If you were to write the script on Senior Spike It! this year, it would be that Sir John Franklin was the best when it came to the girls side of things.
The Falcons swept everything in the 15U and 19U girls divisions of this year's territorial high school championships on Sunday, which includes the Tier 1 and Tier 2 banners in each of those divisions. In the 15U category, Sir John Franklin beat St. Pat's for the Tier 1 crown (the top tier), while the Tier 2 banner was a guarantee as the school ended up playing each other. In the 19U category, the Falcons beat Diamond Jenness Secondary School of Hay River in straight sets with the Tier 2 win coming over St. Pat's.
Denine McDonald, one of the school's coaches and overall team organizer for the Falcons, said he knew all of the school's teams would be strong, but four banners was a surprise.
"We took our senior girls teams down to the Lawrie Hobart tournament (in Fort Smith) and they played each other in the final, which went to five sets," he said. "We knew we would have competitive teams and they all played well."
In fact, the Falcons played in every single final except for the 19U boys Tier 2 decider. DIamond Jenness won that one over St. Pat's.
St. Pat's went on to win two banners of their own, claiming victory in the 19U boys Tier 1 title contest and the 15U boys Tier 2 final, both over Sir John Franklin. Paul W. Kaeser High School from Fort Smith captured the 15U Tier 1 boys final by beating Sir John Franklin.
McDonald said when it comes to playing St. Pat's, it's always a healthy rivalry and the players all want to put their best feet forward.
"They're all friends off the court and a lot of them are teammates on teams outside of volleyball," he said. "That said, you always want them to give their best out there."
And so ends the scholastic volleyball season in the NWT for another year but not without hundreds of students hitting the courts, something McDonald said is important to remember.
"Winning banners is always fun, but the students taking part and enjoying playing sports is the big thing," he said.
