Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
ALL-FRENCH AFFAIR – Derek Deuling of the École Whitehorse Elementary Wolves goes up for a block on École Émilie-Tremblay Grizzlis player Sammy Mather during the elementary boys volleyball final Saturday afternoon.
Wolves mount comeback to win volleyball title
When the dust settled following an epic battle of the French-language schools, École Whitehorse Elementary was the club still standing.
When the dust settled following an epic battle of the French-language schools, École Whitehorse Elementary was the club still standing.
The Wolves rallied from a five-point deficit in the third set to claim elementary boys volleyball gold over their French rivals, the École Émilie-Tremblay Grizzlis, at Porter Creek Secondary School Saturday.
After the Grizzlis took the first set 25-23, the Wolves won two straight en route to gold – 25-22 and 15-13.
“We kind of had to push through just to get that last set and we had a really good comeback,” said École Whitehorse Elementary’s Grade 7 player Derek Deuling. “We’re really happy that we got it and kind of surprised at the same time.
It means a lot to us.
“It’s a lot of pride to win this,” added Deuling, 12. “It’s really exciting to have the gold medal for Grade 7 volleyball.”
Deuling’s teammates included Bjorn Boone, Tyson Brulotte, Joseph Coyne, Kyron Crosby, Viny Dhillon, Liam Diamond, Aidan Harvey, Neil Mikkelsen and Andrew Roberts.
“They practised lots and very few players missed practices,” said coach René Drysdelle. “They practised at least three times a week during lunch and after school.”
After dropping their first game of the playoffs to the Selkirk Coyotes Thursday, the group rebounded to win the rest of their games en route to the title. Drysdelle praised his players for their sportsmanship.
“Our players really enjoyed playing together,” he said.
École Whitehorse Elementary had enough interested players to field two teams in the tournament.
“It was tough to come so close and then lose in the final,” said Grizzlis coach Marc Champagne.
“But I was extremely proud of the way my team played in the tournament and for the entire season.”
His players never gave up on each other and always played to the last point, Champagne said.
École Émilie-Tremblay’s silver medal winners included: Roméo Champagne, Ulysse Girard, Antoine Guérin, Aidan Hupé, Sasha Steele-Masson, Samuel Mather and Victor Tolgyesie.
Selkirk Elementary beat Elijah Smith Elementary to win bronze.
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