The Olds College women's varsity basketball team was feted last week at the Ralph Klein Centre for winning the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference championship ñ and sent off to Truro, N.S., where they will compete this week for the Canadian title.
During a gathering in front of students at Olds High School, head coach Reg Carrick told the crowd that despite some challenges during the season, the players pulled together to become an extremely cohesive unit.
"The word team really epitomizes this group. This team will walk together forever,î he said.
Carrick said despite nobody giving the team much of a chance at the championships, held Feb. 28 to March 2 in Camrose, the Broncos beat the number 3 King's University College Eagles by 15, the second-ranked NAIT Ooks by 29 and first ranked University of Alberta Augustana Vikings by 18 points in the championship game on the Vikings' home court.
Tom Thompson, the college's president, invoked the small Indiana high school of little more than 100 students that beat much larger high schools to win the state championship in 1954 that was immortalized in the movie Hoosiers.
"I want you to remember what is possible,î he told the team.
Jerri-Lyn Chisholm, co-captain of the team, said the Broncos will go to the national tournament and give it their best.
"We're going to give it our all,î she said.
Chisholm, a third-year player, said everyone completely bought into the team concept, making it possible to win the title.
"This team is not about who gets the most points or anything. We're all in this together and we're all behind each other. We had nothing really to lose. We went out and had fun and we played hard,î she said.
Jylisa Williams, the other co-captain, who was named the ACAC player of the year, said all she wanted to do this season was focus on school and have fun. In the process, she shattered the single-game scoring record and led the league in most offensive categories.
"We were the underdogs and I couldn't have asked for it to go no other way,î she said.
In a surprising move, Jylisa's mom, Felicia Myles made an appearance via video from Atlanta, Ga. and told the crowd that due to the generosity of Netook Construction, she would be going to Truro to watch Jylisa and the Broncos compete on March 14 to 16.
"It's going to be amazing. I haven't seen my mother all year, so Ö for her to come out here and finally get to see me play Ö I can't explain it,î she said.
"This team is not about who gets the most points or anything. We're all in this together and we're all behind each other."Jerri-Lynn ChisholmBroncos women's varsity basketball team co-captain
