The Yorkton Elementary Schools Sports Association (YESSA) held it city-wide volleyball championships last week, capping off the current season. YESSA vice-president Mark Schendel reports eight schools, including four public schools of the Good Spirit School Division and four Catholic schools of Christ the Teacher School Division, each had two teams, a boys team and a girls' team vying for the Yorkton city-wide title.
This year some 200 young athletes on 16 teams participated in the annual tournament, Schendel notes.
Spectators to the event were very impressed with the calibre of volleyball, he suggests. "Coaches have done a tremendous job getting the athletes prepared for the volleyball tournament," Schendel states.
He expresses his appreciation to Susan Cochrane, YESSA president, for all her work with the tournament. Schendel thanks the M.C.Knoll canteen for the providing the snacks Tuesday. He recognizes the hard work of all the coaches and the support of parents and spectators. He reserves his greatest appreciation for the athletes who put in countless hours and tons of effort.
Schendel points out that YESSA isn't merely equipping the young athletes to become volleyball players, but also providing them with life skills, including leadership, teamwork and commitment. "They will use those for the rest of their lives," he predicts.
Ultimately the two local high schools will reap the benefits of the training provided by YESSA because both Sacred Heart High School and the Yorkton Regional High School will receive some outstanding young volleyball players, Schendel claims.
The M.C. Knoll Knights squared off against the Yorkdale Royals in the boys' final match. The Royals won, claiming the YESSA city boys' championship for the fourth time in the 12 years the tournament has been played.
In girls' final action, like the boys' final match, the M.C. Knoll Knights and the York-dale Royals battled for the city title. The M.C. Knoll Knights completed an undefeated season by claiming the 2010 city girls' championship.
