Trojans three-peat

The Churchill Trojans are champions again.

The varsity boys volleyball team captured a rare third straight title on Monday at the Thunderdome, sweeping the St. Ignatius Falcons in rapid fashion, needing just 70 minutes to finish off their dominating performance.

The Trojans took the first set 25-16 and got progressively better as the match went on, taking the second set 25-11 and won 21 of the final 22 points to crush the Falcons 25-6 in the championship deciding game.

Jordan Kelly, one of four players to lift the Superior Secondary Schools Athletic Association trophy all three times, said capping his career with another title was a guiding force all season long.

“Three in a row is just something to strive for,” Kelly said.

“It makes it that much more special. Our coaches put a lot of hours in. They teach us all we know, so it’s a good program.”

After winning title No. 1 in 2011, Kelly said he thought he was blessed. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to take home the championship another two times before his high school career wrapped up.

Other teammates with three rings include libero Andrew Birbilis, Jacob Brecka and Tristen Webb.

“It feels really good and I feel happy I was part of the team all three years,” said the 17-year-old Webb, who clogged up the middle for most of the match, leaving the Falcons little opportunity to score.

“It was a really nice experience to come up in Grade 10 to be a part of the team and then to continue playing. It’s just felt amazing to win in my last year of high school.”

Churchill became the first three-peat winners since Dennis Franklin Cromarty turned the trick from 2002 to 2004. Port Arthur Collegiate (1989-1991) and Hillcrest High School (1992-1994) are the other three time champs.

The Westgate Tigers hold the all-time mark for most consecutive titles, taking five in a row from 1966 to 1970.

Webb said he tries not to look at the scoreboard while the game is on, instead preferring to play by feel and emotion.
It worked.

“I base how well we’re doing on how the game feels and how my team reacts to all the points, and that,” Webb said.

“When we get on a streak like that it feels really good and we just continue to play well.”

Churchill coach Scott Masters will lead his club into the Ontario Federation of Secondary School Athletic Association championship in Thunder Bay starting Nov. 21 and thinks his team can compete with the best the province has to offer.

“Going into OFSSAA I would say we’ll probably be ranked eighth or ninth. My goal is to try to come top four if possible. We just have to execute the way we did today. Realistically OFSSAA competition, some years it’s really strong, some years it’s not as strong. Double-A competition is usually pretty good,” Masters said.

Despite the loss, the Falcons still have life left. They’ll take on the Dryden Eagles in the Northwestern Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association title, with the winner earning a berth at provincials. The Eagles are the last NWOSSA team to win the AA boys volleyball title, capturing it in 2005. Eden High School has won the last seven championships.