St. Francis takes top two spots in senior volleyball champs
The final high school volleyball tournament of the year took place in Riverdale Nov. 16-18. St. Francis dominated the tournament and ended up winning it over their rival F.H. Collins in the final.
By Diego Brisebois-Bourget on December 1, 2023
The final high school volleyball tournament of the year took place in Riverdale Nov. 16-18. St. Francis dominated the tournament and ended up winning it over their rival F.H. Collins in the final. In fact, St. Francis had two of the top three teams as their second team (Team 2) handled their business and finished in third place above Mercier in the consolation game.
The Star spoke to St. Francis coach Dwayne Stoker about the tournament victories.
“We ended up with both our senior teams with gold and our second boys’ team with a bronze, so it worked out well. It was a busy weekend and our final conclusion to a great season.”
When asked about how he felt about the victory, he replied, “I wasn’t too sure of the outcomes because we had some people that were sick and people that were away. Some other teams were affected as well with the hockey tournament that was there. So we weren’t sure how we were going to do without some of those bodies there.
“And then for our girls, they had won in Dawson and then they lost in the Super Volley. They’ve basically been going head to head with F.H. Collins the whole year. So they played great in taking two of the three big tournaments.
“And for the boys, we took we took three big tournaments. They call it the Triple Crown, so we ended up with that.”
The third leg of the Triple Crown is the Dawson Invitational Volleyball tourney.
Stoker said his players felt really good the win.
“Especially my Team Two. They weren’t expected to do too much and they did quite well.
“We ended up playing against each other. So my team played my other team in the semi-finals, so only one team can move on to the final. The other team went to consolation and they won there.”
Stoker was asked what he credits to the victory.
“Everybody kind of playing together,” he responded.
St. Francis played F.H. in the earlier rounds. Stoker said with some people playing new positions because of other players being away, St. Francis didn’t play great and F.H. Collins did – not a great combination for his team.
“They beat us in the original round robin. And that’s actually why we had to play against our own team in the semi-final. So because we lost to F.H, it was set up that way. But the boys, they were confident and wanted to rebound and knew that they didn’t play very well and had to play better. And they did. They saw the girls win and that was pretty inspiring and they wanted to do the same,” recalled Stoker.
After all the games were wrapped up, all-stars awards were handed out and tournament MVPs were also named. Both MVPs came from St. Francis. On the girls side, it was Kya Larkin. Ethan Stoker was the boy’s MVP.
When asked about highlights of the tournament, Stoker said, “There’s a few who had some great blocks at the end of the game. Same thing with the girls.”
Against Mercier, Stoker got hit in the face with the ball.
“That was pretty tough on Mercier. It was tough on our boys too. They didn’t like that at all. But I mean, that’s the game, but for Mercier that kind of hurt them because I think he ended up getting concussed out of that a little bit and kind of shooken up. It was a moment where everybody seemed just kind of scared.”
On a better note, Stoker said it was good to have Inuvik and Watson Lake in the tournament.
“They had a lot of fun. It was very inspiring for them, and our kids were cheering both sides, so that was kind of cool, too.”
Stoker explained how it was a tough process to get to where they were, but it all paid off as the season ended with a triple crown victory for St. Francis.
“They started with a mission.”
A total of 32 kids tried out for the team. Team One and Team Two ended up with 11 players each.
“We practiced together and we talked together.”
Their goal was to win the Triple Crown.
“It’s really tough,” said Stoker. “You’re on the top of the chain, everybody wants you, so it’s really hard to stay up there, stay focused and stuff like that. They definitely had their shaky moments, but it all worked out.”
When asked about the girls journey to the championship, Stoker said they “Just never give up believing in themselves.”
“They were able to push through in Dawson and then they’re pretty focused for having their sights on the Super Volley and it just wasn’t in the cards. (They) didn’t play very well and some players were away or whatever. It’s just how it goes. And so they suddenly regrouped and really, really wanted to take that championship, and they did.
