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LCI hosts the ultimate block party |
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Written by Dave Wells
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Tuesday, 24 November 2009 |
Alberta Schools Athletic Association Provincial High School Volleyball Championships are served throughout Wild Rose Country Thursday through Saturday. Lethbridge Collegiate Institute hosts both genders of unlimited enrollment 4A competition. It is an extravaganza, including 32 teams (16 per gender) playing more matches than I can even contemplate.
In fact, the event is so big four gyms in three sites are being utilized. There will be hard-hitting action in both LCI gyms, plus three courts apiece at the University of Lethbridge 1st Choice Savings Centre and Lethbridge College Val Matteotti Gym.
The massive affair formally gets underway with opening ceremonies in the LCI main gym Thursday at 8:15 a.m. Athletes from all 32 teams are scheduled to march in, while the LCI Jazz Band, LCI Dancers and Taiko Drummers will perform.
There’s just no doubt the LCI organizers are putting out an enormous effort to put on a really big, crowd-pleasing show. Thus, although matches are held all over the city, it seems fitting to me medals will be decided in the LCI main gym Saturday beginning at 2:30 p.m.
I’m absolutely certain local teams plan on being in those medal matches. LCI teams of both genders took the South Zone championships last weekend, while Catholic Central squads also qualified.
The LCI boys have a remarkable six Southern Alberta High School Volleyball League all-stars in the line-up. Rams’ version of Murderer’s Row includes Trevor Harding, Tommy Lyon, Jordan Bright, Jay Kostek, Erik Hopkins and Jarred Kotkas. Ard Biesheuvel was a co-recipient of loop coach-of-the-year accolades. Their opening day action Thursday is at LCI with matches scheduled for 11:45 a.m., 2:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
Two LCI girls were on the SAHSVL all-star team. They are Erika Sheen and Nicole Seeley. Clippers call the U of L home on Thursday with mirror match times to the LCI boys.
Evan Cowan, Travis Riedlhuber and Taylor Jetten were Catholic Central lads on the SAHSVL all-star team. Brent Christensen was co-coach-of-the-year. The male Cougars play at Lethbridge College on Thursday, with 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. encounters.
Catholic Central’s Alison Linton, Cassie Mucciarone and Courtenay Farrington were SAHSVL female varsity all-stars. I would never pretend to be a volleyball expert, but to my admitted untrained V-ball eye Linton has significant post-secondary upside. I doubt I’ll ever forget the first time I saw her play. She’s long, has lift and is coordinated. The squad plays out of U of L on Thursday, at the same time as the Cougar boys.
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Winston Churchill, with SAHSVL all-stars Connor Dooley, T.J. Grant and Steven Khuu in the line-up, are off to Spruce Grove for 3A boys provincials. Bow Island Senator Gershaw has qualified for both genders of 2A action in Rocky Mountain House. Picture Butte is in the 2A boys event, while Immanuel Christian are 2A girls participants.
The Foremost boys are in the 1A tourney which will be played in Consort. Taber St. Mary’s, with SAHSVL girls varsity coach-of-the-year Pat Pyne directing a line-up including league all-star Kelsey Panteluk, are off to 1A girls provincials in Caroline.
Gershaw, Foremost and Immanuel Christian are not SAHSVL members, so it would be impossible for any of their players to be circuit all-stars. However, like Picture Butte, I’m sure there are a number of standouts on each squad. Perhaps more importantly those schools have an impressive tradition of success in a variety of ASAA sports to draw on. It wouldn’t shock me if Foremost has more total ASAA team provincial championships than any other school.
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I think it’s wonderful Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge will be the site of 4A volleyball provincial action this week. No doubt there was serendipity involved with no Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference or Canada West games slated (trust me it’s just a coincidence) in the sumptuous venues. Even so, the fact deals were made is further evidence the city post-secondary institutions realize there is mutual value in working with local high school sports. One hand washes the other, so to speak.
Zone basketball has become a popular staple at both venues, high school football was a success at the U of L and high school track will surely be a hit there. U of L is also the annual site of Southern Alberta High School Basketball League all-star games.
This March Cardston and Raymond will co-host the 4A provincial basketball championships, but there will be big games Friday and medal round games Saturday at the bigger U of L showcase.
Kudos to the post-secondary institutions for tailoring their venues to high school needs. For example, I’m extremely pleased U of L has constructed portable floor bleachers which will be helpful for multi-court volleyball events. They debut tomorrow.
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Congratulations are in order to the Raymond football team who repeated as unlimited enrollment provincial high school football champions on Saturday.
This generation of Comet bright lights is such a young group the program is seemingly heavy favourites to three-peat.
There’s no question one Comet performer is a key cog in a football machine. However, like Voldemort at Hogwarts, he will not be named this time around. Instead I’d like to note kids like Connor Ralph, Dillon Prince, Travis Ganz, Matt Rivers, Caleb Stone and Owen Seiben who also achieved Southern Alberta High School Football League all-star status. Heck, every lad who hit the field regularly is a significant contributor. When you outscore your post-season foes 153-2 it’s an awesome achievement. Frankly, it’s a particularly awesome achievement to me when I see many of these kids in civilian attire. Let’s put it this way. Size is not an obvious asset.
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Football ended last week. Volleyball provincials are this week. But, time waits for no man, as evidenced by the fact the high school basketball season is here.
As per always I look forward to advancing as many invitational tournaments as possible in this space. Please fax draws to the Lethbridge Herald (403-329-9355) by Monday at 4 p.m. so I can gather the information from a staffer. The added plus is then they’ll have the info, too.
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