High School

Viking girls claim Townsend Shield

By Perry Bergson 8 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:07 PM CDT

The Vincent Massey Vikings romped to a 71-0 victory over the host Crocus Plainsmen in Westman High School Rugby girls’ action on Friday afternoon to win the Townsend Shield.

The award, which is handed out in honour of former girls Crocus rugby coach and program founder Larry Townsend, is presented to the winner of the annual game between the two Brandon high schools.

Maria Matthies led the way with five tries, while Bukumni Idowu and Lyla Demarce had two and Chloe Dupuis, Kaydance Fontaine, Maya Atkinson and Sofiya Akatova each had one. Asia Kryschuk had three converts.

“This feels really good,” Matthies said. “We made such a big deal about it. Our coaches were ‘We need to be practising to beat Crocus.’ Especially beating them on their soil, that feels really good.”

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High School

Crocus Plainsmen Ben Ibitoye, centre, celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal of the city boys soccer semifinal on Wednesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Captain Ibitoye lifts Plainsmen into final

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Captain Ibitoye lifts Plainsmen into final

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Ben Ibitoye knows one mistake can change a playoff game.

But he made sure his Crocus Plainsmen didn’t play scared as they dropped the Neelin Spartans 2-0 in the Brandon High School Soccer League boys semifinal at Neelin on Wednesday.

“We had a lot of talk before the game. The boys made up our mind that we were going for the win,” said Ibitoye, who broke through late in the first half for the game-winning goal.

“Like I said at the start of the season, we were very hungry, we just took a long time to show that. Now we’re getting the motivation and mentality to go into games to win. Practices were intense, competition was hard, so we built up the pressure from there.”

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Thursday, May. 21, 2026

High School

Thrower Nickel completes sweep at cities

By Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Thrower Nickel completes sweep at cities

By Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

Caitlan Nickel’s foray into track and field had a simple origin.

If she can chuck a baseball well, it likely translates into throwing events.

Tuesday’s city championships proved it.

The Vincent Massey Viking swept the varsity girls shot put, discus and javelin titles at UCT Stadium, and will head to provincials to compete in all three for the first time.

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Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

High School

Soleil Kaktins broke the city record in the junior varsity girls 100-metre at a track and field meet earlier this season. The Vincent Massey sophomore enters today's city championship as the favourite in the 100m and 200m. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Kaktins running strong into track cities

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Kaktins running strong into track cities

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Monday, May. 18, 2026

Soleil Kaktins is already in good track and field company.

While she’s in just her second year racing competitively, the Vincent Massey sophomore already has her name in the city record book. She broke fellow Viking Daniele Dyck’s 10-year-old record of 12.65 seconds in the 100-metre dash, posting 12.60 at a meet two weeks ago.

“It was pretty cool. She’s definitely a really impressive runner, so knowing I can keep up with her at the same age is pretty awesome, makes things look good for the future,” Kaktins said ahead of today’s city championships.

“There’s still a little bit of time to go (before provincials), so hopefully more training can happen, but the season’s looking pretty good.”

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Monday, May. 18, 2026

Baseball

Kasia Baranyk scored three runs in the first two innings as the Vincent Massey Vikings beat the Neelin Spartans 16-5 in the city softball championship game at Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex on Tuesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Vikings defend city softball title

By Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Vikings defend city softball title

By Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

When Kasia Baranyk was halfway to a cycle in the first inning, she liked her team’s chances.

The leadoff hitter scored twice in a huge opening frame, propelling the Vincent Massey Vikings to a 16-5 win over the Neelin Spartans in the Brandon High School Softball League final at Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex on Tuesday.

The speedy sophomore can’t recall batting twice in an inning, let alone scoring a pair.

“Never, it was a great feeling,” Baranyk said. “The girls were buzzing today, good vibes and good at bats.