“My wife was coaching the girls. And I kind of help out with all the teams when I can. I try to help out everybody from our school. So yeah, I was on the side there, cheering them on too and giving little hints here and there, helping out where we can. Everybody’s in the same boat.”
Stoker added, “I think it was a successful season for for pretty much all the schools. It looked like the numbers were up. It’s getting harder because we don’t have as many coaches across the board for all the schools.
“I had 140 kids playing and that’s just about half the school. So everybody seems to have fun and we’re learning and you know, you have your injuries and disappointments but you also have your small victories and then ultimately the bigger victories so, I think everybody had a lot of fun, very proud of them, proud of everybody. (It was a) fun year, and bring on basketball.”
Most Valuable Player Award: #11- Maxime Vermette (Gabrielle-Roy Les Roys)
Players’ Choice Award (selected by participating teams): #11 – Tanner Manning (Morris / St.Jean Baptiste)
Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy
École secondaire Neelin High School
AWARDS
GIRLS TOURNAMENT MVP: Tyra Lasiuk – Neelin High School
CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-STARS: Tristyn Hanneson – Dauphin Clippers; Julia Martens – Westgate Wings; Ashra Reimer – Linden Christian Wings; Raya Suderman – Linden Christian Wings; Kruz Wilson – Neelin Spartans; Anne Gravelle – Neelin Spartans
DAIRY FARMERS OF MANITOBA PLAYERS’ CHOICE AWARD: Mia Dulaquis – Balmoral Hall
École secondaire Neelin High School
BOYS TOURNAMENT MVP: Nathaniel Berube – Neelin High School
CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-STARS: Samuel Anderson – Linden Christian Wings; Hayden Poegelt – College Louis-Riel; Kingston Thomas – Neelin High School; Kal-El Wilson – Neelin High School; Corey Brandt – Steinbach Christian School; Lukas Klassen – Steinbach Christian School
DAIRY FARMERS OF MANITOBA PLAYERS’ CHOICE AWARD: Jesse Vandenberg – Garden Valley Collegiate
MHSAA 2023 VOLLEYBALL PARTIICIPANTS
GIRLS
BOYS
A
Deloraine School
Elm Creek School
Glenboro School
Glenboro School
Baldur School/Cartwright Community Independent School (Co-Op)
Hamiota Collegiate Institute
Reston School
Frontier Mosakahiken School
Fisher River High School
Wawanesa School
Hamiota Collegiate Institute
Treherne Collegiate Institute
Gilbert Plains Collegiate Institute
Alonsa School/McCreary (SchoolCo-Op)
Frontier Misakahiken School
École Pointe-des-Chênes
Rivers Collegiate Institute
Fisher River High School
Grandview School
Baldur School/Cartwright Community Independent School (Co-Op)
AA
Major Pratt School
Carberry Collegiate Institute
Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy
MacGregor Collegiate Institute
Hapnot Collegiate Institute
Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy
St Paul’s Collegiate Institute (Elie)
Hapnot Collegiate Institute
Rosenort School
Rosenort School
Elton Collegiate Institute
Elton Collegiate Institute
Warren Collegiate Institute
Landmark Collegiate Institute
Prairie Mountain High School
Major Pratt School/ École St Lazare (Co-Op)
Green Valley School
Morris School/ École régionale St Jean Baptiste (Co-Op)
Lac du Bonnet Senior School
Boissevain School
AAA
Calvin Christian Collegiate Institute
Steinbach Christian School
Collège Stonewall Collegiate
Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School
Niverville High School
Garden Valley Collegiate Institute
Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School
Linden Christian School
Westgate Mennonite Collegiate Institute
École secondaire Neelin High School
Linden Christian School
Collège Louis-Riel
École secondaire Neelin High School
Collège Stonewall Collegiate
W C Miller Collegiate Institute
Springfield Collegiate Institute
Churchill High School
R D Park Collegiate Institute
R D Park Collegiate Institute
Neelin rallies incredibly to reach, win final
Spartans claim double gold at AAA provincials
By: Thomas Friesen
Jada McMillan stepped back to the service line with everything — or nothing — to lose.
