The boys’ volleyball team from Ligar Collegiate have won their first local championship in 35 years.
Lisgar Collegiate’s senior boys’ volleyball team knew this was its year to make some noise at the provincial championships, even after being sidelined for the 2012-2013 season.
The Lords earned a trip to London, Ont., for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships by winning their first local championship in 36 years.
They earned a bronze medal following their only loss in the semis to eventual champions, the Chatham-Kent Golden Hawks.
Labour disputes between teachers and the provincial government ended the 2012-2013 season before it began.
“It was really hard, it was my heart that was breaking,” says Lisgar head coach Stephanie Morrison.
Ontario Teacher’s Federation governor Dan Maxwell says he is relieved that athletes are back on the court after what he calls a difficult decision to sideline the coaches last year.
"The government backed us into a wall we didn't have a lot of options," says Maxwell.
“I’m particularly happy for those coaches who are now providing the opportunity for those students.”
A competitor like Morrison took it particularly hard.
“I cried when I told them. It was really hard to tell them this might be our first and last meeting because we weren’t allowed to coach,” she says.
“It was a commitment they’d made to me from Grade 9 and then here I was not able to fill my end of the bargain. It was really hard.”
This was her dream team and she knew it back when she coached the core of them in their first year of high school.
“I said I would retire after this group went through,” says Morrison jokingly.
Ben Harper is one of three players who played their final season this year and considers the local championship and OFSAA bronze a great achievement.
“We just had the right group of guys. Every spot that we needed was filled, every different role, and everybody did their job,” says Harper, who played left-side power for the team.
Harper stands in the gym, lean and athletic, looking as if he could poke his head up through the bottom of a basketball hoop, if he tried. Though he kept quiet about where he would play, Harper’s been recruited and plans to join a varsity team somewhere next year.
But, he never lost focus in his last opportunity at the high school level. “It was our year I guess. You never know what’s going to happen, you’ve got to take it one game at a time, just focus on beating who’s in front of you.”
Harper has played under Morrison for three years, and shared his coach’s angst and frustration during the hiatus in 2012.
“We really had a good team last year, too,” he said, and then pauses. “Probably not as good as this year, but we would’ve had a good shot.”
Harper and fellow graduating player Josh Isaac volunteered to coach the junior boys team last season to stay connected with the program.
Morrison is proud of the commitment of her boys. She says the leadership and chemistry with this team has always come naturallyand that each player has earned their success.
“We knew our goal was to win (National Capital Championships) and go to OFSAA,” Morrison says.