The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association’s “A–AAA” boys soccer provincials brought top-tier competition and hometown excitement to Stonewall last weekend, with Morweena Christian School and Collège Stonewall Collegiate proudly co-hosting the event.
The Morweena Raptors captured the bronze medal, edging the W.C. Miller Aces 2-1 in the third-place final. The win capped a strong weekend for the small-school squad, which combined grit and teamwork to earn a place on the podium.
“The team was really excited about winning bronze at provincials — it’s the highest we’ve ever placed and we had to bring our A-plus effort to get there,” said team manager Jason Reimer. “Soccer is core to our school’s sports programming, a game almost all our students have grown up playing, and the success we’ve been able to have over the years means a lot to both current students and alumni. It felt like the team won that third-place game for more than just themselves.”
Morweena opened the tournament with a 3-2 victory over the Minnedosa Chancellors, then ran into a powerhouse in the Garden Valley Zodiacs, falling 10-0 in the semifinal. The Raptors bounced back in impressive fashion, regrouping for a hard-fought bronze-medal win.
“Obviously our goal coming into provincials is to win every game, so it’s disappointing to lose in the semifinals,” Reimer said. “There are some very strong programs out there that we have a ton of respect for, and Garden Valley played incredibly well and deserved their shot at the gold. Our coaches did a great job helping the team move past that loss and get ready for what we knew would be a tough match against a very skilled W.C. Miller team.”
One highlight came early in the weekend.
“There were so many players who had an important role in pushing us to third place,” Reimer added. “One of the most memorable moments for me was Ethan Kornelsen’s free-kick goal from 30-plus yards out in our first game — it turned out to be the winner.”
Morweena also had two players named to the 2025 Boys Provincial A-AAA Soccer High School All-Star Team — Jamin Penner and Ethan Kornelsen — recognizing their strong play and leadership throughout the season.
Hosting the event added another layer of pride for the small-school team.
“Hosting is a huge job and I want to thank Collège Stonewall Collegiate staff for all the work they did to make it happen,” Reimer said. “For us, this was the first time being involved in hosting provincials in any sport. We learned a lot about what it takes to make things go smoothly, and I think we gained even more appreciation for all the coaches and administrators who put in time to give their students a chance to succeed.”
Reimer said he hopes his athletes take more than medals from the experience.
“I hope our students come away from this season with confidence that we can compete at a high level, even as a small school up against heavy competition,” he said. “They went into every game ready to put it on the line for each other, to not let their teammates down — and the reward for choosing to do that feels pretty sweet. If they remember how much fun it is to experience success alongside others, that’s a win in my book.”
The Collège Stonewall Collegiate Rams also finished on a high note, earning the consolation championship in dramatic fashion. After dropping their opener 4-0 to W.C. Miller, the Rams rebounded with a win over R.D. Parker Collegiate before clinching the consolation title 3-1 in overtime against Minnedosa.
The tournament drew enthusiastic crowds to the Stonewall soccer pitches, with both schools receiving praise for their organization and hospitality.
“It’s special to host provincials right here at home,” said one organizer. “The support from fans, families and the community made it an unforgettable weekend for everyone involved.”
