New Traditions with Basilian Brother Schools
Two examples of Basilian brotherhood came to a head in April, miles away from the St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) campus, as two athletic teams participated in their first Basil Bowl experience south of the border.
The SMCS Golf Team travelled to Houston, Texas, to play a round against St. Thomas High School (STHS) earlier in the month. The following weekend, the SMCS Volleyball Team headed to Detroit, Michigan for a match against Detroit Catholic Central (DCC).
The Basil Bowl was introduced in 2009 to encourage camaraderie through athletics among the three North American Basilian schools: SMCS, DCC, and STHS. For the first time this year, our golf and volleyball teams had the unique experience of competing against their Basilian brother schools.
Golf: SMCS vs. STHS
On April 10, the SMCS Golf team travelled to Houston, Texas, home of Basilian brother school St. Thomas High School.
The trip began with a round of golf against STHS at Sandhill Farm Golf Course, owned by one of St. Thomas’ alumni.
“It was a great opportunity to showcase the talent of our Golf Team while competing in a friendly competition against St. Thomas,” says Paul Ruta, teacher and coach. “The team had a great experience networking and building relationships with their Basilian brothers from Texas.”
That evening, students were able to catch an NBA game between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The following day, the team played another round at the Golf Club of Houston—which has been the home of many PGA and LIV Golf tour events—and indulged in a dinner full of highly rated southern food at a Texas BBQ restaurant.
Volleyball: SMCS vs. DCC
A group of 16 student-athletes and three coaches that make up the Varsity Volleyball Team had the honour of travelling to Detroit Catholic Central for the inaugural Volleyball Basil Bowl.
Their trip began by celebrating Mass in the school chapel, led by Fr. Patrick Fulton, CSB, principal of DCC. His message of brotherhood brought the teams together in a meaningful way and created a powerful and memorable experience for all.
“Witnessing the immediate connection our boys shared through their Basilian education was truly remarkable,” says Andrew Kos, Athletics Coordinator and volleyball coach. “There’s something powerful about meeting others who share the same interests and spiritual values—it creates an instant bond that I am confident will last a lifetime.”
Following the service, the two teams competed in a spirited match, where SMCS came away with a 3–1 victory. The evening concluded with a shared meal that celebrated the newly formed bonds and a deep sense of community.
St. Michael’s and the DCC Shamrocks entered the Heartland Invitational Tournament in Michigan the next day. Both teams remained undefeated throughout the day, setting the stage for a much-anticipated rematch in the finals. Before the match, the two teams came together in prayer, showing mutual respect and gratitude for the chance to build lasting connections through sport.
In front of a lively crowd, SMCS managed to secure another hard-fought victory in an exciting and emotional final.
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