Down 24-18, her Neelin Spartans needed a miracle or the best string of points they could play or their season would end with a bronze-medal match. The Spartans rallied and stole the set, then the third, then breezed through the provincial AAA varsity girls championship match, beating the Linden Christian Wings 25-19, 25-15 in Dauphin on Saturday.
“There was a point where I just thought ‘OK, I guess this is kind of it.’ Once we got rolling, I honestly felt like I became a cheerleader, tried to stay positive for them,” said Spartans head coach Lana Dubois
“Kruz (Wilson) was diving, everyone was getting ups we would not typically get. Nothing was hitting the floor and I feel like I blacked out.
“It was honestly the most crazy thing when you watch kids come back. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that in my life in sports.”
The Spartans didn’t start the week strong, going 1-2 in the top power pool and finished third. They got past the Sanford Sabres 25-23, 25-16, then met the Westgate Wings in what was originally the top two teams in the 12-team field.
Westgate won the first set 25-22, then led 22-13 before the Spartans started their improbable rally. It included, Dubois said, eight straight points by Maci Hlady at the net and an entire Neelin team that simply refused to go down.
They fought off five set points to tie it 24-24, then lost one and scored three more to force a third, which they won 15-10.
“It was actually the most insane thing I’ve ever experienced,” Dubois said, adding the team carried that energy through to the final.
“(Linden Christian’s) a great team, they were a really good team but at that point we realized how much we persevered in that (semifinal). We … had like two missed serves the entire match and everyone was just going.
“Everything was going for us.”
Neelin setter Tyra Lasuik was named tournament MVP, while left side Anne Gravelle and Wilson made the all-star team.
Dauphin beat Westgate 17-25, 25-22, 15-13 for bronze.
“It’s a great day to be a Spartan,” Dubois said.
NEELIN BOYS DOMINATE
That sentiment rang true for the Neelin boys, who dropped just one set all weekend en route to gold.
“It is so awesome. It’s an amazing feeling. These kids worked so hard, they practise so much, all the hard work came to fruition,” said head coach Jill Martine.
“Every team gave us a run, the boys just came to play.”
Neelin cruised through pool play, only letting two of six sets hit 20-plus points allowed. They got the No. 1 seed for the playoffs and blitzed Niverville 25-18, 25-16 before their lone snag of the weekend.
Louis-Riel took the first set of their semifinal but Neelin replied with two dominant ones, winning 18-25, 25-17, 15-9 to reach a final against Steinbach Christian.
The Spartans took that one 25-18, 25-22.
“We all were locked in, we were there to win and very much in control,” Martine said.
Neelin had an overflow of players who could have started on medallists in this event, which ultimately made the lineup that capped the season with a banner that much stronger.
Grade 11 left side Kal-El Wilson and libero Kingston Thomas were named provincial all-stars while senior left side Nathaniel Berube earned the MVP nod.
“He’s just such a consistent player and such a smart player,” Martine said. “He’s a true team player, he never gets down, point by point with him, he just is all about the team and we can always depend on him.
“This group just worked really hard. We practised five to six times a week and everybody was really important to our success.”
SOSSA – Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School (St Catharines)
TDSSAA – Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
TDCAA – University of Toronto Schools
SOSSA – E L Crossley Secondary School
WOSSAA – Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School
TDSSAA – Ursula Franklin Academy
SWOSSAA – Great Lakes Secondary School
YRAA – Sir William Mulock Secondary School
WOSSAA – Mitchell District High School
TDCAA – James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School
YRAA – Toronto District Christian High School
TDSSAA – Harbord Collegiate Institute
WOSSAA – East Elgin Secondary School
YRAA – Thornlea Secondary School
———————————————————————————————————-
Cathedral girls going for third-straight OFSAA basketball title, at home
Team has won 85 straight games and is looking to add another provincial championship to its suddenly bursting trophy case this week.
