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Volleyball is in the Zone |
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Written by Dave Wells
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Tuesday, November 17 2009, 11:04 PM |
If you like high school volleyball there is a veritable smorgasbord of delectable viewing options this week as the South Zone Championships hit many local courts. By my perhaps suspect count 57 varsity teams are in the chase for zone glory and Alberta Schools Athletic Association Provincial Championship berths.
Medicine Hat High hosts the 4A boys and girls zones. LCI, Catholic Central and Hat High are 4A (800-plus Grade 10-12 ASAA eligible students) by size and have entered both genders. Dumore Eagle Butte have declared up to play 4A girls. LCI presents the 4A provincial championships Nov. 26-28 (much more on that gala event in this space next week), thus are are already qualified for the Big Dance in both genders. There is one more berth at stake in boys at zones and two in girls.
Cardston is the site of 3A (300-799 students) girls zones. Winston Churchill, Coaldale Kate Andrews, Taber W.R. Myers, and Medicine Hat McCoy join the chase. One berth in provincials is up for grabs.
The 3A boys zones are hosted by Medicine Hat Crescent Heights. There is one provincial slot at stake. Winston Churchill, Kate Andrews, Cardston, Eagle Butte and McCoy are in the field.
Fort Macleod F.P. Walshe is the massive 2A (100-299 students) girls event site. Two teams qualify for provincials. The slate also includes Immanuel Christian, Vulcan County Central, Nanton J.T. Foster, Kainai, Magrath, Pincher Creek Matthew Halton, Picture Butte, Raymond, Bow Island Senator Gershaw, Vauxhall and Crowsnest Consolidated.
Bow Island Senator Gershaw hosts 2A boys zones. Two teams will advance to provincials. Gershaw entertains Immanuel Christian, County Central, F.P. Walshe, Magrath, Picture Butte, Pincher Creek St. Michael’s (a combined team with Matthew Halton), Vauxhall, Claresholm Willow Creek and Crowsnest.
Taber St. Mary’s is the site of 1A (under-100 students) girls zones. St Mary’s is joined by Milk River Erle Rivers, Foremost, Stirling, Warner, Coalhurst, Lundbreck Livingstone, Lomond, Nobleford Noble Central and Pincher St. Michael’s. Only one ticket to provincials will be punched.
Foremost presents the 1A boys zones where one provincial trip will be earned. Coalhurst, Erle Rivers, Livingstone and St. Mary’s will be in the chase.
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As one might have gathered I enjoy it very much when local high school teams receive media play. Therefore, I certainly hope all zone volleyball tournament hosts get results out ASAP this weekend. Herald sports editor (and former zone volleyball participant) Dylan Purcell tells me the best way to get ink in this publication is to fax info to 403-329-9355. Heck, if I was a winning coach I’d send the results in myself as a fail safe.
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The Southern Alberta High School Volleyball League conducts 10 events annually. I note all 10 were won by Lethbridge teams this year. LCI captured five categories, Catholic Central three and Winston Churchill two. Many factors play into this result, but I think it’s fair to speculate Lethbridge Volleyball Club-trained performers were a significant plus.
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Many thanks to Winston Churchill’s Terry Hagel, plus Diane “Dee Dee” Delbello and Gord Vatcher at Catholic Central, for hosting the SAHSVL Final 8 Varsity Championships last weekend. Churchill was the boys site, with girls at CCH. I understand spectator turnout was generally encouraging. Perhaps this is partially due to the format which is single knockout on the championship side, unlike the vast majority of local V-ball block parties.
In addition to her personal services, Delbello (a natural born salesman if there ever was one; hawking Catholic Central gear an obvious passion) initiated and spearheads the student Cougar Leadership group which helps present CCH athletic events. I think it’s a concept other area schools could very well benefit from emulating.
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Meanwhile, in Edmonton Saturday, the Raymond football lads look to complete a Tier I (mandated for school populations of over 1,250) Alberta Schools Athletic Association Football Championship run on the University of Alberta’s South Campus Foote Field versus Sherwood Park Bev Facey. Kick off is slated for 6 p.m.
Facey has earned plenty of respect over the years. Sherwood Park football in general is very good, including perennial provincial bantam contenders, most noticeably the Sherwood Park Rams. That base is then dispersed to four different (Facey, Salisbury, Jordan, Ardrossan) historically successful high school programs.
Of course, Raymond has earned its props, too. They’ve won eight ASAA provincial titles, including five at the unlimited enrollment Tier I level. And Raymond draws from far less than half the smallest student enrollment of any team that has ever entered Tier I. Athletes are always crucial. And there’s no doubt the Raymond kids have spent literally thousands of hours building their ball skills. Special plaudits to this group who are very youthful. Raymond will likely be exponentially more experienced in 2010. Due primarily to sheer student numbers, player depth is never a strong suit when it comes to Raymond football. But, in terms of coaching depth, I think it’s a very plausible proposition that the current Raymond staff is the deepest this area has ever seen. I’d be hypocritical (and wrong) to say a post-secondary playing career is the overriding factor that goes into making a good coach. However, there’s no question it can be a truly significant tool.
Well, when I look at the Raymond staff of Dustin Ralph, Darryl Salmon, Bryce Coppieters, Cort Roszell, Darren Balderson and Matt Baines I note all six played university football within the last dozen years. I sincerely doubt that has ever happened before in this region, perhaps province — heck, maybe even country. I must say I’m especially impressed with Raymond’s swarming defence in recent weeks. So, I enquired as to who was serving as the defensive co-ordinator? I found out it’s former star University of Alberta quarterback Salmon, who has now gone over to the dark side.
Overall, this is a surfeit of coaching talent for any high school team. It certainly helps make me believe this area could staff a junior and/or university gridiron program with competent coaches.
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There’s no doubt the University of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium would be a prime site for junior football with only minor alterations (a significantly enlarged booth being No. 1 with a bullet.) University level could be comfortably accommodated with a few additional upgrades. The stadium staff, under the direction of Deb Marek, have proven they are capable of meeting challenges. Alas, as has been the case for four-plus decades, one final, large hurdle remains: Is any group or individual willing and able to provide the needed startup and operational funds?
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