The JPII junior boys volleyball team, pictured here with their districts championship banner following the week’s tournament in Medstead. (Submitted photo/Shelly Fransoo)

By Martin Martinson

Gold Medal Finish

JPII junior boys cap volleyball season with district championship

Nov 1, 2019 | 2:07 PM

The John Paul II (JPII) Crusaders junior boys volleyball team are Battlewest District Champions, after taking top spot at Districts this week in Medstead.

The tournament consisted of the top four teams from both the northern and southern parts of the district. Those top eight were then divided into two pools, ahead of the event.

The Crusaders boys wasted no time, surging out of the gate hot. After going undefeated through pool play, JPII advanced to the semi-finals where the team would face off with a familiar foe from across town, the North Battleford Comprehensive High School (NBCHS) Vikings.

The two teams then faced off in an ‘all Battlefords’ best-of-three showdown for a spot in the gold medal final on the line. The Crusaders took the series in two straight to advance to the final for the second-consecutive year, looking for a storybook ending after finishing just short of a district championship a season ago.

In the gold medal matchup, JPII then again stormed the opposition, taking the final in two-straight games to cap their volleyball season as Battlewest District champions.

LOCAL TALENT

Battlefords dancer dazzles with top honours at Medicine Hat competition

1h ago

TRAFFIC BYLAW

North Battleford raises traffic fines, targets violations in bylaw overhaul

4h ago

5-3 loss

Tough third period leads to North Stars loss in Game 3

15h ago

Coach of the junior boys, Shelly Fransoo said she is proud of what the team accomplished this season. She said the group showed great resiliency to respond from last year’s finals appearance, along with a dedication to accomplishing their goal from the start of the season, to take the district title this time around.

“This year was a little bit of a redemption year,” she said. “It was a hard-fought battle last year at the district championship, and so this year we were looking to put our name on top, so it was good to get that gold within our school. This is what junior volleyball is all about; to get that district title, that’s what you shoot for all season and it was nice to be able to come home with that title.”

Five players from this season’s championship team will be eligible to return next year. The carryover should ensure the Crusaders’ junior boys remain competitive next season, as the club will look to defend their title with the valuable experience and winning pedigree established this year.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1