Sports | DrumhellerMail

Dynos get ready for regionals

    The end is almost nigh for volleyball season. In just over a week, teams from all over the province will start on the road to be crowned provincial champions.
   Starting on that road as well will be the Drumheller Valley Secondary School (DVSS) senior girls volleyball team, the Dynos.
   “We will be competing against other 2A teams in our region, including teams in our league like Three Hills and PCA [Prairie Christian Academy],” said Dawn Sullivan, head coach of the team.
   Three Hills and PCA boast tough squads, and the Dynos will be going up against teams from Hanna, Oyen, Siksika, and Beiseker - teams they haven’t seen before.
   To prepare for regionals, the Dynos have had a busy schedule of tournaments. This past weekend the team was in Olds, but was narrowly denied a spot in the quarter finals.
   “It came down to where we split a match with one of the teams. We had to beat them by three points, but we only beat them by two,” said Sullivan.
   To determine which teams move on, the number of matches won, games won, and points for and against are tabulated. The Dynos were shy by only a few points to make it into the quarter finals.
   However, the Dynos did prove to themselves they had what it took to go up against some of the toughest teams around.
   “We started a little slow at the tournament, but in our last match we managed to split a match against one of the better teams at the tournament,” said Sullivan.
   To get ready for regionals, the team will be concentrating on keeping their focus for an entire game. Sullivan feels the girls have what it takes to be up there with the best.
   “They’re still working, but it’s the lapses when they’re playing. The potential is there, we just have to put it together when we’re on the court,” said Sullivan.
   The Dynos will be in Strathmore this weekend for their last tournament until regionals. The team has been up against Strathmore before, but the other teams will be new to the Dynos.
   “We’re still working towards regionals and zones,” said Sullivan. “It’s crunch time.”

The DVSS Dynos senior girls volleyball team is coming off a close defeat in Olds this past weekend. The team will be heading to Strathmore this weekend for another tournament, then they will compete in regionals. The team includes (back, l-r) Brigitte Doolittle, Brenna Grieve, Raine McDougald, Bonnie Courtenay, Becky Gough, Allyson Campbell, Kendra Schmidt, Madison Colberg, Mikayla Britton, Shae-Lynn Skytt, (front) Shae Mirbach, coach Dawn Sullivan, Leah Neuman, and (missing) Zaynah Chomos.

Bantam Titans capture Tier 4 league title

    The Bantam Titans are the Tier 4 league champs and this puts them one step closer to provincials.
   The Bantam Titans battled the elements and the Spring Bank Phoenix last Saturday at home. They fought to the end and came home with a 28-14 win and home field advantage as they continue in the next round of playoffs.
   “Just getting there (to the provincials) is an accomplishment,” said head coach Paul Redmond.
   The Titans had a slow start and soon found they were trailing by two points at the half. Springbank kept the pressure up and scored early in the third quarter to go up 14-6.
   “We battled back,” said Redmond. “We seem to be a second half team this year.”
   Redmond said this was a success on both sides of the ball. Aden Enns was able to find the end zone twice as did quarterback Mitch Ostergard. The defense held Springbank scoreless through most of the last two quarters of the game.
   A healthy crowd of fans came out to cheer on the Bantam team despite the chilly weather and snow-covered fields Saturday afternoon.
   The Titans have a few bumps and bruises, but managed to come away from Saturday’s win, relatively unscathed. They will have a week to heal even more before they host the provincial Tier 4 semifinal. They will be playing the top team from the Southern Alberta League. Redmond says there is a good chance that Medicine Hat could make it back to the playoffs.
   “Hopefully we can get everyone healed up and hopefully the weather clears a bit,” said Redmond.
   He adds they are confident they can do well.
   “I think we can compete well with this team, we just have to play a really good game,” said Redmond. “Limit our mistakes and if we can get a couple breaks here and there we can beat them.”

Joa Markotic named to ACAC all conference soccer team

    A Drumheller soccer player has been recognized as an ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference), All Conference player.
   Joa Markotic, son of Yvonne Markotic and Martin McSween, has been a Lethbridge College Kodiak for the last three years. Last Friday he was recognized for his achievement on the field of college sports in Alberta.
   Joa played his minor soccer in Drumheller and was part of the Drumheller team that went all the way to provincial gold. He is in his third year at Lethbridge College studying Natural Resource Compliance.
   The Kodiaks did not make the finals this season. Despite this, Joa was named one of three defenders to the All Conference (south) Team. His teammate Cole Runge was named as a forward.
   The awards were presented at the ACAC Men’s Soccer Awards Banquet at Red Deer College, which also played host to the league championships.
   The ACAC men’s soccer coaches select the all conference teams.

More Articles ...