SUDBURY - Ethan McCarroll, of Stratford, and Brendon McLeod, of Rostock, participated in the Ontario Summer Games held here from August 10 to 13, representing Southwestern Ontario being Region 3 in volleyball.
The head coach of the 12-man roster Region 3 White Team was Haiqi ‘Chi’ Liu, who is an assistant coach for the University of Guelph women’s volleyball team, and the assistant coach was Michael Hall, who is a teacher and volleyball coach at St. Jean de Brebeuf Secondary School in Hamilton.
The opening ceremonies were held at Laurentian University Community Track last Tuesday night. The emcees for the evening were Tessa Bonhomme, a 2010 Olympic gold medalist, and Nick Foligno, who plays for the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
This was definitely an exciting life experience for the best athletes from 32 official sports in Ontario to all have the opportunity to participate together at the same venue.
The two Stratford Volleyball Club and St. Michael Secondary School players were selected following tryouts held in June at Saunders Secondary School in London. They have attended practices throughout the summer in Hamilton, London, Waterloo, and most recently in Stratford at Central Secondary School.
The pair also attended a four-day regional team training centre in July at Humber College in Etobicoke. The centre is part of the Ontario Volleyball Association’s continuing Athlete Development program, which trains the athletes from all six regions in Ontario.
During off years of the OSG, there is a three-day tournament held in August at Humber College which McLeod participated in last year, and where they received their fifth-ranking seed for the Games this year. The OSG boys volleyball venue was at Cambrian College, where the athletes also stayed in the school’s residence.
There was blood, sweat and cheers during the course of the three-day Summer Games tournament. All eight teams participating in the tourney advanced to the playoff rounds on Friday, Aug. 13. According to stats gathered by assistant coach, Michael Hall, McLeod led the three-day tournament with 36 attacks, eight serving aces and 18 blocks, while McCarroll successfully added 12 attacks, one serving ace and two blocks.
Although the boys did not bring home a medal, fifth place in Ontario is very respectable and they have many memories of a few intense, tightly-fought matches which will assist them in their future aspirations in the sport of volleyball.
This is the last year that Indoor Volleyball will be part of the Ontario Summer Games, as it is being switched to the Ontario Winter Games in order to open up the opportunity to those athletes who play both indoor and beach volleyball, to participate.
Region 3 White Boys Volleyball Team Results:
Day 1
Central West/Region 5 Red : (21 – 25, 14 – 25)
Central East/Region 4:
(19 – 25, 25 – 22, 12 – 15)
Central West/Region 5 White: (19 – 25, 19 – 25)
Day 2
Northwestern/Region 1: (25 – 15, 27 – 29, 12 – 15)
North Eastern/Region 2: (25 – 12, 25 – 10)
Southwestern/Region 3 Purple: (22 – 25, 16 – 25)
Eastern/Region 6:
(31 – 29, 23 – 25, 11 – 15)
Day 3
Southwestern/Region 3 Purple: (18 – 25, 14 – 25)
Northwestern/Region 1: (25 – 13, 25 – 13)
White Region 3 Team placed fifth, while Purple Region 3 Team came home with silver.
