They’re undefeated and undisputed, and now the Sir Winston Churchill Trojans can add champions to their list of descriptors.
On Monday, however, the Trojans needed five sets to dispense of the Hammarskjold Vikings to capture their first senior boys volleyball crown since 2008, losing twice as many sets in the title match as they did all season long.
The Trojans needed five sets to earn the win at the Thunderdome, roaring back from a 2-1 deficit, putting a stamp on their desire to win in the final two in evening the match with a 25-9 win in the fourth set, then finishing it off with a 15-5 decision.
Hammarskjold won the first set 25-18, with Churchill taking the second 25-17 and the Vikings a lengthy third, 28-26.
Pretty though it wasn’t, they still held the trophy high, said Churchill co-captain Kurtis Heidrick.
“It’s unreal. It just feels like it was a dream,” he said.
“A few of our guys just stepped it up. I was nervous at first, but I just followed along and we came together as a team. It’s amazing.”
Fellow co-captain Aaron Brecka admitted it wasn’t exactly the game plan they devised heading into the match against the No. 3 seeded Vikings, who finished their season 10-4 and were in the hunt for their first championship in a quarter of a century.
“We started off rough, but we found a way to win in the end. It was a team effort,” said Brecka, blaming the slow start on nerves.
“We were coming into a new building and everything,” he said. “We found it within ourselves, just playing as good as we can.”
Brecka, who helped Heidrick carry the trophy from centre court back to their teammates on the sidelines, said he can’t believe they’re actually champions.
“It’s a new feeling for me, and it’s a welcome feeling,” he said.
Scott Masters has coached champions at Churchill before, and said adversity is part of the game.
“Having an undefeated season isn’t always the best,” he said. “Part of the problem was we were used to playing St. Pat’s. Hammarskjold plays a different type of game. They have a taller team and they set out of the middle.
“Our defence took awhile to adjust. Plus we played nervous. When you haven’t lost a game all year and then you lose a set, I have to give the kids a lot of credit for coming back and winning the last two handily. The first three were really tense.”
The Trojans will host Dryden on Friday in the Northwestern Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association regional final, the winner advancing to provincials.
On the junior boys court La Verendrye needed four sets to dispatch of the Vikings and and win their first championship since 2006.
