Ali Blekkenhorst says her high school days just wouldn’t have felt complete without a senior girls volleyball season.
The 17-year-old got her wish, albeit in a shortened fashion.
On Wednesday Blekkenhorst and her teammates will kick off an abbreviated schedule. While they won’t have a chance to compete for a berth at provincials, the Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute teen is happy a lengthy dispute between public-board high school teachers and the Ontario government has come to an end.
“It’s awesome. It’s a great feeling. I love this team. Being back with them is just so exciting,” she said.
With a team made up almost entirely of Grade 12 seniors, they were running out of time to get back on the court and start playing.
Tuesday’s announcement of a modified winter schedule was music to her ears.
“Being able to have, if we win, that picture on the wall for our last year, our last chance, is kind of important to us.”
Not playing was not fun, she added.
“It was frustrating, because we thought for sure we weren’t going to be able to have a season. We didn’t hear much about it and it was a really long time and we didn’t really think it was going to happen,” Blekkenhorst said.
“It was kind of a roller coaster of emotions, but we were really excited when we found out we could (play).”
The Churchill volleyball squad will play a four-game schedule between now and the end of March, then take part in the Superior Secondary School Athletic Association tournament on April 3 and 4.
Junior and senior boys basketball will play a similar schedule.
SSSAA athletic director Dave Pineau said they did the best they could to get the players back on the court and a taste of what they missed before the spring sports schedule kicks in.
“I think it was really important to our schools,” Pineau said.
“It put a little closure to the winter season, but also gives them a little taste of what they missed and get everyone excited about our spring season. I think it was important to fit something in for these athletes.”
Unfortunately, he added, before the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation lifted its work-to-rule sanctions, the deadline passed for teams to qualify for the Ontario Federation of School Athletics Association provincial tournaments.
“There were already teams committed in some respects, so there weren’t options in terms of those athletes getting there,” Pineau said.
Wednesday action includes Westgate taking on Churchill and Hammarskjold taking on Superior Collegiate in both junior and senior boys basketball.
On the girls volleyball court, Churchill battles Westgate, Superior challenges Hammarskjold and La Verendrye plays St. Ignatius in junior action. Churchill and Westgate kick off the senior girls scheduled along with Superior and Hammarskjold.
Curlers will also see limited action, though wrestling has been cancelled, because of a lack of participants.
