A look in from Friday's ceremony at JPII, presenting the senior girls and senior boys volleyball teams with this year's Sportsmanship Awards. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Presented by SHSAA

Crusaders senior volleyball teams recognized with sportsmanship awards

Mar 3, 2023 | 5:27 PM

The John Paul II Collegiate senior boys and senior girls volleyball teams were both recognized by the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association (SHSAA) Friday, each taking home the 2022 Sportsmanship Award, to go along with their tandem silver medals from 4A provincials.

Head coach of the senior boys team Shelly Fransoo said she’s extremely proud of her players for playing hard all season, and doing so with strong character.

“I think it’s one of the greatest honours that SHSAA can give any team in the province,” she said. “When you win a medal, that’s great for sure, but the sportsmanship award means others are recognizing you as a team with class that has some skill too, so it’s a really great honour.”

The senior boys Crusaders with the Sportsmanship Award banner that will hang at the high school. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Grade 12 standout with the senior boys Crusaders Josh Fransoo said the award is something the players can take pride in as well.

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“The boys were really hard-working this year and always tried to be respectful win or lose. It’s something super important to me, and I know all the rest of those guys too, so it’s great to be recognized for that,” he said.

Coach of the senior girls Cherelle Cadrain said she and her coaching staff, which also includes Doug Sieben and Cooper Olson, couldn’t be more proud of what their team was able to accomplish this season as well.

“The girls definitely showed sportsmanship throughout the season as they continued to always hold their heads high and spread kindness win or lose, and we really tried to show respect to our refs, the other team, and their coaches,” Cadrain said.

“We just had a really solid season. I can’t say enough good things about this year with my group, and they definitely made us as coaches very proud, and they deserve this as a team.”

The senior girls Crusaders with the Sportsmanship Award banner that will hang at the high school. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Katelyn Payne with the senior girls team added that with many on the squad in their Grade 12 year, it meant something special to end the season with the award as well.

“It means a lot because it’s our Grade 12 year, so it feels really good to get an award, and we always tried to be super positive at all our tournaments and help out when we could with scorekeeping,” she said.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1