For the seventh year in a row, the Centennial Christian School boys’ volleyball team has brought home a medal from provincials.
Competing at the 2019 “A” Provincial Championships in Castlegar from Nov. 21 to 23, the Centennial Seahawks captured the silver medal after settling the game 25-20 with Vernon Christian School.
“They walked off the court with a smile on their face and the satisfaction that we laid it all out there, we felt really good about how we stuck together as a team,” says Joel Ringma, coach of the Centennial Seahawks.
Ranked third going into provincials, the Centennial Seahawks defeated Prince George’s Cedars Christian School in their quarter-final matchup 25-16. They then beat Langley’s Credo Christian School 26-24 in the semi-finals before their final match on the court with Vernon.
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Since 2012, the team has consecutively gathered three bronze medals, three silver medals and one gold medal from provincial championship games .
Ringma says many students at their school have left a sports legacy throughout the years that have motivated their new teams to live up to those successes, and even continue to play as they pursue their post-secondary studies.
“Over time, you have an experience of volleyball that just kind of goes from one group to the next, and the younger ones look up to older ones and say, ‘I want to be part of that’,” says Ringma, adding this has created a bit of volleyball culture in their school hallways.
“It gives them an opportunity to have another focus at the next level where academics are necessary towards a career… there’s been a number of athletes that have been able to go to places like Edmonton or to college in Iowa and even other places.”
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Also at this year’s provincial tournament, Centennial Seahawks’ Ben Mantel was named the provincial all-star honourable mention with fellow Grade 12 players Skylar Mantel and Jacob Ringma selected as provincial first-team all-stars.
natalia@terracestandard.com
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