Comets look to repeat as provincial champs

By Lethbridge Herald on June 6, 2023.

Herald file photo Raymond Comets Elania Smith finds the edge and runs the ball down for a try against the Chinook Coyotes during senior girls rugby action at Chinook High School in this April 2023 file photo.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Raymond Comets senior high school girls rugby team are vying for their 12th  Tier 1 provincial banner in 13 seasons this weekend in Calgary.

The Comets are going into the year-end finale undefeated and have a more balanced roster this year compared to the 2022 championship run.

“They’re a committed and balanced group and lots of fun to coach,” said head coach Dan Bikman.

“We haven’t lost a game, so that’s good news. That’s always a good thing. We’ve played in Edmonton; we’ve played in Red Deer (and) we had the No. 1 team out of Calgary (come) and played us here. So we’ve had a good look at kind of what’s out there. So we can compete with any team we’ll see.  But that’s the thing about the provincial tournament, you have to win it, and anything can happen in sports, but we’re as prepared as I think we can be.”

Raymond has been working on flowing as a unit all season long to prepare for provincials.

“Like, you know,  because every year we graduate a bunch of kids,” he said.

“… You know, rugby is one of these ultimate team sports. There’s 15 people on the field and so you have to get them rolling as a group. And so a ton of our preparation, a ton of our games, things that we do like when we go to tournaments, it’s all designed to get us flowing as a team.”

The Comets will look to their captains Dacee Schmale and Tycee Nelson to lead the way.

“Our captains are solid leaders both on and off the field,” said Bikman.

“And then we have some Grade 12s who are also part of that leadership core and then we have some Grade 11s that have  actually really stepped up this year. Like our scrum half (Mia Wilde), she’s really grown into her position. She played wing last year and has become scrum half this year, and has become a dominant part of our offensive attack.”

Their starting line-up has 10 of 15 players who have won a provincial title either in rugby 7s or 15s.

“So they understand the pressure, (and) they understand how to finish the season right,” he said.

“You know because when you get to provincials you can’t help but feel a little added pressure because there’s more teams and it’s at a big, nice rugby club. So they’re prepared for that mentally. So I think that’s huge.”

Games will begin with quarter-final and semi-final match ups on Friday, followed by the finals on Saturday at the Calgary Rugby Union.

The Comets won the Tier 1 South Zone banner after defeating LCI 24-15  on Monday.