Fall Sports Recap
We have been very thankful this year to be able to run our sports program at full capacity again this year! It has been a great fall season for our cross-country teams, junior high soccer team, and our volleyball teams.
Our fall season kicks off with Cross-country. Despite some challenges due to construction, they had another very successful WADDLE. At the junior high level, our team won the Tier 3 Championships (3rd out of all Jr High schools), and we also had one runner win her races to be declared city champion: Kaitlyn Geusebroek! At the senior high level, the Penguins won the 1A/2A/3A title at the Metro Championships and Tyson Versteeg, Andrew Leffers and Shawn Gunnink went 1, 2 and 3 at the Senior boys' race! Eight runners qualified for the ASAA provincials! After the team points were finalized, the PICS Penguins were announced as 1A Provincial Champions, and finished 8th overall! They had great showings by all who qualified (Tyson 1st, Shawn 3rd, Daniel Geusebroek 4th, Andrew 5th, Alison Stadt 30th, Jasmin deJong 37th, Nekeeya VanAssen 43rd, and James Mazereeuw 43rd)! Most importantly our team was able to focus on personal improvements and giving glory to God along the way!
The Junior High soccer team also enjoyed a fun season. They finished fourth at the Christian schools’ tournament in Calgary. It was a unique tournament this year as they played at an indoor soccer field. We also received great feedback about how well behaved the team was and their wonderful displays of sportsmanship.
The Junior High volleyball teams enjoyed great seasons as well. It was great to host our annual junior high volleyball tournament, with our boys placing second and our girls winning the consolation match. In league play, both junior high teams have made it to the playoffs. We wish them all the best as the go off into their matches next week! You can cheer on the girls on Tuesday, Nov 22 at Major General Griesbach School and the boys on Thursday, November 24th here at PICS. Both games are at 4:30pm. We also had the opportunity to run tripleball teams this year! It was great to provide more opportunity for our student athletes and they had a fun season!
Our senior high volleyball teams had memorable seasons. The Senior High Boys’ team had a big learning year with the team being mostly grade 10s. They spent their year playing in Edmonton’s metro league and in three tournaments. The metro league saw them play many 2A,3A and 4A schools. We had many close matchups going to the final set, but we ultimately fell one win short of making the playoffs. Their success this season was stronger in tournament play. They started the year off in a tournament in Camrose where they won the consolation final. This required the team to win 4 straight games! In the middle of their season, they had two other tournaments where they walked away with medals. The first was in Calmar where they took home gold. The second was in Fort Saskatchewan where they walked away with a silver place finish with a tight matchup that came down to the final points. Next, they are set to go to provincials at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Vegreville AB on November 24-26! You can watch and cheer the boys on using the following link https://www.youtube.com/c/ASAALive.
The Senior High Girls’ Volleyball team never fails to impress. With a starting lineup of girls who can overcome anything tossed at them, as well as a bench that’s got some real skill up their sleeves. The girls played hard throughout their season and pulled off silver in their league competition! They also won first at their Calmar tournament and overall have done well in their tournaments this year. These girls are skilled players, hardworking, honest on the court, kind, and sportsman like above all else. They are now heading off to Provincials in Picture Butte, AB on November 23-26! We will be cheering them on and know they will represent PICS well! All the best girls!
Our students display tremendous sportsmanship and determination. Our coaches are great role models, and our community is supportive and encouraging. We have also been so thankful to have spectators able to come and cheer on our athletes. This has been a great blessing to our community, and to friends and relatives. We have much to be thankful for, especially to God who equips us with his Holy Spirit to be ambassadors for him. We thank the Lord for all he has blessed us with this fall season and look forward to starting up the basketball season this winter.
Brittany Larson