Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-10-5, Page 14Page 14 Times -Advocate, October 5, 1994 _ Sidelines L AM By Fred Groves WOAA does a great job Congratulations this week is extended to the Western Ontario Athletic Association which re- cently hosted its 50th Annual General meeting in Wingham. For those unaware of this group, it's a very big organiza- tion and at the meeting there had to he at least 200 people from dozens of communities who par- ticipate in sports. The WOAA is run just like a business and at the meeting had a financial report, amendments -to bylaws and an election which saw David Jacobi of Walkerton re-elected as president. There is an office in Wing - ham, run by secretary -manager Linda Espenscn who docs a great job running the administra- tion part of the WOAA. Among the special guests at the meeting was Ontario Minor Hockey Association Ken Russell who brought greetings from the OMHA and came to con- gratulate the WOAA for having 12 teams in the provincial playoffs 11 of which came away with the title. "I hope you don't win too many more championships or we'll have to. get itrtore trophies," said a joking Russell, 'S1epNen"t w ship'bantams and Zurich peewees were thc two local teams to bring home thc winning trophy. Those two centres, along with Hensall, which this year will have house league teams only entered, and Exeter arc part of the WOAA. Exeter has two teams this year in WOAA, the Midget Bears and the Juveniles. The rest are in Shamrock and Lamhton- Middlesex, the same league Lu - can is in. There has been continual con- flict between the OMHA and other hockey sporting organiza- tions, some which may never he ratified. "We're now part of the OHF (Ontario Hockey Federation), that cost us $ 150,000 and for that we get one vote," said Rus- sell.' In his 1993-94 minor hockey report, chairman Jack Twolan, who was re-elected as 2nd Vice- President stated. there were 19 juvenile teams in the WOAA last year and they hope for more this season. • Twolan also made comment to the happenings and hassles of ,hpckcy's higher governing bod- ies. "I would like to say the WOAA got their program roll- ing despite the problems at the higher levels," said Twolan's re- port. "We shall continue our loy- alty to the OMHA because of their well run program despite some humps along the way." The WOAA also ran a Senior Hockey League, Ladies Hockey and Softball leagues which also gave brief reports at thc meet- ing. This past summer there were 274 softball teams in the WOAA which is an increase of 24. 1 recently received a fax from Susan Riley from the F.L.T. team of the South Huron Ladies Slo-Pitch League who informed me that it was that team, and not Murphy's which won the 'C' title as reported in the T -A. Sorry about the mistake ladies... New rules coming for volleyball 'Kicking the ball - will it make the game more exciting? By Fred Groves T- staff EXETER - Kicking the ball, serv- ing from anywhere behind the end line and being able to 'accidentally' touch the net are all new rules which will be hitting the volleyball courts in 1995. But while the new rules, set out by the International Volleyball Fed- eration, come into effect on January 1, they probably won't be used by high schools until next fall. While the boys teams are now playing, the girls don't start until November and after a Christmas break, resume in January. "With the girls, I don't know what they'll do," said referee Chris Campbell who was officiating the "These is no real advantage to it. None of these changes will speed up the game." South Huron's senior volleyball player Adam Jean dives for the ball while teammates Brian McAllister, left; and Kyle Vermeulen look on during action against Central Huron on Thursday. senior boys' games at South Huron District High School on Thursday. "They'll probably bring it in next year." Under the rules now, players are not allowed to touch the ball with any part of their bodies below the knee. The new rules will allow the players to touch the ball with any part of their body including their feet. "There's no real advantage to it. None of these changes will speed up the game. They're trying to make it like the beach scene," said Campbell referring to the popular sport of beach volleyball which is gaining in spectators. Joe Jankowski, coach of the South Huron senior boys' volleyball team doesn't seem overly favour- able of the new rules. "I guess what they are trying to do is make it a little more spec- tacular. It will take the purity out of the sport," said Jankowski. He has a little trouble trying to figure out how accidentally touch- ing the net rule will be marshalled. No doubt all players are going to turn to the referee and say they didn't mean to hit the net on pur- pose. "We've got enough discretion calls now," he said. As far as serving from anywhere beyond the back line, that could change thc game a little, depending on who your opposition is. If they have a particular weak spot on the floor, the team serving may want to pick on that. "With ,a good.receiving team, it