Photo by Marissa Tiel
SURPRISE – Savanna Kremer realizes her team, the Teslin Predators won the tiebreaker set and made it to finals during Grade 8 girls Yukon Championships semifinals volleyball action at Porter Creek Secondary School on Nov. 19. The team would eventually lose their finals berth and play for bronze after replaying the third tie-breaker set following a protest regarding their player rotation.
Photo by Marissa Tiel
ON TO THE FINALS – The Vanier Grade 8 girls volleyball team celebrates their semifinal win during Yukon Championships. They would go on to become the Yukon Champions.
A volleyball team from Teslin returned home with some well-deserved souvenirs from the Grade 8 Yukon Volleyball Championships last weekend.
A volleyball team from Teslin returned home with some well-deserved souvenirs from the Grade 8 Yukon Volleyball Championships last weekend.
The Predators, represented by fewer than 10 girls from the Teslin school, finished the weekend with a bronze medal, the best result logged for a group of girls from the school.
Denise Johnston, the Predators’ assistant coach said the team has come close before, but had never won a medal until now.
“It feels good,” she said of the girls’ achievements being recognized.
Ann Jirousek, principal of the Teslin School was also on the floor, filling in for coach Robin Smarch who couldn’t make the tournament.
“There’s only 57 students we have in the school so to field a team to be able to come to the tournament is quite a thing,” she said. “They’re a good group of girls, strong athletes and I think they’ll be quite successful in the future.”
The day wasn’t without stress. After winning the semifinal against the Porter Creek Rams in a tie-breaker third set, the Predators found out they would need to replay the set after a protest was lodged regarding their player rotation.
“It’s a little tough when you walk in and have to switch your frame of mind before you’re playing,” said Jirousek.
The Predators lost the extra set to the Rams and would play the FH Warriors for bronze.
They were able to remain focused and won the bronze-medal match in three sets.
“It shows their mental toughness,” said Jirousek.
“We’re very happy that they are coming home with a medal.”
She said the school will have an assembly to recognize the girls’ achievements as well.
The Grade 8 girls Yukon volleyball champions are the Vanier Crusaders. The Porter Creek Rams were runners-up.
On the boys side, gold went to the Porter Creek Black Rams, the Vanier Crusaders won silver and the Porter Creek Red Rams won bronze.
In Grade 7 girls action, Hidden Valley won gold, Holy Family won silver and Christ the King won bronze.
Hidden Valley also won the boys’ Grade 7 championship banner, Whitehorse Elementary School won silver and Christ the King took bronze.
The Grade 9 through 12 Yukon Volleyball Championships will take place this weekend, starting Thursday. The final games will be played Saturday at Porter Creek Secondary School.
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (4)
Up 4 Down 1
David Hett on Nov 25, 2016 at 4:03 pm
You were a great volleyball player back in the day Denise. Congratulations to you and the team for such a successful tournament!
Up 3 Down 7
What an achievement! on Nov 25, 2016 at 3:34 pm
What an achievement. Just wonder which Whitehorse team had to whine about the rotation....give me a break, more that you were concerned about your team losing, whoever you are. I worked in a Yukon community and these kids do not have all of the advantages that the Whitehorse kids have...for them to come and medal is tremendous. Good job Teslin!
Up 14 Down 1
Sportsmanship on Nov 24, 2016 at 12:58 pm
I heard there was some great sportsmanship shown by all. Especially the Teslin coaches.
Up 12 Down 1
Doreen and Walter Duncan on Nov 24, 2016 at 9:06 am
Way to go! Congratulations to the Teslin girls and coaches.