It is starting to become a habit. Another year, another Alberta Provincial Championships medal for Barrhead Composite High School’s (BCHS) Senior Boys’ Gryphons’ volleyball team.
For the last three years the BCHS Gryphons have qualified for the 3A Volleyball Championships and each time they have returned home with a medal. This time it was silver. Last year it was gold, the year before that it was silver.
The team’s journey started on Nov. 23, when both the boys’ and girls’ Gryphons teams left for the provincials in Camrose.
Shortly after the Gryphons arrived, they had their team picture taken followed by a quick practice and a joint team dinner.
Rod Callihoo, Gryphons’ head coach, said it was a good chance for the two teams to spend some time together before starting the rigors of the tournament.
The team’s first match was against Louis Saint Laurent (LSL), representing the Edmonton Zone.
“It was a good way to start the tournament,” Callihoo said, adding although the Gryphons had beat LSL in their previous three meetings, the team played them tough. “I thought that helped us set the tone for the tournament. Although we managed them well, we had to play well and stay focused to win.”
That focus to win was something, Callihoo said, a number of teams noticed and complemented them on throughout the tournament.
“Opposing coaches noticed the difference in the mentality, focus and determination, and how prepared our players were,” he said.
Day two of the tournament was the busiest for the Gryphons. They played three games against Springbank, Taber and Camrose.
Although the team played well in all their matches that day, going undefeated, Callihoo felt the team was not at their best when they faced Taber.
“I think that is one of the hallmarks of a good team. Even though we didn’t play to the level we set for ourselves before the tournament, we still found a way to win,” he said.
The toughest game of the day was their match-up against Camrose who were coming off a win against the team many people picked to win their pool, St. Joseph Catholic from Grande Prairie. Barrhead won in straight sets, 25-22 and 25-16.
In between matches, the Gryphons would return to their hotel and rest.
“It is important that players get a chance to get away from the gym and just have a mental break away from the game. I think it helped us maintain our focus,” Callihoo said.
In the final game of the round the Gryphons facing St. Joseph Catholic, a team that beat Barrhead during regular tournament play earlier in the season on two occasions. However, this time Barrhead had the upper hand, winning in two sets.
As winners of their pool the Gryphons received a bye, moving straight to the quarter final against Airdrie, a team they had never seen before. Barrhead took the first set 25-13, lost the second 25-23, before taking the final set 15-12.
In the gold medal game, Barrhead faced Strathcona Christian Academy (SCA), a team they face sporadically during the season, but are very familiar with having faced them in the finals last year.
“I have never been so nervous going into a game,” said Brett Caughlin, who is in his final year with the team.
The Gryphons got off to a good start, winning the first set 25-20.
“I thought we controlled it quite well,” Callihoo said, adding when a team such as SCA loses a set they usually respond by fighting that much harder.
And that’s what they did Caughlin said, adding it was neck and neck all the way up to through the first 23 points, with SCA taking the final two points. The third set followed a similar pattern with both teams exchanging points, with SCA edging the Gryphons in the end.
Callihoo added, there wasn’t much the team couldn’t have done differently.
“It just came down to who got a couple of good bounces and this time it was SCA,” he said.
As for how the team felt at the end of the game, Callihoo said they were disappointed, but were proud of what they accomplished over the season.
“It was very emotional,” Caughlin said, admitting many players on the team shed some tears. “Not only because we got so close to winning, but for many of us this was the last time we will play together.”
