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22 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2008 Russell shakes pressure, injury to qualify for Beijing By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER BACK FROM BARBADOS: Members of the White Oaks Wildcats boys' and girls' rugby teams recently traveled to Barbados for a series of exhibition games, preparing for the upcoming Halton season. Scrums, stiff-arms and safari White Oaks rugby teams play exhibition games in Barbados By Adam Johnston SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER For many high school students, March Break means sunny southern beaches, late-night parties and marathon sessions of their favourite video game. However, for some students at White Oaks Secondary School, this year's break was slightly more taxing. Members of the White Oaks rugby teams spent their weeklong vacation evading would-be tacklers in Christchurch, Barbados. "I couldn't think of a better way to spend my March Break," said Jesse Murton, a co-captain of the senior boys' team. Teammate Ethan Withers, the other co-captain, added, "It really incorporated two of the best things. It was our grad trip and it incorporated the sport we love." The Wildcats selected Barbados specifically because it was willing to host both the boys' and girls' squads. The tour took place March 7-15 and included 30 students. Other prospective host countries included Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand. However, these countries either did not field girls' rugby teams, or could not accommodate the required timeframe. Rugby is already the largest athletic program at White Oaks, consisting of 75 male and 30 female participants. Lauren Jarvis, captain of the varsity girls' crew, expects this experience to arouse even more interest among the female population. "It really brought everyone together," said Jarvis. "People have heard about this one and I know they want to get involved." Surprisingly, the Wildcats' boys' team managed a sweep of the Barbados national under-18 squad in the three matches, winning by scores of 20-15, 3215 and 20-15. "At first, when I heard we were playing the Barbados national team, it seemed a little daunting," said Murton. "We had to be on our toes, and ready for everything that was coming our way. It was a good experience." The girls posted a 1-2 record in their matches. All games were played at Garrison Stadium, the Barbados national rugby pitch. Plenty to do off the pitch Though rugby was the main reason for the trip, it wasn't all scrums and stiff-arms while on the island. Following the games, barbeques were held at the stadium, giving the students an insight into local culture and allowing them to socialize with the locals -- who were quite receptive to their new friends from the Great White North. Other activities included a 4x4 land safari around the island as well as snorkeling excursions surrounded by turtles, tarpon and puffer fish. Students even enjoyed a two-day adventure on a private catamaran. "The vibe of the island was probably the coolest thing," said Withers. "Everyone was so relaxed and nice; they really accepted us." To help fund the trip, coach Ryan Ibbott developed an innovative initiative. He discovered a solution that wouldn't require families to change their routines. The rugby program formed a partnership with Petro-Canada and the Loblaws family of grocery stores. In an effort to curb the financial strain of the trip, families were encouraged to sign up at those stores and purchase pre-paid gift cards. In exchange, the rugby program received a five per cent rebate on the total amount that was spent during the endeavor. The fundraising effort generated approximately $600,000 in revenue for the two stores, which alleviated roughly $600 from the cost of the trip per student. "We weren't going after families for new money, we were trying to keep it as low as possible," said Ibbott. "Everybody drives to work anyways, everybody puts food on the table for their families; this just meant that they were getting some of that money back." It also meant March Break for White Oaks rugby players was simply good, clean fun. Until they stepped onto the field, at least. Colin Russell has faced pressure throughout his swimming career, but probably the worst of it came from within. As he entered this past week's Canadian Olympic swim trials, Russell was taking a realistic view of the situation. Coming off shoulder surgery 15 months ago, he was not looking at the pool through rose-coloured goggles. "Honestly, I knew this would probably be the last (Olympic trials) for me. I had to look at it that way," the 23-year-old local resident said. "Swimming is a sport for the young. I'm just glad I wasn't too old." That gave the meet, which began Tuesday in Montreal, a now-or-never urgency that Russell had not faced before. He answered the challenge Wednesday, qualifying for the Canadian Olympic team that will head to Beijing in Colin Russell August. "I had a hard time sleeping last night," Russell said Thursday, less than 24 hours after winning the 200-metre freestyle. "It's about time I made that goal. It's been a really long process." Russell said it took him more than six months after the surgery to get back to where he once was, but he then hit a wall. "I've been expecting a drop in time for three years," he said. "Then at provincials I set the Ontario record and I wasn't even rested or shaved so I was expecting to be faster here and I wanted to go for the Canadian record." While he didn't quite get the record, his performance was still a major breakthrough. He took a second and a half off his personal best with a time of one minute, 47.81 seconds in the preliminaries. He followed that up in the final by swimming 1:46.99 -- 14 hundredths of a second off the record of Brent Hayden, who finished second -- to win and lock up his place on the Olympic team. Oakville's Andrew Hurd finished third in 1:48.57 to secure a spot on the Canadian 4x200m freestyle relay team. Hurd, 25, and Russell were on the 4x200m squad that won a silver medal at the 2005 world championships a bronze last year. Russell believes they can contend for a spot on the podium again. "We have four or five great guys we can use on that relay," Russell said. "It's possible. Getting a medal (could be) a reality." One reality Russell has to deal with is that as he has more success, the brighter the spotlight shines on him and his father. Cecil Russell was banned for life by Swimming Canada, reinstated in 2005 and then banned again last June when an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled he had deceived an arbitrator about being fully exonerated in an ecstasy trafficking ring in the United States. While Cecil Russell isn't allowed on a pool deck and Colin's mom, Erin, is listed as his official coach, Colin said his father still plays an important role in his training and, along with University of Toronto Byron MacDonald, helped him through a difficult period as he rehabbed his shoulder. "It does bother me," Colin said of the controversy, "and I don't answer many questions about it. I try to stay away from the politics and, for the most part, everyone is good except for the media." For now, he is focusing his attention on the trials -- he can still qualify in the 100m freestyle -- and preparing for the Olympics. "I'm extremely happy with the win," he said. "And being able to represent Canada as an individual was something I really wanted to do."