Lions roar to victory at soccer provincials

St. Vital

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This article was published 12/06/2024 (836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the second year running, the Glenlawn Lions boys’ soccer team has won the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association’s AAAA soccer championship, this time beating the Steinbach Regional Sabres 3-0 on June 1.

“These boys are just so talented, and they are such a fun bunch of kids,” said Michele O’Dowd, the team’s manager and assistant coach.

Highlighting the collective strength of the team, five of the Lions players were named among the tournament all-stars. They were: Jack Money; Inioluwa Owolabi; Asher Pearen; Elliot Swenarchuk; and Nico Nadeau, who was also named most valuable player.

Noting the team remained undefeated throughout the season, O’Dowd said a number of this year’s graduating Grade 12 players will be heading off to university in the fall on soccer scholarships — a fact that not only outlines the depth of soccer talent at the St. Vital school, but also the group’s maturity and work ethic.

“They amaze me with every game,” O’Dowd said, adding the players have had to deal with some windy conditions in one or two recent games.

In light of winning a second successive provincial title, she said everyone involved is “still hugging each other in the hallways.”

O’Dowd said she also believes strongly in giving all the players on the roster the chance to play a part in the team’s progress during the course of a season and contribute to its collective success, which is a trait she learned from her father: “It’s the only way to do it. I make sure every single kid plays.”

As well as the efforts of the players, O’Dowd also praised the head coaching contribution of Anthony Limon, a former Glenlawn student and player, who was new to the role this season.

“Anthony did a fantastic job. He communicates so well, and it’s great that he’s able to give back in this way. He helps keep the kids in the game, and helps make them better people. It’s such a sweet group of kids. I’m so proud of them.”

Glenlawn has a history of playing a part in the nurture and development of grassroots soccer talent in the province; up until a few years ago, it was home to the Manitoba Soccer Association’s Regional Excel Centre.

Also named among the tournament all-stars were Gurpinder Purba (Maples Collegiate); Samuel Babalola (Fort Richmond Collegiate); Mitchell Strilchuk and Yehor Kuznetsov (Vincent Massey High School); Henry Fuss; Ben Maier; and Ronin Dykerman (Steinbach Regional).

In the girls’ AAAA tournament, Balmoral Hall Blazers took home the title with a 2-1 win over Léo-Rémillard Renards.