CAYUGA—The Cayuga Secondary School (CSS) Warriors are ready to step it up when they return this September. In their second year since successfully reforming, the Warriors will join the Athletic Association of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk (AABHN) Varsity League for the Fall 2025 season.
CSS teacher and team fundraising organizer Nicholas Tregonning said the team is very excited to join the league.
“While our first season was all about showing that our program is feasible, this year we are excited to be taking the next step and participating in the tough competition that the AABHN league provides. For our team, taking part in the AABHN league also means the culmination of a lot of hard work and commitment from players, coaches, and community members over the past year.”
The entire group behind the team has been impressed with the level of commitment and buy-in the players have exhibited, with Tregonning praising them for working hard every practice.
“The players are committed, we as coaches are committed, and we’re all looking forward to the start of the Varsity season in September,” he said.
Of course, with the success of the team comes the need for ongoing fundraising. All donations given are put directly toward funding a number of different expenses that come with running both a Varsity and Junior football program year in and year out.
“Since we are fielding a team for the first time in a number of years, a substantial portion of these donations have gone into funding the purchase of updated equipment that was required to field a team safely,” said Tregonning.
Specifically, 50 new helmets, team jerseys, and sets of shoulder pads and football pants had to be purchased. Ongoing donations help the team keep their equipment up-to-date and certified and to replace any damaged equipment that might arise throughout the season.
Other major expenses include AABHN league fees, field preparation and maintenance, and transport to and from games.
“In order to make sure that any funds donated to our program have the maximum possible impact, we’ve been planning and budgeting carefully to ensure that with continued community support, our program is in a great place to be successful and sustainable for many years to come,” said Tregonning.
The community fundraising efforts, he noted, were bolstered by a strong community response to the renewed team.
“Local businesses and community members alike have been so generous with their donations and financial support of the program over the past year,” he said, sharing that the team set out last year with an ambitious $50,000 target and reached it.
The effort continues this year, with a group of fundraising volunteers running a concessions booth at the recent RBC Canadian Open in Caledon, Ontario.
Also, a Cayuga Warriors Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025 at the Cayuga Golf Club. Tregonning said that as of publication, spaces were filling fast, but still available. To register, look for the Warriors page on Facebook, where you can scan a QR code. For further registration information, contact Kevin Morris at 289-775-4548.
“Even if you can’t golf, there’s still ways to get involved in our golf tournament: by sponsoring a hole, donating a door prize, or volunteering your time on the day of,” said Tregonning. “The importance of support from the community really cannot be overstated, and this program wouldn’t be what it is without the community behind it.”
Businesses are also able to purchase 3×5-foot coroplast signs to be displayed on the fence surrounding CSS’s football field for the duration of the 2025-26 season.
For the Warriors, team building extends beyond the field. Last year, the team held a successful food drive, going door-to-door to collect donations for the Cayuga Food Bank.
“We believe that both our players and the program as a whole have a responsibility to be active members of the community and to give back in meaningful ways whenever possible,” said Tregonning.
In addition to another food drive this fall, the team will be participating in Cayuga Summer Festvial on Saturday, July 19.
Fans should go ahead and mark Friday, October 10 on their calendar as well, as Tregonning said the excitement is building for the team’s Friday Night Lights game against Brantford’s Pauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational School on the CSS field to kick off the season with a bang.
“This Junior season was all about growth, development, and laying the foundation for future success – and our players absolutely rose to the challenge,” Tregonning said. “The team showed great improvement in their skills and overall understanding of the game. More importantly, they demonstrated commitment, sportsmanship, and a strong work ethic throughout the season. We’re proud of what this group has accomplished and excited to see what they bring to the field in the upcoming Varsity season.”
