Two Christian high schools battled for the provincial championship at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association’s Boys A volleyball tournament Nov. 21-23. The Hamilton (Ont.) District Christian High School boys’ volleyball team won gold, and the Smithville (Ont.) Christian High School boys’ team won silver in a contest that included qualifying schools from regional tournaments earlier in the season.
The Hamilton team included five grade-12 players and six grade-11 players. Brad Heidbuurt, the athletic director at HDCH and physical education and math teacher, coached the team alongside assistant coach Leah Siebenga.
The Smithville boys’ team included five grade-12 players, five grade-11 players, and two grade-10 players. The team was coached by three community coaches with one teacher representative, Beth Henderson, who teaches science, French, and music at Smithville.
“As the season progressed, I would not have predicted that we would be in the Gold Medal game at OFSAA. We had a lot of work to do,” Heidbuurt said, noting “two tight and competitive matches” at the qualifying tournament.
“At OFSAA, we really found our groove,” Heidbuurt said, and “team chemistry was the best it had been all year.”
Henderson said the Smithville team narrowly won its place at the provincial tournament, an opportunity the boys relished. “When we earn the right to face off against HDCH in an OFSAA final, that's the pinnacle of our season for our boys and coaches. Many are friends off the court, teammates on their club volleyball teams, fellow worshippers at church, and some are even cousins. The play is always fierce, and the two teams know each other's game so well—our highest level of play always seems to come when HDCH is our opponent. But after the medals have been awarded, there are many brotherly hugs and photographs between the two teams.”
There is a “good and healthy rivalry” between HDCH and Smithville, said Heidbuurt. “Our players know their players, and each team shows respect and care for each other.”
This is the fourth year in a row that Hamilton District Christian High School has earned the top title in Ontario for Boys A volleyball. The Smithville team were provincial champions in 2019 and 2013.
About the Author
Kristen Parker is a freelance writer. She has a passion for words and creativity. Kristen and her husband Chris, enjoy board games and thrift shopping. They attend Stratford CRC in Stratford, Ont.