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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009 25 Simply perfect Venom atom girls won every game this basketball season The Oakville Venom major atom AAA girls couldn't have been any better this season. Oakville put the finishing touches on an undefeated season last weekend in London, winning the Ontario Basketball Association championship with a 50-26 rout of Tecumseh in the final. The Venom finished the year with a 49-0 record, winning gold in each of the nine tournaments it entered. "I've never been part of anything like that, and I've been coaching (various levels) for 20 years," said Oakville head coach Toney McNeil. "The girls developed a lot throughout the season. I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but, hey, they're good. They're really good." Despite its dominant record, the Venom did have to overcome at least one major challenge to keep its perfect record intact. Oakville trailed Brantford by 13 points in the third quarter of its OBA semifinal contest, but still managed to rally for a 41-37 victory. "I could only laugh. It was such a great feeling," McNeil said of the comeback. Members of the team are Amanda Horne, Chennedy Wiles, Sophia Sanvictores, Claire Bannister, Lianna Hughes, Jaelyn Kirkpatrick, Vanessa Garcia, Hayley Suchanek, Marina Painco, Tiffany McNeil, Lisa Sullivan, Mara Briscoe and Audrey Popa. UNBEATEN SEASON: The Oakville Venom major atom AAA girls' basketball team recently concluded a perfect season by winning the Mario Garcia and Yuki Carter are assistant coaches, and Ontario Basketball Association championship. Oakville went 49-0 this year to win gold in all nine tournaments it entered. Chris Painco is the trainer. Cowboys to be part of Pop Warner program By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Soccer Goalkeeper Required The Oakville Cowboys' motto could be getting a little longer in the near future. "Our motto is `We Are Football!'", said Cowboys president Stuart Hyman. "I guess now we're more than football. Now we're also cheerleading and dance." The Cowboys will soon offer instruction and competition in all of those areas, thanks to Hyman's latest initiative. Hyman will officially unveil plans for the Ontario Pop Warner Football League -- in which the Cowboys will be a founding member -- at a press conference in Toronto Monday. This will be the first foray into Canada for the Pop Warner program, the world's oldest and largest youth football and cheerleading organization. "Pop Warner is the equivalent of Little League baseball coming into Canada," said Hyman, who will also be president of the Ontario Pop Warner Football League. "That's how big this program is." Pop Warner is seen as the top youth development league in the United States. According to the organization's website, the National Football League Players Association estimates that 6070 per cent of all NFL players started playing the game in the Pop Warner system. Pop Warner product and former Canadian Football League/NFL star Warren Moon is expected to attend Monday's press conference. Experienced goalkeeper required for the The program puts an emphasis on player safety, dividing over-35 Burlington Senior Recreational Soccer League. Must be at least 35 by divisions by weight as well as age. It also stresses the importance December 31, 2009. We play every of scholastics, requiring players to maintain their grades in Friday night from mid-May to order to continue playing as well as rewarding academic mid-October in Burlington. achievement. It is a structured house league with a maximum of 35 playIf you are interested please contact ers per team and no tryouts or cuts. Tackle football is Ed Doyle at director@burlingtonsrl.ca available for children as young as five years old. Champions from the Ontario league will play winners from BEST PRICES EVER other regions -- likely Michigan or New York -- in hopes of advancing to the Pop Warner HI-EFFICIENCY Super Bowl. In addition, Pop Warner has a Challenger Division that offers flag football for mentally and physically disabled children, a feature WAS NOW that Hyman says he's most excited about. $ $ 3100 2500 1.5 TON "Kids that a lot of people forget about will $ $ 2 TON 3200 2600 now have a program to be able to play foot$ $ 2.5 TON 3400 2800 ball for a love of the sport and hopefully feel $ $ 3 TON 3600 3000 confident in themselves," he said. # 10 Years Parts & Labour Warranty While football is what Pop Warner is best # New Gas- R410A known for, the organization also offers train# Eligible for Government Rebate ing and competition in cheerleading and dance. 9 Locations To Serve You Better! Cheerleading squads will work in tandem $ CENTRAL AIR 600 OFF See More page 26 *Call Dealer for Details 905-849-4998 www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665