A talented and determined group of young Rossland and Trail volleyball players beat some of the best teams in the province on their way to capturing gold at the B.C. Super Spike 14U Girls A Volleyball championship in Oliver and Osoyoos, Feb. 17-18.
Coaches Krista Podwin and Angie Makway organized the first club development team in Trail, after coaching the J. L. Crowe Secondary and Rossland volleyball teams.
“We took them from Crowe Grade 8 and Rossland Grade 8 and we had tryouts back in December, 2023, and formed a team of 12,” said coach Podwin.
Six players from Crowe and six from Rossland Summit School formed the club development team under the umbrella of the Nelson Volleyball Club and dubbed itself the Kootenay Ice. The Kootenay Ice practiced twice a week and played games against the Nelson and Cranbrook teams in preparation for Super Spike.
The Ice was one of 16 teams from across the province that played in the round robin tournament. Kootenay iced every team in their pool but one in the qualification round, suffering its only loss to the Powerwest Black volleyball club from North Vancouver.
“I think everyone was asking,’Where you from and what the heck?’” said coach Podwin. “These other club teams have up to 150 kids coming out to try out, and so our girls did amazing.”
The Kootenay Ice defeated a Prince George team in their first playoff best-of-three set, before facing an intimidating Vernon team in the semifinal.
“These teams were coming fully equipped with clothes, bags, and just the whole nine yards, so the girls were nervous, but we’d say, ‘Just play your game, you guys are really good,’” said Podwin.
“I’ve been coaching volleyball for a long time, so I just said, ‘You have to believe in yourself.’”
After splitting the first two games, Kootenay defeated Vernon taking the third game and set to advance to the final against the Powerwest Club from North Van, the same team they fell to in the preliminary round.
Nerves gripped the Kootenay players at the start of the final match, falling in their first game, and trailing in their second by seven before coach Makway and Podwin called a time out.
“They were so excited,” said Podwin. “I think it just made them realize that they are a talented team of players, and they just have to believe in themselves no matter where they are from.”
The Ice regrouped and completed the comeback, seizing a victory over the Powerwest rival in Game 2. Then with a new found confidence they went on to win the tournament, beating the North Van team again for game, set, and match.
Their success bodes well for the future of local high school teams such as J. L. Crowe, and offers an inspiring example for all Kootenay youth.
“Strength isn’t just about physical prowess; it’s about resilience, determination, and heart,” added Podwin. “I’m immensely proud of our players for embodying these qualities, they illustrated time and again that giving up was never an option!”