Volleyball and football in the final countdown
In 11 days the 2017 Alberta Schools Athletic Association volleyball and football campaigns will be past-tense. But, oh my, what a stretch run toward the history books we have at hand. ••• This is South Zone Volleyball Championship week. In fact, play-in matches have already been served.
The zone 4A main event is hosted by Medicine Hat High this weekend. The new gym at Hat High is an extreme focal point of ASAA high school athletics this year overall. Next week it is the fulcrum of the 4A Volleyball Provincials. March 9-10 the venerable, now refurbished, Gas City school hosts ASAA Wrestling Provincials.
But, that’s not all. Incredibly, the Green and White folks are also presenting the 4A Basketball Provincials March 15-17. Holy cow!
3A Girls South Zones hit the Winston Churchill hardcourt Friday and Saturday. LCI is the site of 3A Boys. Those venues should be lively indeed.
As for 1A and 2A South Zones, all four divisions will be played once again on numerous Lethbridge College Val Matteotti Gym courts Thursday to Saturday. Immanuel Christian takes on the crux of the organizational role. If you are looking for cyberspace information on this event
www.southzonevolleyball.com is good for onestop shopping.
Me being me, I’m hoping followers prefer live entertainment.
Taber St. Mary’s is the 2A Boys Provincials site Nov. 23-25. I’ve been to provincials there before and they do a wonderful job in a nice facility.
Additional provincial finale sites local teams are looking to book berths to this weekend are Strathmore (3A Boys), Sylvan Lake (3A Girls), Fairview (2A Girls), Eckville (1A Boys) and Bonnyville (1A Girls).
••• Congratulations go out to the Catholic Central boys and LCI girls on winning the Southern Alberta High School Volleyball League varsity playoff tournaments last weekend. The respective head coaches provided evidence age is definitely not the determining factor when it comes to sideline success.
Let’s put it this way, Catholic Central varsity boys bench boss Steve Wilson was head coaching the U of L women’s varsity team 20 years before his current Grade 12s were even born. On the other end of the spectrum, LCI varsity girls mastermind Shaelynn Garner is a first-year teacher and head coach.
Seeing Garner brings back memories of her I’m sure proud father Bruce Lyon’s excellent well-rounded athletic career at Winston Churchill and far beyond. Bruce went on to catch in the New York Mets system, which included a young Dwight Gooden. Without a doubt, Bruce employed the best throwing arm I’ve ever witnessed (and he did enjoy providing evidence) on a local. Not even close.
••• It’s ASAA football semifinal week with four Southern Alberta High School Football League teams from this area hitting the gridiron Saturday.
In Tier I, LCI, coming off a remarkable overtime triumph over Calgary Notre Dame, travels to the Cowtown to take on long-time rival, two-time defending unlimited-enrolment champion, Calgary St. Francis. Game time on Hellard Field at Shouldice Park is 1 p.m.
Cardston is in Cochrane for a Tier III showdown with the hosts at Spray Lakes Stadium. It, too, is slated for 1 p.m.
Two SAHSFL rivals square off in Claresholm at 1 p.m. The evocatively dubbed Cobra Field Snake Pit sees Taber W.R. Myers make its third visit of the late season to challenge the Willow Creek homeboys.
The final Football Alberta rankings of the season indicate these are true heavyweight throwdowns indeed.
In Tier I LCI was rated No. 4 and St. Francis No. 1. Cardston’s at No. 2 in Tier III, with Cochrane No. 1. Myers has the No. 2 designation in Tier IV, while Willow Creek is No. 1.
Winners advance to the Alberta Bowl in Lacombe (who now have a facility that meets stated criteria) next weekend.
How badly would I love to see multiple SAHSFL teams win provincial titles? Very badly. When it comes to SAIAC teams athletically vanquishing external foes, I must say that brings joy to my heart. Perhaps indeed, as my DNA indicates, there is a little Genghis Khan in my makeup (and there quite literally could be. Probably is in many of you, too).
WELLSIE’S WORLD — With high school volleyball in the local spotlight this week, it brings to mind just how well the Lethbridge College volleyball programs are doing in their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference campaigns. Kodiak spikers are a combined 14-6 (women 8-2, men 6-4) heading off to Caronport, Sask., this weekend to challenge Briercrest. I’m not sure when (if ever) the LC program would have had a better mark this far into the campaign.
Kudos to LC athletic manager Todd Coughlin, women’s head coach Anna Schwark, men’s puppet master (well, you know, but he is pulling strings of sorts rather effectively) Greg Gibos, and their staffs, who have extensive connections to the local high school volleyball scene then and now. Of course, I‘m pleased they have an arsenal of local on-court performers to deploy, too.