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Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

Baseball

Massey comeback earns city baseball title

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Preview

Massey comeback earns city baseball title

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Monday, May. 18, 2026

The Vincent Massey Vikings chalked up five runs in the fourth inning to overcome a 3-0 deficit and make off with 16-5 victory over the Neelin Spartans in the high school city baseball championships at Andrews Field on Saturday.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Massey pitcher Madden Cheung. “It was a close game until about the fourth inning, but we battled hard and it was a fun game to play.”

Cheung and the Vikings were the only club to go 2-0 in the Zone 15 final, which featured a round-robin style with all three city high schools playing against each other once. They began their quest for the city title with a morning meeting against the Crocus Plainsmen, who they were able to take down 16-0, but not before a flurry of snow came whirling down at the ball park.

The Spartans and Plainsmen then found themselves in a back-and-fourth contest in a bit friendlier weather during the second game of the day, however, the green sweaters were eventually able to break through with a 9-7 win despite being down a few runs late in the game.

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Monday, May. 18, 2026

High School

Sass, Fadare lead Massey to back-to-back titles

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 7 minute read Preview

Sass, Fadare lead Massey to back-to-back titles

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 7 minute read Yesterday at 11:29 PM CDT

Calen Sass might want to shoot from midfield more often.

The 17-year-old centre midfielder for the Vincent Massey Vikings wasn’t surprised, just in a state of déjà vu after launching a deep shot from 50 yards out and into the net with the game on the line to lift his club to a 3-2 victory over the Crocus Plainsmen and the Brandon High School Soccer League championship at Cougars Field on Monday afternoon.

“I did believe it because I did it last year, so it gave me a little bit of déjà vu hitting back-to-back shots at the very end of the game, so that was pretty exciting,” he said. “My teammate Jedaiah (Matendo) told me, ‘Honestly, we have the ball, just shoot it from here, I know you can take it,’ so I took it all ‘cause of him, but if he didn’t tell me, I wouldn’t have shot it.

“I heard all the fans making fun of my teammate and it just feels nice to be able to shush them for a little bit.”

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Yesterday at 11:29 PM CDT

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High School

Abdulahi Nur leads Crocus to first victory

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Preview

Abdulahi Nur leads Crocus to first victory

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Wednesday, May. 13, 2026

It may have taken longer than they would have liked, but the Crocus Plainsmen are now in the win column.

Abdiriziak Abdulahi Nur cashed in on two goals in the second half as the Plainsmen defeated the Neelin Spartans 3-1 to snatch their first Brandon High School Soccer League victory of the season in Neelin on Wednesday afternoon.

Abdulahi Nur, a Grade 11 midfielder, was the first to admit he’s not a goal scorer and that it had been a while since he had buried one in a game, but he knew the stakes of this game and put his best foot forward — literally.

“I knew we had to win the game,” Abdulahi Nur said post-game. “It’s been so hard to win, but it feels good now and I was so excited to score and help my team.”

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Wednesday, May. 13, 2026

High School

Brazhko leads Dauphin past Massey

1 minute read Wednesday, May. 13, 2026

Ivan Brazhko scored three tries and added three converts as the Dauphin Clippers White team beat the Vincent Massey Vikings 31-10 in Westman High School Rugby boys action in Dauphin on Wednesday.

Brody Kaminski and Garret Sahulka added tries for Dauphin, while Cole Vandenberghe and Nico Dupit touched the ball down for Massey.

» The Brandon Sun

Baseball

Vincent Massey’s Kendra Grift tries to tag Neelin base runner Zara Pople at second during Brandon High School Softball League action at Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex on Tuesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Beckwith brilliant as Spartans drop Vikings

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Beckwith brilliant as Spartans drop Vikings

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Tuesday, May. 12, 2026

Emily Beckwith made the best offensive and defensive plays of the game at Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex on Tuesday.

Her favourite play, however, was neither of them.

“My favourite play was when my sister caught the ball and I ran into her and we got a little hug over there in right centre,” Beckwith said of Hayley’s huge catch to help seal a 12-5 run-rule victory for the Spartans over the Vincent Massey Vikings.

