronzes. Nova Scotia's Cheema Aquatic Club won the overall meet championship, snapping Burloak's threeyear run as national champions.