Okkerse's sixth win captures WOSSAA 

   The Parkside Stampeder wins novice boys race to qualify for OFSAA joining

   Armani, Varallo and for a fourth time, Hallman, St. Joe's senior girls team 

  October 24, 2025

By Rob J. Ross

LONDON, Ont. - This year's WOSSAA cross country championships had a bit of everything and nothing to do with the weather.

Parkside Stampeders Nash Okkerse winning his sixth consecutive race, Makayla Varallo of Thorndale starring in a sport without a ball, five St. Joe's females heading to their fourth OFSAA and Dorchester Beavers Kirk Hallman enduring some drama in the final hundred metres of the senior boys race, highlighted Western Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (WOSSAA), October 23, at Springbank Park.

The top two teams and the top five individuals not on the top two teams for each race at WOSSAA, advance to OFSAA, the high school provincial championships, at Heart Lake Conservation Area, November 1 in Brampton.

           WOSSAA RESULTS

Undefeated first year

Okkerse's sixth win this season is taking him to OFSAA.

The Grade nine Parkside Stampeder broke away from a pack of eight runners mid way through the race, to win the novice boys title by 23 seconds.

"I was a little nervous at the start. There were a lot of kids I haven't seen before (and) some of them were going out hard," Okkerse said. "I just tried to stay with the (lead) group for awhile and then during the hills I really picked it up. I started pulling away after I sprinted really quick down a hill. I started to make a big gap. I tried to keep a smooth, fast, even pace for the rest of the race."

This season, the Grade nine Parkside Stampeder won all four invitational meets and Thames Vallley (TVRA) Tri-County a week ago in Strathroy.

"I'm really excited to win my first year at WOSSAA. It's a great feeling," Okkerse said. "I looked at times from previous years and thought I might have a good shot."

Now Okkerse is looking forward to his first OFSAA.

"If I keep up my training and have a good race, I should be able to place well."

Okkerse is a cousin to Mason Basson, a former Parkside Stampeder, who qualified for OFSAA in both cross country and track and field. Basson is currently with the Guelph Gryphons track team. Both train with St. Thomas Legion Club.

 

End of race detour

Hallman was set to battle Medway High's Ryan Georgeson for second place over the final 200 metres, before realizing they were off course.

"I feel we were getting ready to have the kicking match of our lives. Then we looked over our shoulders and saw that the fourth, fifth and sixth guys were in the finish chute and we were sent the wrong way," Hallman said. "Me and Ryan were talking and were saying, we have to start hopping fences (yellow tape) to get over there to where we were suppose to be."

At the final intersection, race leader Ingersoll's Noah Cann, Hallman, Georgeson, along with the biker guiding the race, were directed the wrong way, left, instead of right towards the finish line. The lead pack following, had runners who knew they had to go right and disregarded the marshal's direction.

Hallman and Georgeson cut across the field to return to the course with about 60 metres remaining, cutting in front of the lead pack, to finish one-two. Cann further along in the wrong way, recovered to place sixth.

"Noah should have won," Hallman said. "I don't think anyone denies he should have won the race. He had a great race and had a big lead. We (Hallman, Georgeson) had the faster reaction and crossed the line first and second."

There were no disqualifications for running off course, because it was a race marshal's error. In addition, all runners qualified for OFSAA, a fourth trip for Hallman.

"It's definitely nice to be consistently back to provincials," said Hallman.

 

Not only soccer

Already known for her soccer skills, Varallo is making a name for her self along the trails.

Varallo from Thorndale, finished second in the novice girls race, leading Medway High to the team title.

"It's cool. It's crazy to think that's it's all of Ontario. It's a good feeling," Varallo said about heading to OFSAA. "I started off strong, then I kind of lost my form. I feel if I didn't, I would have a better time, but I thought I did well."

This summer, Varallo captained the London Whitecaps 2011 girls OPL team and playing soccer prepares her for cross county.

"I'm running all that time," Varallo said. "I'm mid-field so I'm going end to end. I come into the fall already prepped."

Varallo ran cross country at West Nissouri elementary in Thorndale and had good results, including third place at the final meet in Grade eight, giving her confidence heading into high school.

"I had a feeling, because in elementary school I would usually get on the podium and the people here I have ran against them already," Varallo said.

