High school sports campaigns begin
As I understand it, bells, or perhaps buzzers in many cases, “welcomed” students and teachers back to most area classrooms Tuesday. As far as athletics go, multiple area high school football teams have already played games, while I imagine most volleyball squads are in the midst of tryouts, with matches set for as early as this weekend.
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Truth be told I’m writing this missive Monday evening, since Tuesday night I’ll be immersed in Southern Alberta High School Football and Volleyball League fall meetings, as part of my Southern Alberta Interscholastics Administrative Council activities coordinator role. So, any info I have on those two leagues is potentially subject to alteration before this column is published.
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As for the local football loop, I can confidently say we have nine members this year which are divided, by their own choosing, into Division A and Division B for regular-season purposes. The five programs in Division A this campaign are Cardston, Catholic Central, LCI, Raymond and Winston Churchill. Division B consists of Chinook, Pincher Creek (a community team), Claresholm Willow Creek and Taber W.R. Myers. Only games between teams in respective divisions count towards the league titles.
All post-season play is conducted in provincial tiers. League members were to formally declare those tiers at the league meeting. In order to declare the post-season tiers, teams who are in the same tier must play each other prior to the playoffs, even if they are not in the same division.
There are no official Alberta Schools Athletic Association football rankings, but Football Alberta (read executive director Tim Enger) publishes rankings (this year dubbed “Power Rankings”) throughout the campaign, which engender much discussion (which is the point), although they play no part in seeding the post-season, or determining provincial wildcards (which is a point many readers miss, or refuse to acknowledge.)
If I can read the small-for-aging-me font correctly, six SAHSFL teams are rated in their respective tier top 10s after two weekends of non-conference action: Tier 1 — Raymond (4), LCI (6). Tier 2 — Cardston (10). Tier 3 — Winston Churchill (8). Tier 4 — Willow Creek (1), W.R. Myers (2).
So far, I’ve been really pleased to read a number of league teams report their scores along with some highlights, to the Lethbridge Herald. Hopefully they are keeping other legacy media up-todate, too.
This weekend there are three games locally, all on Friday.
I’m always happy when there is a Friday doubleheader at the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium, as was the original intention when the ediface was planned. This time around W.R. Myers visits Catholic Central at 5 p.m., with Winston Churchill and Chinook set to tangle at approximately 7:30 p.m.
With good weather, I’d expect a cumulative throng approaching four digits.
There was actually a late attempt to play three SAHSFL games this weekend at U of L, but with the visitors determined to play Friday early and the U of L booked prior to 5 p.m., an alternative site was required for an LCI “home” tilt.
Fortunately, Raymond also has a beautiful field-turf alternative and enough flag throwers were able to get off work early enough to have a 3 p.m. game in Raymond. Yes, Raymond as a home field for LCI. The visitors are no slouches either; Calgary St. Francis, ranked No. 2 provincially in Tier I. Sounds like fun.
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The Southern Alberta High School Volleyball League regular season debuts next Tuesday. All 12 members are slated to play in girls.
Listed in order of varsity ratings by varsity head coaches looking ahead to this campaign at the end of the 2017 season the female members are Chinook, LCI, Catholic Central, W.R. Myers, Winston Churchill, Magrath, Picture Butte, Cardston, Raymond, Taber St. Mary’s, Coaldale Kate Andrews and Immanuel Christian. The regular season will be played in a power pool scheduling format which I’ll explain further as the season progresses.
All 12 league members could enter boys teams, but only nine are anticipated this season. In order of collective head coach ratings prognosticating this campaign they are Catholic Central, LCI, Chinook, Magrath, Cardston, Immanuel Christian, W.R. Myers, Winston Churchill and Kate Andrews.
Prior to the regular-season debut all varsity members are slated to play in festival-style events this weekend. No champions will be declared.
Chinook hosts girls action Friday and Saturday, with Winston Churchill boys’ site Saturday. Typically, there are significant gatherings for these gettogethers
The only rankings in ASAA volleyball are for 4A, the unlimited enrolment category. Unlike football, where a thirdparty makes up the nice lists, 4A volleyball rankings are official and meaningful. Thus, they don’t debut until a chunk of the slate has been contested.
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This is ASAA golf and cross-country running season, too. South Zone golf championships are set for Tuesday, Sept. 18, with 4A/3A at Paradise Canyon, while 2A/1A trek to Vulcan.
The South Zone cross-country championships are slated for Cardston on Wednesday, Oct. 10.
WELLSIE’S WORLD — In terms of football game music, Raymond has raised the bar for their home tilts in their newish facility.
The tunes continue between plays, too, with the volume adjusted to make way for public address announcements. Never during the plays, though. Love it.