“It was like a foot away, it was close to being over.”

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Tuesday, May. 12, 2026

High School

Dauphin sweeps Massey in rugby

1 minute read Thursday, May. 7, 2026

The visiting Dauphin Clippers put a pair of lopsided losses on the Vincent Massey Vikings in Westman High School Rugby action on Thursday.

In a 104-0 victory in the girls game, Paityn Bourgoine and Desiree Lareive led the Clippers with four tries each, while Alina Genik and Jorja Percvial had two.

Ryann Richard-Soltis, Kiersten Vanderkerckhove and Mila Heschuk each had one, and Vanderkerckhove kicked 12 converts.

In the boys game, Alex Thompson led Dauphin with three tries in a 65-0 triumph. Ben Miner and Morgan Fleck both touched the ball down twice, and Ryzlie Nepinak, Jaime Camacho, Joshua Yakielashek and Parker Schau scored once, with Jordan Evans kicking three conversions and Colton Miner adding two.

High School

Vikings boys clinch first place in soccer standings

1 minute read Wednesday, May. 6, 2026

The Vincent Massey Vikings rumbled to the No. 1 seed for the Brandon High School Soccer League boys’ playoffs on Wednesday.

Timi Fadare added to his league lead with a goal in Massey’s 8-0 thumping of the Crocus Plainsmen at Cougars Field.

Calen Sass, Kelton McDougall, Kaleb McAuley, Emmanuel Ogunnaya, Demi Odentunde and Jedaiah Matendo also scored for Massey, which improved to 3-0, dropping Crocus to 0-2-1.

Massey hosts Neelin (0-1-1) on Monday.

Baseball

Massey baseball team drops Crocus

1 minute read Wednesday, May. 6, 2026

Cole Lobreau scored three runs and drove in three more as the Vincent Massey Vikings beat the Crocus Plainsmen 22-9 in Prairie West High School Baseball League action at Andrews Field on Wednesday.

Liam Oliver had a game-high four RBI for the Plainsmen.

Jaxten Woychyshyn earned the win, allowing three runs on two hits with four strikeouts.

» The Brandon Sun

High School

Neelin badminton duo captures provincial gold

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Neelin badminton duo captures provincial gold

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

It turns out Leonides McDaniel and Dana Linov weren’t just the best high school badminton duo in Brandon this year.

The Neelin Spartans mixed doubles team continued their undefeated run through the city championships at provincials, sweeping Jeanne-Sauve’s Surabhi Kishore and Quinn Lagacé 21-15, 21-13 in the gold-medal match in Winnipeg on Saturday.

They dropped just one set all season to the No. 1-ranked Fort Richmond squad in their semifinal, a match McDaniel said should have been the final. When they survived the scare, topping Xiaolin Liu and Yijia Sun 21-13, 18-21, 21-12, they weren’t worried about their final matchup.

“They were solid, but honestly, I felt like me and Dana were very confident going into that game,” McDaniel said.

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Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

High School

Vikings survive scare against Spartans

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Vikings survive scare against Spartans

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

Jordan Woloski’s role on Tuesday was way busier than usual.

At least, Vincent Massey defenders haven’t had much pressure from the Neelin Spartans lately. But the Spartans hit the Vikings’ net for the first time since 2019 and forced the senior centre back to be sharp to hold off the comeback bid in a 2-1 Massey victory on home turf.

The Vikings improved to 2-0, dropping the Spartans to 0-2 halfway through the Brandon High School Soccer League girls’ season.

“They have a really strong team this year and like to put the pressure on very fast. Our defence definitely had a lot more pressure than we’re used to,” Woloski said, adding defender Soleil Kaktins was a big help at the back.

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Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

Emytt Pearce netted a first-half hat trick for the Spartans, who had a fierce wind at their backs.

When the teams changed sides, the Plainsmen went to work as Ousman Ali, Ezra Adeneye and Justin McLachlan scored to draw level.

Both teams improved to 0-1-1.

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Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

May 26, 2026

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