Small school pulls off big win

In New-Wes-Valley, the Pearson Academy Astros are sports royalty.

“I guess last year could be looked at as a bit of an upset,” said coach Craig Loder. “Going back-to-back makes it a bit of a dynasty… this was the icing on the cake, because it was the boys’ last year for the most part.”

On Dec. 9, after beating Gander Collegiate in the semi-finals, the Astros went on to beat their long-time rivals the Clarenville High Cougars in the 4A boy’s varsity volleyball finals at Corner Brook Regional High.

Even after last year’s win, the boys didn’t take anything for granted. Player Kris Winter says that when they realized they won.

“We were shocked, we paused for a moment, then we all went crazy,” he said.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that size-wise, the school is at the 3A level, but three years ago they applied to move up to 4A to compete against larger schools in places like St. John’s and Corner Brook.

Player Luke Hunt says, “To win a 4A Provincial as a 3A team is really amazing, but to win it two years consecutive is unreal.”

Winter attributes their success to their coach and their bond as a team, saying, “He’s been with us since Grade 6 and 7 and he’s more like a dad to us than a coach because we’ve been with us for so long, and all the boys on the team are like brothers to me.”

Hunt agrees that their coach’s support is key.

“It makes us feel pretty important I guess, because every other team in our school gets a new coach every year but our coach has stuck by us.”

The team also has a dedicated assistant coach — a member of the community — Duke Kelloway, who’s been with them for five years.

Loder, a teacher at the school and the team’s coach for six years, is grateful that parents and other community members have been so supportive as fundraisers and fans.

“When we have a volleyball tournament here, the gym is packed,” he said.

Winter also won an award for sportsmanship at the provincials. His modesty offers another clue to the Astro’s success.

Winter says, “It means everything, but if there was a team’s sportsmanship, I probably would take that one instead of the individual one, because it is a team sport.”

Most of the members of the team are graduating this year, but Loder says they’ve been mentoring some of the younger players.

“These guys were sort of paying it forward because someone did it for them when they were in Grade 8 or Grade 9,” he said. “So it’s just an endless cycle.”