The Morrin Mustangs Senior Girls Volleyball team is coming off one of their best seasons in recent history, with a win at zones, and a respectable finish at provincials.
The Mustangs wrapped up their season at the 1A provincial championship at Central Alberta Christian High School (CACHS) in Lacombe on November 25-27.
On Thursday, the Mustangs faced CACHS and lost in two sets, but bounced back and topped Picture Butte in three sets. On Friday they were bested by Parkland Emmanual but beat École Des Beaux Lacs from Bonnyville. This put them in third place in their pool.
On Saturday they crossed over and faced Consort, who defeated the Mustangs. There were quality teams at the tournament with close matches. The teams that defeated the Mustangs went on to claim gold, bronze, and fourth place.
Coach Amanda Batty is very proud of the team throughout the season.
“They are, by far, the most positive, fun-loving group I have ever coached,” said coach Batty. “They are never negative with each other, they are building each other up, and no matter what the score on the scoreboard is they find ways to have fun. We get comments everywhere we go. They are just a really special group.”
This squad has been together for a couple of seasons. Last year while they had no senior players and a lack of playing time due to COVID, they developed their skills and team play.
This paid off with a win at Zones defeating Rosemary and earning a spot at provincials.
Batty says they have three players graduating and have five players coming up to the senior level next season. Because they had a short bench at provincials because of injuries, they brought up some Grade 9 players to play.
“I have been telling them all season how proud I am of them. Not even volleyball skill-wise, that has all been great, but just for the atmosphere they have created with each other, we’ve been more like a family than a team,” said Batty.
The last time the Mustangs competed at provincials was 2015, and before that, 1996.

Drumheller Disc golf players have seen a resurgence of the sport in the valley and have made their newest course more permanent.
Drumheller has been a popular destination for disc golfers for many years, with the popular Wayne course that has hosted the annual Lost Egg Classic for years, as well as a course in Midland Provincial Park. This summer saw the installation of a new course in the Riverside area. And throughout the summer, it was rare not to see a cohort of players making their way around the course.
Over the weekend, they made the course more permanent.
“We have a local player who works in the oilfield industry who has made spec baskets, and has donated them to the course,” said Cameron White.
White and his wife Megan began Fire Coulee Discs, coming into the pandemic having their love of the sport reignited and just wanted to put discs in other players’ hands.
We just wanted people to play the sport of disc golf,’ said White. “It is one of the fastest-growing sports right now.”
The course near Riverside is what they are calling their practice course. Geographically, it is flat and has no challenging terrain to maneuver, making it accessible to any player. It is also accessible in terms of player capabilities. It is a great beginner course and is in a highly-visible space, and with the new baskets can be played even through the winter.
“We tried to find a spot in town where anyone of any age could play,” he said, adding the Wayne and Midland Courses are much more technical courses, and harder to play.
“The course we have set up you could play in a wheelchair.”
The course has flourished. The course has been well used by locals, as well as visitors. White explains the course is listed on Udisc, an app with a directory of courses.
“We have had over 70 entries on our little course, and most of them are from out of town,” said White.
Enthusiasts are also looking at installing a course on the Stampede Barn land, and have begun to map out a trophy course.
The Midland Course also saw some action this season with a Charity Classic in October for the local Food Bank, organized by a player from Edmonton.
He hopes the momentum will continue to grow the sport for locals and visitors.
‘We will have people not just coming here to see dinosaurs but coming here to play disc golf,” said White.