Seaton Sonics combine with Coldstream's Kalamalka Lakers to form junior varsity football program with help from City of Vernon
The Vernon Panthers will have a new-old rival in the Southern Interior High School Junior Varsity Football League in 2024.
The Seaton Sonics will make their return after nearly a 10-year hiatus.
The Sonics will combine with players from Kalamalka Secondary to join the reigning provincial junior varsity champion Panthers as a league and city rival.
"We put a joint team application with Kalamalka Secondary for junior varsity," said Seaton athletic director Melaina Ovington. "So, the team will consist of Grade 8, 9, 10 students from Kal and Seaton together."
Like the Panthers, the Seaton-Kal combo will play home games at Greater Vernon Athletic Park. The two rivals will play their only regular season meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at GVAP.
The last time Kalamalka had a football program was 2011, at the senior varsity level.
The Sonics' application was helped out by the approval of a Vernon City Council discretionary grant totalling $13,000, which will be used to purchase protective and training equipment.
The original ask from the school was for $20,000. The Seaton application was sent back to the city's finance committee for futher discussion, and the committee recommended the $13,000 grant.
Coun. Teresa Durning was the only councillor opposed to the recommendation.
"I only oppose the amount approved to Seaton," said Durning. "I would love to reduce the amount so we can spread it around further to support youth and minor sports."
At the senior varsity level in 2024, VSS will try to defend its provincial title from 2023 against city rival Fulton Maroons, Armstrong's Pleasant Valley Hawks and other league foes.
