Golf Team Goes Back-to-Back with Second Straight OFSAA Championship
It’s déjà vu all over again for the St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) Blue Eagles Golf Team as they soared to their second straight OFSAA provincial championship at the challenging Lindsay Golf and Country Club, cementing their reputation as a leading high school golf programme in Ontario.
“Winning an OFSAA championship means a tremendous amount to both our team and the entire school community. It’s the highest level of high school golf in the province, so it represents not just talent, but dedication, teamwork, passion, and perseverance,” says Paul Ruta, teacher and golf team coach alongside Mike Ross ’85 and Nunzio Corrente. “For our players, it’s validation of the countless hours they’ve put in, balancing schoolwork and competition. For the school, it’s a point of pride. It shows that our student-athletes excel not only academically but also in representing our values of sportsmanship, resilience, and excellence.”
SMCS finished the two-day tournament an impressive seven strokes ahead of Nepean High School, with Crescent School in third.
In the open division, SMCS was led by Joseph Totino, Grade 10, who captured an individual bronze medal with two days of impressive golf (71-73), while last year’s OFSAA bronze medalist, Matthew Simpson, Grade 12, finished in a tie for 7th (70-79), and Tyler Young, Grade 12, finished 49th (84-82).
“Winning back-to-back OFSAA championships was our goal, and we definitely did that. I give thanks to God for giving us these talents to be able to accomplish this victory in his glory,” says Totino. “The coaches played a huge role in our success during the tournament. Next year, we look to 3-peat.”
In the high school division, Matthew Castellarin, Grade 12, chipped in with a 5th place finish (83-79).
“The golf course is a great track, but it played tough with the weather,” says Castellarin. “The banquet was very well organized and a lot of fun for all the schools attending. Even though it wasn’t ideal conditions, our team was able to put our heads down and finish with gold. True pleasure is being part of an OFSAA championship team.
For the coaching staff, this championship marks the programme’s third provincial title in seven years, a testament to years of dedication.
“This group has a unique chemistry,” notes Ruta. “They genuinely enjoy competing for each other, not just with each other. There’s a real sense of unity—whether it’s encouraging a teammate after a rough hole or celebrating each other’s successes, they understand that individual scores add up to a team result. They’re also incredibly focused; they came into the season with clear goals and held each other accountable to high standards every step of the way.”
With their most recent OFSAA gold, the golf team now stands alone as the only school to capture three provincial titles (2019, 2024, 2025) in over 20 years.
“Our success has come from consistency—in culture, preparation, and support. We’ve built a programme where expectations are clear: hard work, discipline, and respect come first,” notes Ruta. “We’re fortunate to have strong backing from the school administration, supportive parents, and alumni who help mentor younger players. But most importantly, each new group of student-athletes buys into the idea that they’re part of something bigger than themselves.”
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