Among this year's inductees into the Collingwood Collegiate Institute (CCI) Black and Gold Society is Reinhardt Keller, a football defenseman and hall of famer.
The Black and Gold Society started in 1998 as a way to recognize graduates who had exceptional high school athletic careers and went on to achieve great things in sports after high school. The society also honours those who have worked to pioneer and build CCI athletics in their careers as athletes, coaches and teachers at CCI.
Keller came to Canada in Grade 10 after earning a spot on the Junior National Rugby team of South Africa. He took up Canadian football, wrestling and track and field at CCI. He was named senior athlete of the year and went on to play football for the Laurier Golden Hawks after graduating. The Hawks, with Keller, were Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champions and Vanier Cup winners in 1991. Keller was a three-time OUA all-star, a two-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport all-star, the 1993 OUA lineman of the year and was known for a punishable defence. He was inducted into the Golden Hawk hall of fame in 1998 and was recently added to Laurier’s football team of the 20th century.
Keller, 10 other athletes, and three builders will be inducted into the Black and Gold Society during a ceremony on Sept. 21 as part of the CCI 160th anniversary reunion.