won't make a difference," said Jan- kowski. Slow start: Thursday in the Hu- ron Conference league openers, thc Panthers, the defending Huron - Perth champions, had trouble with the visiting Vikings from Goderich. They lost the first game, came back to win the second and in the third, with the score knotted at 8-8, watched as the Vikings rattled off seven straight points to win. "We're in a rebuilding year," said Jankowski of this year's edition of the senior team. "You can't expect to have a great team every year." South Huron bcat Central Huron twice and are doing well con- sidering they have three key players injured in Matt Sims, Brian McAllister and Dennis McCann. The seniors travelled to the St. Marys tournament on Saturday where they split with Mitchell and Woodstock's Huron Park while beating St. Marys and losing to London's Laurier and Catholic Central. South Huron's juniors are off to a good start as they won twice and lost once against both Goderich and Central Huron and will be in Sea - forth with the seniors on Thursday. At a tournament in Stratford on Saturday, the junior Panthers split with Kitchener Forest Heights, Mitchell and Stratford Central be- fore bowing out two straight to Woodstock Collegiate Institute. • "These guys are just going to get better and better," said junior coach Scott Halpenny of his team. so Junior Trevor Boersma plays the ball in front of Dave Far- quhar as the Panthers took on visiting Goderich in Higon- Perth Conference action on Thursday. `Gentleman Joe' is ready to go Boxer Joe Kaak climbed into the ring Tuesday for his first pro fight By Fred Groves T -A staff SHIPKA - There is one reason Joe Kaak has tuned pro - he's upset. i Tuesday night he climbed into the ring with Detroit's Willy 'Dynamaite' Smith to start off what hopes to be a very successful professional boxing career. Kaak, a Shipka native who now makes his home in De- troit, has represented Canada in such countries as Italy and Taiwan. However, his decision to turn pro was helped. by the actions of Canadian boxing officials. Back in March, Kaak brought home a bronze medal from a tournament in Italy. He hurt his hand and the number two ranked light -heavy weight was not ready to take on the number three ranked Troy Ross. Kaak was told if he couldn't fight Ross, he had to fly out to Saskatchewan with a doctor's note saying he was unable to box. Instead of going and doing the traditional weigh in which the officials requested, Kaak faxed them the note. At the time, the officials accepted it and decided to re- schedule the fight. "One week before the fight, 1 got a letter that said I was technically disqualified," said Kaak moments after a job near his parents farm. After five years on the amateur scene in which, a very short career, he was the Ontario champion and the national silver medal winner in both 1993 and 1994, Kaak felt it was time to turn pro. "If they pulled that during an Olympic year, everything would be down the tubes," said Kaak obviously upset with Canadian boxing officials. During the weekhe now lives in Detroit with three other boxers in the home of promoter Jackie Kallen. "I'm not really crazy about.it," said Kaak about living in Detroit. "I'm not a city person. Tuesday when he took on Smith he didn't seem overly concerned that it was a pro rather than amateur fight. "Fdr me it's just another fight. I've got 73 fights, 65 wins and 30 by knockout. That's a good record." At 6'2" and 180 -pounds, the 25 year-old will enter the ring for the first time as an unk own pro and wants to exit it four years later as a champion. "cm making a blueprint of ho I want my life to be for the next four years," said Kaak. Tuesday, the fight which was p of an eight -bout card at the Palace in Auburn Hills, didn't uire Kaak and Smith to come in at the required light eavy weight of 175 pounds. Boxer Jos Kaak climbed Into the ring on Tues- day for his first professional fight. "You don't have to weigh the official weight unless its a title fight. We both agree to come in at 180 pounds. Many boxers have a nickname - Hitman, Dynamite but Kaak has yet to attach one to his style. He has come up with three, one which can't be mentionedhere , 'KO Joe' and one he favours the most 'Gentleman Joe'. It's not a handle which is associated with the sport but for Kaak it suits him. The amateur bouts of the past were all three rounds: Tuesday it was scheduled for four rounds but on October 10 when he heads to Honk Kong to be a sparring partner for Lonnie Beasley, that will change. "I'm not a 12 -round fighter but when I go to Hong Kong. I'll be sparring for 12 rounds but that will be my only train- ing. I've been sparring with him for the last two -and -a -half years." Climbing very late into the ring, (age 20) has meant Kaak."'" has had to work very hard, it appears it is something that comes naturally. "Dad (Joe, Sr.) is glad I'm doing what I like. He'd be just as happy if I took over the farm. I know I got my de- termination from him." "I'm making a blueprint of how 1 want my life to lie for the next four years." 0 1