By Scott Radley Spectator Columnist
Matt Trabucco / Supplied The Cathedral Gaels girls basketball team celebrates its third Catholic school city title in a row earlier this month. On Thursday, it will try to win its third straight OFSAA AAA title when it hosts the provincial tournament.
She’s in Grade 13, or taking a “victory lap” if that’s what you want to call it. She’s played on the school basketball team since she transferred to Cathedral High School three years ago where all she’s done is win.
And win and win and win. And then she won some more.
Does the 18-year-old even remember the last game she lost?
“Honestly?” Nubeah Clarke says. “I don’t.”
That’s because her Cathedral team is riding a rather astonishing 85-game winning streak that stretches back to sometime before COVID. Before she was even there.
Beginning Thursday, she and her teammates will be trying to extend that number by a few on their home court. Cathedral is hosting the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations AAA (the category for the most populous schools) tournament.
It’s the first time it’s been in Hamilton in more than a decade. That’s significant. Much more so? They’ll be shooting for their third-straight provincial championship.
Turns out the Gaels of November aren’t just a line in a Gordon Lightfoot tune.
“We don’t want it to stop,” says head coach Kevin Daly.
No kidding.
There have been dominant girls’ teams in this city over the years. St. Mary has won a bunch of OFSAA titles. St. Thomas More and Bishop Ryan, too. Westdale and Ancaster have also won a couple.
This group is now in that conversation. Five members of the squad have implausibly never lost a high school game. What makes this crew unique isn’t just the success it’s having, though. It’s who’s playing.
Many successful high school teams — most, really — are loaded with kids who spend much of their year playing in the rep system and then doing this on the side. Not here.
“Five don’t play any basketball outside Cathedral,” Daly says. “It’s expensive to play club.”
Sure is. Often you’re looking at a couple thousand bucks for a season. For many kids at an inner-city school, that just isn’t possible. In Clarke’s case, she got into the game late, never played club ball as a kid and figured it was too late to start once she got this far.
There’s another challenge facing high schools these days. Many top players at this age attend prep schools that focus on the game and offer specialized training. These expensive, private academies are now often the gateway to big university scholarships. As a result, they tend to lure away the biggest stars.
“We’re from a different demographic,” Daly says of the school’s population.
Some could go. His twin daughters — Keira and Nicole — surely could’ve chosen that route. In the summer, they play in an elite club league that faces top American teams. They’re really good. Yet they’re here for Grade 12.
They didn’t want to miss the full high school experience, they say. They wanted to be able to play other sports, go to school dances and do other non-hoops things. So they chose to stay. They’d play rep and play for Cathedral.
“I love it here,” Keira says.
She and her teammates open the tournament against Peterborough’s St. Peter on Thursday at noon. Depending on how they do, they could face Hamilton’s St. John Henry Newman (which faces Korah Collegiate from Sault Ste. Marie at the same time) in the second round, later in the day.
Westdale is also here. Its first game is against Brampton’s St. Roch at 10:30 a.m.
The championship game is Saturday at 2 p.m.
It’s big for all of them. For Cathedral, this is uniquely huge. Until 2021, the school had never won a provincial title. Now they have a chance for a three-peat. At home.
“That’s so special,” Nicole says.
Students can buy their way out of class for $2 on Thursday to watch. She expects lots will, so the gym will be jammed and rather wild.
Coach Daly says the first title run was nerve-racking because it had never been done by the school before. The second was a little sweaty too, because a few folks had pointed out to him that not every team was back from COVID that first year so they had to win again to prove it was legit.
Now?
“This year, honestly, I’m just enjoying it,” he says.
Though you know he’ll enjoy it even more if the winning streak hits 90 on Saturday and there’s a gold medal around his players’ necks.
