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Sports Oakville Beaver 33 · Friday, December 14, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-632-0588 (ext. 294) email sports@oakvillebeaver.com On the MLS radar Grey Cup champion makes victorious return to former high school He let me hold it," said Grade 11 King's Christian student Sean Wilson, wearing a No. 31 Michael `Pinball' Clemons Argo jerIt's actually quite funny when you think sey. "It's pretty crazy. I've seen his picture on about it. Here was Michael Nnaji, an offen- the wall (in the school's foyer) with Waterloo sive lineman with the Oakville Titans, ask- and I've wondered if he'd make it in the NFL ing Joel Reinders for advice on how to play or the CFL, so to see him win the Grey Cup, the position. it's really cool." With a year of rep football "It's pretty awesome," said under his belt, the Grade 10 stuGrade 9 student Kosta Kardidis. dent has played nine fewer foot"It's feels like an honour to have ball games in his entire life than him bring the Grey Cup here." Reinders, who returned to his Caroline Innes could barely high school Thursday as a Grey contain her excitement as she Cup champion with the centurywaited in line to have her picture old trophy as evidence. taken with Reinders. Of course, despite his limited "I love the CFL," said the game experience, Reinders point16-year-old, who had Reinders ed out to the students gathered add his signature to her autoin the King's Christian Collegiate graphed Argos hat. "I went to the Joel Reinders gymnasium that he has had the Labour Day Classic the last few opportunity to learn from some of the best years. For the Argos to get to the Grey Cup, coaches in the world. But a return to the it was, `Oh my God, my team is there.' And gym where he starred as a 6-foot-8, 180- with someone who went to your school on pound basketball player certainly reminded the team, it was even more special. I mean, him how far he has come in a sport he didn't he was one of us." play until five years ago. Reinders, who has four cousins still "It's been a wild ride to say the least," said attending King's Christian, was actually one Reinders. "From being a of the school's first students nobody in the NFL to being "With someone who when the school opened in somewhat of a somebody on went to your school on 2001. Of the championship a CFL team. It's been a the team, it was even banners hanging in the blessing in disguise." gymnasium, the oldest one more special (when the Reinders began the year belongs to the senior boys' in the training camp of the Toronto Argonauts won basketball team that defending Super Bowl the Grey Cup.) I mean, Reinders played on. champion New York Giants. he was one of us." "It's cool to leave someThough he briefly considthing behind, something ered retiring after being cut King's Christian Collegiate you helped contribute to," in August, Reinders was student Caroline Innes he said. "You think about, if quickly signed by the I didn't play basketball in Toronto Argonauts, just as high school, I wouldn't have gone to the team was starting to turn its season Waterloo. Who knows what would have haparound. pened then -- if I would have ever played That culminated earlier this month in football. You never know where the decithe Argos' first Grey Cup victory in eight sions you make are going to take you." years in front of a hometown crowd of Or how sharing your story might influ53,208 at the Rogers Centre. Thursday, the ence someone else. 25-year-old Oakville native got his day with "I have a passion for football," said Nnaji, the Grey Cup and shared it with the stu- despite attending a school without a team. dents at his former schools, King's Christian "If he can do it, maybe I can, too. I just have and John Knox Christian School, prior to an to work hard." evening celebration with friends and family at Philthy McNasty's. -- Herb Garbutt can be followed "I've always wanted to see the Grey Cup. on Twitter @Herbgarbutt By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF JOHN QUACKENBOS / BOSTON COLLEGE ATHLETICS COMBINE INVITE: Former Iroquois Ridge High School student Kyle Bekker, pictured in action for the Boston College Eagles, is among the 54 NCAA seniors -- and three Canadians -- who have been invited to attend next month's Major League Soccer combine. The midfielder helped Canada reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers earlier this year, starting three of four games in the tournament, and has been named to the all-ACC first team for the past two seasons. The MLS combine will divide players into four teams and have them play games Jan. 11, 13 and 15. All players will be eligible for the MLS SuperDraft Jan. 17 in Indianapolis, when 38 selections will be made. Trinity student commits to Bucknell University Holy Trinity student and Lakeside Volleyball Club member Rebecca Forbes (pictured, right) has committed to play volleyball for the Bucknell University Bison. Forbes has enjoyed both academic and athletic success at Trinity, earning a 3.47 grade-point average while being a three-year starter for the Titans varsity squad. Bucknell is a four-year liberal arts university located in Lewisburg, Pa. The Bison recently concluded a 9-20 season in NCAA play, posting a 3-11 mark in the Patriot League. Colgate, American, Army, Lehigh, Navy, Holy Cross and Lafayette round out the Patriot League circuit.