INNISFAIL – The senior volleyball boys team at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School are smaller than all the rest but they always find a way to win.
And now they are champs.
On Nov. 1 and 2 the Bears’ senior volleyball boys squad showed why they should not be taken for granted on the court as they won all five games at the Chinook’s Edge North Athletic Association (CENAA) tournament at Sylvan Lake’s École Mother Teresa Catholic School.
The tournament represented about nine regional public, Catholic and private schools in and around Red Deer County.
The 12-member St. Margeurite Bears team from Innisfail defeated host squad École Mother Teresa Catholic School two games to zero in a best of three final to claim the CENAA junior boys championship for the 2023 – 2024 season. The Innisfail team won the first game 26 – 24 and the second 25 – 17.
“They're always the smallest team when we go into the gym. They have to work really hard. Their defence is what wins them games,” said head coach Christian Damgaard, the school's athletic director.
“We played Penhold in the semifinals, and they had an all Grade 9 team and they were just huge. Our boys came out on top in the end because they’re always in the right position. It was awesome.”
The senior boys Bears squad moved on to play in the Central Western Alberta Junior High Athletic Association (CWAJHAA) championship tournament at Red Deer’s École Camille J. Lerouge School.
Last week Damgaard said it’s his belief the St. Margeurite squad will be highly competitive and come home with an outstanding placing in the season-ending tournament.
“Our goal would be to finish in the top three,” said Damgaard. “We played a few of the teams that are there but a few of them are a total mystery. As for the Red Deer teams, we've only seen one of them throughout the year.”