Varallo won her first high school race at Strathroy and a second win came at Bolar Mountain. Varallo was third at Springback and second at TVRA Central, behind Cassidy Richardson, who also won WOSSAA.

 

Historic run

Three years ago, five females arrived at St. Joe's from various elementary schools and playing different sports.

In their first year together at the novice level, Abi Faris, Flourish Nmor, Alex Fangeat, Sadie Dowswell and Claire Caslick, combined to win WOSSAA and go on to place fourth at OFSAA.

"They have been outstanding since they started in Grade nine," Rams coach Michelle Massaro said. "The fact they stuck with it as non-club runners and have pulled this off for four years is kind of mind blowing. It speaks to their athleticism and their commitment to the sport that's not a glory sport. They motivate each other. They want to do it for each other."

That was the theme at WOSSAA this year, as the Rams battled three London schools, Central, Aquinas and Oakridge, for two OFSAA qualifying spots.

"I was a little worried. I think everyone was, but after we started and saw everyone around me, we were all doing well," Dowswell said. "Our whole team really worked their butts off. We all picked off a girl and all worked together. All of the other teams have one runner that really gets them through. Each of us worked hard and got that spot."

London Central with three runners in the top 12 and their fourth placing 24th won the senior title with 47 points. Oakridge was led by Norah Benson who finished second, but it came down to the Rams and Aquinas for the second place and a spot a OFSAA.

"I was questioning if we would make it, admits Nmor. "But before the race I said, we got to run it, we got to run it. I saw everybody dying at the end. I knew we ran it. I'm proud of everybody."

Nmor led the Rams finishing eighth, followed by Faris, in 10th, Fangeat, 22nd, Dowswell, 30th and Caslick, 38th.

The top four count towards team points, with the fifth runner being a tie breaker, if required and the Rams squeaked pass Aquinas, by two points. A key moment may have Fangeat passing an Aquinas runner in the final few hundred metres, to place one spot ahead of her.

"I saw her and I had to do everything I can for my team," recalled Fangeat. "Knowing everybody on my team is doing everything they can for me, gave me strength to keep on running, even though it hurt really, really bad."

After Faris and Nmor hit the finish line, three Aquinas runners came across, followed by Fangeat. Dowswell was five spots ahead of Aquinas' fourth runner.

"This is the first race this season I could not walk after (finishing), because I ran it," added Nmor. "I was dying at the finish. It was hard race, but I kept saying, for the team, for the team."

The Rams' five returns to OFSAA for a second year as seniors and no doubt looking a team medal. The girls placed fourth in Grade nine and 10, as novices and juniors and 13th a year ago.

"I'm very excited and I'm very proud of the entire team, doing it four years in a row," Faris said. "Getting to run with each other is what I'm most excited for because we've been training together for four years."

Each of the runner's desire to keep running every autumn keeps everyone returning to the team.

"Having everybody come back every year is the reason I come back every year, because the team is like a family now," said Fangeat. "It's amazing, especially to go all four years, with the same five top girls. Our sixth has changed, but to go four years is incredible."

Caslick has been the team's strong fifth runner.

"I'm excited to be the fifth runner which I've been for four years," Caslick said. "I'm excited to go back again. There was a chance that we wouldn't go, so I'm really happy that we get to return."

Makena Evangelinos is the the Rams sixth runner this year and will attend OFSAA as their substitute runner.

"Four years in a row. It's never been done," Rams coach Annette Barry said. "This is a first time for a group of amazing young women. It's been the core group from the start. No one has stopped and no one as been displaced by anybody else."

Barry was prepared if Aquinas had snuck by the Rams.

"It's always close. Last year we felt they are lucky as Grade 11s to be going. This year, they stuck with it," Barry said. "Whatever played out was going to play out. I was so proud of them regardless of the finish. They're so consistent. You want that to pay off. You want that to come in a form of a celebration like going to OFSAA. If it hadn't, it wouldn't change how integral, hard working and gritty they all are."

Moniz returns OFSAA, nabbing the fifth and final qualifying spot in the junior boys race, finishing 10th.

WOSSAA roundup

Parkside Stampeders Jack Rice missed qualifying by one position, placing 15th in the junior boys race.

East Elgin Eagles Benji Gould was 10th in the senior boys race.

St. Joe's novice girls team was third, with Olivia Beauchamp leading the way finishing 15th.

Brody Mann had the Central Elgin Titans top result, 18th in senior boys.

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