ST. PAUL – It was an action-packed day at Racette Jr. High School and St. Paul Regional High School on Nov. 16, as schools battled for the top spot at the annual boys’ and girls’ St. Paul Athletic Association (SPAA) senior high volleyball championship.
In the girls’ category, after hours of intense competition, four teams remained – the F.G. Miller Crusaders, St. Paul Saints, Two Hills Tigers, and the Ashmont Falcons.
The Crusaders bested the Saints on the third set of the semi-final match, while the Tigers beat the Falcons – also in three sets.
The final would see the Crusaders and the Tigers meet up for a fierce race to 25 points, with the Crusaders winning the first set by just a few points.
During the second set, the Crusaders began to rack up points, managing to lead with an eight-point gap, 21-13.
Despite the Crusaders being one point away from victory late in the game, the Tigers did not falter and continued to push, bringing the score within just a few points again. In the end, the Crusaders won the championship, 25-20, winning this year’s SPAA banner.
Rylee Warawa (#2), team captain for F.G. Miller, said that despite being faced with tough competition from the Saints and the Tigers, who “gives us a real run for our money,” the Crusaders kept their spirits up. “And it worked out really well.”
Warawa said she feels proud of her team for winning the championship. “We just really kept up the enthusiasm, and we didn’t quit,” she said.
Jonathan Randall, coach for the Crusaders, said the team had a “pretty strong” season. “But in volleyball, anything can happen.”
He referred back to the final match against Two Hills Tigers, who he said always gives the Crusaders a “close game.”
“We’ve been kind of back and forth with them all season. I think they’ve beat us twice, and we’d beat them twice... So, it was nice to come out on top,” he said. “We just brought our game for the final game – which is what you want.”
Shaun Peters, coach for the Two Hills Tigers said the Tigers also had a “great season.” He said Two Hills and F.G Miller battled at “three or four tournaments all season – [trading] back and forth wins and losses.”
“In the end, they were ranked first, and we ranked second, finishing the same way the rankings were,” said Peters. “So, it was a great season.”
“We’re a very young team,” with players composed predominantly of Grade 10s, according to Peters. “So, the next two years are going to be really exciting.”
For the St. Paul Saints’ girls’ volleyball team, co-coaches Jeff Bishop and Melissa Gary, said that despite falling short of the finals, the tournament was an opportunity for the team’s players to learn and grow.
“Our team is primarily Grade 10s,” said Gary, and “over time, their skills will improve.”
“We’ll see a lot of growth from them in the next couple of years, so we’re really looking forward to seeing how they grow and progress,” she said.
Bishop agreed, adding that St. Paul Regional High School aims to ensure students have time to grow and hone their skills “so that they can be the best athletes they can be.”
The Saints’ girls’ SPAA team should be proud of every effort that they gave, according to their two coaches. They said the players never gave up and “just kept going.”
Boys’ side
On the boys’ side, the final came down to Two Hills School and École Mallaig School. The Two Hills Tigers came into the SPAA tournament on Wednesday seeded in first place and sporting a perfect record, while Mallaig was in third place after league play wrapped up.
The final match started off with Mallaig proving they were a well-matched opponent, taking the lead in the first set and carrying it through for a 26-24 win.
But the Tigers did not give up. In the second set, they took an early lead and rallied hard for a decisive 25-11 win.
After a full day of volleyball, a third set would be required to name this year’s SPAA boys' winner. After a hard-fought battle, it would be the Mallaig Stingers who would claim the upset and the banner, much to the loud cheers of fans in the Racette Jr. High School gymnasium.
Boys’ coach JP Dechaine said he felt his team “fought hard” and leaned on their strong defense to take the win. He said as a player he was told by a former coach that a strong defense was a strong offense, and the theory proved to be true on Wednesday night as the Stingers blocked several the Tigers’ attempts.
The Mallaig team was made up of primarily Grade 10 and 11 players, with only one Grade 12 player on the team – Kyle Karpyshyn, who proved to be a leader on the court.
Dechaine said he was happy to have fans back in the stands, cheering on the boys, which also added to the atmosphere. Ultimately, the boys “played what we practiced,” and it paid off, said Dechaine.
Importance of high school sports
Hank Smid, commissioner with St. Paul Regional High School, said high school sports are an integral component of school cultures, “and the kids really enjoy it.”
“It helps them be well-rounded,” in addition to improving athletics. As far as the SPAA championship, it is an opportunity for schools to showcase themselves and their players, according to Smid.
