NEWS PHOTO SEAN ROONEY Kennedy Galloway speaks during seniors night at Crescent Heights High School prior to the Vikings boys' match against Hat High. At left are Vikings seniors Heyden Harrison (far left) and Landon Scholly, the boys' Grade 12 players who were honoured along with Galloway, Keanna Jakubowsky, Julia Forsyth, Mira Dievert and Destiny Baigent.
There’s still a few weeks of volleyball left to play for the seven Grade 12’s on Crescent Heights’ teams, but Wednesday night was a chance to bid farewell.
On seniors night prior to the varsity boys’ game against Hat High, Landon Scholly and Heyden Harrison had to hold back tears amid speeches and lots of reminiscing, while girls players Keanna Jakubowsky, Kennedy Galloway, Julia Forsyth, Mira Dievert and Destiny Baigent let the waterworks flow while accepting framed photos and flowers.
“I definitely remember me and my best friend Heyden, the first day of volleyball tryouts, always carpooling together, tournaments, every game with each other,” said Scholly prior to the half-hour ceremony. “This is the last one, so it’s a little sad but we have so many good memories.”
Scholly, a power, and Harrison, who plays middle, began six years ago, both mentioning in written speeches how they remembered attending their first tryout together.
Now, as the leaders on an above-.500 team full of youth, they’re finishing up side-by-side, too.
“It’s been a treat, for sure,” said Scholly. “Both of us came in to the season, we knew we had two seniors, which is a really low amount for a team. But we’ve got a bunch of new kids, they’ve put in a bunch of effort. Both of us have been really happy with how the season’s been.”
Likewise, many of the girls’ seniors have played alongside each other since their junior high days. Jakubowsky knows the bonds they’ve formed will last the test of time.
“They’re my second family really, they’re sisters to me,” she said. “We spend time in and outside of the court, and it’s been an emotional end, an amazing experience to play with all of these girls. They’re all going to go on to do great things, I know for sure.”
Jakubowsky knows she’ll remain involved with the sport even after her high school days are over.
“A couple of us are at least hoping to have a coaching career in the future,” she said. “I definitely want to keep volleyball in my life, whether it’s playing or coaching or adult leagues.”
League playoffs will take place next week, followed by South Zone championships Nov. 14-16 in Lethbridge. Winners there will advance to provincials to close out their seasons.
With four tournament wins in a row, the Vikings girls figure to be in the mix. The boys had a solid silver-medal finish in Canmore this past weekend but lost Wednesday to Hat High, 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-13). The Mohawks, of course, compete in 4A for zones and provincials while the Vikings are 3A.
Crescent Heights wasn’t the only school to fete their seniors Wednesday, as Eagle Butte had a ceremony for Aiden Heller, William Baird, Gavin Derksen and Hunter Jones prior to their 3-1 (25-15, 15-25, 25-23, 25-15) win over McCoy’s boys.
