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A smashing success for 15U-Burgundy at 15U Provincials in Waterloo!
(PHOTOS)
By Alain Asgill, with photos by Paul Edwards
April 11-13, 2009 — What an awesome, fantastic, wonderful, and groundbreaking weekend this was for the National Capitals 15U-Burgundy team at the OVA 15U Ontario Championships in Waterloo. The girls played hard, they played with heart, they played with spirit and they played with determination to beat many good teams. Here is what the team achieved:
DAY 1: We won all three matches against Hurricanes Blue, Burlington Blaze and Barrie Elites Blue, finishing at the top of our pool. Afterwards, all the parents and girls had smiles so big that we could barely get through the hotel doors. We celebrated with beer, wine, and lots of pizza. Oops, the girls only had pizza – for those who are wondering!
DAY 2: We woke up and went to St. Jacobs Market for all to entertain themselves. Afterwards at RIM Park, we won one set of three against BSV, but the play was still inspiring in the losses. We then took Orillia Suns to three sets and lost outright to Predators Black, the only straight sets loss we had all weekend. We just barely came fourth in that pool, due to points differential.
Congratulations to Julie Zhu who received the 15U Burgundy’s OVA Award of Excellence for outstanding commitment and dedication. She received the medal at a ceremony in the middle of the second day.
DAY 3: We started the day by beating the highly-favoured and competitive DRVC Orange. What a wonderful match that was after our girls came back to win in three sets after losing the first! That left us to play our neighbours from the Ottawa area, Mavericks Colts. Our girls lost the first set but came back wonderfully with determined play to win the second. Many parents hearts actually left their body during that set and just before we won it! In the end, the Colts prevailed in three sets partly due to the starting server’s great serving at the beginning of the third.
Before the tournament started, we were placed in Tier 2, Division 2 – number 26 out of 32 teams. When we finished, we ended up placing 5th in Tier 1, Division 2 – 13th overall!
In my opinion, we actually found the winning combination this weekend. First of all, it was the magnificent and superlative coaching by Irena and Jess, who knew when to make the important substitutions and call the all-important timeouts. At the same time, they kept pushing the girls and asking them if they wanted it (to win the game). In tandem, it was also the scorekeeping for all of the games by me and the excellent lines keeping by Andy Ferguson ;) Plus, we had the nervous and happy faces of all those family members on the bench!
Even though the team did not win any medals, the medals are in their hearts. Great job and congratulations to the entire team and the coaches! You ALL deserve it!
There are so many who deserve thanks and, in no specific order, here they are:
Thanks to all the parents who were able to make the trip and drive the girls around. (Thanks as well for bringing all that food!)
Thanks to Judy and Sandy (while everyone was sleeping) for finding that restaurant where we went for breakfast on Sunday morning at the 50s Diner. That breakfast was so, so, so good. OK Sandy, we will not give you any more fatigue in regards to location details :)
Thanks to the coaches for a wonderful job.
Thanks to all those who volunteered in whatever capacity they could.
Thanks to those parents who made it to Waterloo but had to leave early. (We missed you Alex. You were like the girls’ mascot.)
Thanks to the other NCVC teams who were able to catch some of our girls playing between their games.
Thanks to Sue for scorekeeping one of the 15U-Navy games.
Thanks to those who followed the games on www.iset.net.
Thanks also to Pam and Catherine for making train arrangements.
Thanks to Paul Edwards for taking those pictures of our team while we were playing on the court.
Thanks to Shari (Shayna’s sister) and Sandro for taking so many
pictures as well. The only thing I am sorry about is that we did not
videotape any of the games or all for that matter, but the memories
will remain with us.
Thanks to Dan and Cathy for their help this season in determining a common goal for our team.
Thanks to Linden and some of the 16U girls for providing a coaching session on a Saturday morning.
Thanks also to Matt and Cathy for providing coaching at some practices during the season. By the way Matt, your left brake light is out!
My apologies if I have missed anyone at all.
Only Moncton awaits us now...
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| Photos below submitted by: Ted |
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| Photos below submitted by: Sue Jones / Amber Pantalone |
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