A team of Sparwood volleyballers recently saw victory in a regional tournament and are now fundraising for upcoming provincials.
The Sparwood Secondary School (SSS) Sr. Girls A team was in Castlegar on Nov. 18 and 19 playing in the Kootenay Zone Championships, and won the tournament with a clean 5-0 win count.
“We won all of our games,” said coach Tanya Wagner, adding that they took the East and West Kootenays zone banner.
The team of 13 girls from Grades 9 to 12 (they brought up some junior players) competed in the tournament with six other teams from The Fernie Academy, Elkford, Golden, Salmo, Nakusp, and Mt. Sentinel Secondary.
It was Mt. Sentinel who they defeated in the final playoff match, winning three straight sets for the sweep.
“They played really well,” Wagner said.
“There was some times when they kind of got shaky, but they managed to pull it back together.”
She said they had great support from some of their Sr. Boys, including one who dressed up like a Spartan to cheer the girls on.
“That was a big morale booster, which was really cool.”
Wagner said that it was the first time that a Sr. Girls volleyball team from SSS has finished first since 2003, though they have finished second a lot.
“It’s the first time it’s happened in like 19 years,” she said.
“It’s just super exciting. It was definitely a good surprise.”
Now, the team is fundraising the head to a provincial championship being held in Prince George from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.
“We are obviously super excited to go to the provincials, but we have to now start fundraising.”
The estimate is they will need to raise over $10,000 to cover the costs of the tournament so that players and their parents don’t have to pay out of pocket. They have about $1,000 saved up already.
Wagner said they hope to have a bake sale over the upcoming weekend at the Sparwood mall.
Those interested in contributing to the fundraiser can contact the school to make a donation.
“The hope is that we make as much as we can so that we don’t have to charge the kids.”
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