SUBMITTED PHOTO
The Medicine Hat High Hawks Sr boys volleyball team pose with their South Zone championship banner won in mid-November.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat High Hawks senior boys volleyball team wrapped up a special season this weekend.
The Hawks’ fourth-place finish at provincials held in Calgary was the final touches on a season that saw them win the South Zone championship for the first time in 20 years.
Besides capturing first in the province, Grade 12 athlete Gabriel Rahn says he couldn’t have asked for more from his final season.
“It was super special, definitely the best of all the seasons I’ve played, we were the top team and it was with all my best friends,” Rahn said. “We went deep into provincials, we had a good season and we won lots of tournaments. We just had a great year all around.”
For head coach Jordan Weimer, who has been the senior boys head coach for four years, it was a culmination of years in the works to bring the program to this winning point. He’s heard from alumni who have been proud of their accomplishments this season and he is already looking forward to the next season.
He says the difference maker for this group was that volleyball was priority No. 1.
“A lot of my guys this year were volleyball guys, they really wanted to play this game, they want to learn this game, they want it to grow and for me, that’s all I can ask for as a coach is guys who want to play this game and want to grow,” Weimer said. “They’ve had consistency in coaching, they’ve had me for three straight years and I’ve been pumping that message to them as well to get better and always be growing, knowing their strengths and weaknesses.
“This group of seniors has been really great for that and I’m really proud of the way that they’ve grown over the last year.”
Weimer says they had a senior heavy group, with seven graduating players moving on from the program. The Hawks were 2-1 in the round robin at provincials, ultimately losing in the semifinals in a four-set match. They finished the tournament dropping the third-place match. Weimer says nerves played a role throughout the tournament but he was glad his players were able to get the experience.
“It was just a whole different feel of a tournament and kind of caught them off guard but then they settled into their game,” Weimer said. “It was nice to watch and once we hit that Saturday, where we ended up losing that semifinal, nerves played a role in that as well. Also at the end of a long season like this, it’s a battle so we had a good tournament still. There’s some good teams at provincials and I’ve got to give my props to some of those other schools that eventually beat us because they definitely earned it.”
The provincials experience was also valuable to Weimer, who says it helped him understand how to manage a game better and navigate close, intense matches against strong schools. It’s the type of matches they look to have as the program further strides toward success.
While it was a strong season for the team on the court, it was even more memorable for Weimer who was named coach of the year by his peers. It’s an honour he says has made a lot of work feel even more valuable.
“To be able to be recognized by your peers, as somebody who’s put in some effort and to be recognized by other coaches around the South, that’s really cool,” Weimer said. “It means a lot for me and it kind of validates the work that you’ve put in over the years and that’s just awesome.
“It made me feel really, really great about the work I’m doing here at the high school.”
Weimer says the preparations for the 2024 season get started in June with some beach volleyball before they ramp up after the summer for a season that gets underway almost as soon as school starts in the fall.
When those school bells ring in September and the nets go up for the new season, Weimer says there’s only one goal left for him and the volleyball team moving forward.
“I’ve had a taste of provincials and I really want to go back,” Weimer said. “So I’m looking forward to building something here at the school and continuing that work.”
