The more you know about the eight-year championship run of the C.R Judd Jaguars girls volleyball team, the more you appreciate the achievement.
In capturing the Rainbow Elementary Girls Volleyball Championship in every year from 2007 through to 2014, coach Craig Thomson and his Capreol-based students have defied the odds.
This is not a single, ultra-talented core of players blessed with excessive longevity. By and large, each and every one of the banner-winning teams at C.R. Judd has featured a different core of starters and go-to players.
The 2014 edition, which took down the R.L. Beattie Barons in four sets (25-20, 24-26, 25-23, 25-20) Wednesday in Chelmsford, were led by the senior troika of Dara Derochers, Grace Haapala and Morgan Proulx.
At a school steeped in a volleyball tradition, patience can be key.
"I really liked the sport at first, and then I saw everyone I knew that was making the team," noted Haapala, now in Grade 8, but wandering down to her first tryout session back in Grade 6.
"I knew that I could make the team if I kept working hard. This year, it was my time to shine."
And that she did.
The Jaguars somehow overcome, year in and year out, the fact that they are not among the schools blessed with a numerous potential athletes to choose from in forming their team.
Steady progression, across the lineup, is important. The tallest athlete in the C.R. Judd lineup, Proulx knew that her hitting would be key this year.
"My spikes usually went out, so I had to get more control this year," she said.
"I had to make sure to hit it right on my hand, make sure to flip my hand down and go cross-court."
The Jaguars are nothing if not super prepared, knowing both their own strengths and weaknesses, but also studying the opposition.
"We've played them (Beattie) in the finals at most of the other tournaments this year," noted Desrochers. "They tip a lot, so we made sure to cover that area. They have some strong servers. We knew those serves were coming at us, so we were able to prepare."
"I thought we did really well," added Haapala. "Beattie's a really, really good team, and I'm really proud of us for doing it."
The C.R. Judd gold-medal-winning roster featured Dara Desrochers, Morgan Proulx, Grace Haapala, Meredith Graham, Brianne Yensen, Kona Haas, Ayla Jones, Ila Leonard, Mya Harriman and Kaylyn Debaie.
The boys final featured a potential dynasty in the making, as the Northeastern Cougars defended their 2013 title, beating the R.L. Beattie Barons 19-25, 25-20, 25-13 and 25-21.
The game opened with an outstanding matchup at the net, with Adam Bertrand (Northeastern) and Abraham Soumahoro (Beattie) go toe to toe, or more appropriately, kill for kill.
Gradually, the depth of the Northeastern lineup began to assert itself, with Broedy Grenier stepping up during Bertrand's back court rotation, and Ayden Popowich setting the tone in the fourth set with an outstanding 7-0 opening run from the service line.
The matchup of the Cougars and Barons provided a fitting conclusion to the fall boys volleyball schedule.
"This year has been back and forth," stated Bertrand. "They've had the upper hand a few times, so we knew coming in that this was going to be a tough game.
"We communicated a lot out on the court, and we improved a lot this year.”
A member of the Nickel City Minor Bantam AAA Sons as well, Bertrand is enjoying his exposure to both sports, at least for now.
"Hockey is my No. 1 sport, but if I don't go anywhere in hockey, I will probably try volleyball," he explained. "Just being with the boys, out on the court, it's a great time."
The Northeastern Cougars 2014 lineup includes Adam Bertrand, Liam LaPierre, Brennan LaPierre, Broedy Grenier, Austin Pawluk, Ayden Popowich, Nick Burke, Cole Molyneaux, Ryan Aubrey, Owen Pawluk, Braden Smith, Brandon Rudiger, Ravyn Mendonca and coach Dale Beausoleil.
