St. Boniface Centurions charging forward

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This article was published 09/11/2015 (3800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kayla Wandowich says she couldn’t wish for better teammates.

The Grade 10 St. Boniface Diocesan High School student recently picked up the Tire Recycle Urban High School Athlete of the Week award given out by the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association for a series of standout performances for the St. Boniface Centurions volleyball team this season.

Brad Scott, the school’s athletic director, said the five-foot-eight middle’s achievements this season include leading the team to a win at the Collège Béliveau tournament, a second place at the Kildonan East as well as playing an integral role in helping the Centurions remain undefeated during the regular season and finishing first in the Zone 12 season (3A girls volleyball league). At press time, team was heading into the season-ending playoffs.

Wandowich is one of the team members — along with Amanda Losier, Kate Knight, Chayleeah Connor-Whyte — that competed at the last provincial volleyball championships and the girls are aiming to make a return to the provincials this season, Scott said.

“This season has been very, very good. We’ve had a couple of good girls come in from Grade 9, which has helped. It’s a hardworking group of girls that always show up for practice and they’re trying their best to get to the provincials in Flin Flon. Last year, they reached the quarter-finals and I think they’d like to progress further,” Scott said.

On the coaching side, Scott the team has been nurtured by the great work by coaches Maria Marinelli, Ashley Emond and Alyssa Emond, who are all alumni of the school.

Grade 10 student Wandowich is thrilled to pick up the award, although she said she is accepting it on behalf of the team.

“It’s such a huge honour to be nominated along with such great athletes and I feel extremely fortunate,” Wandowich said.

The 15-year-old Garden City resident — who has an academic average of 90 per cent and also enjoys participating in basketball, soccer, badminton, and track and field — has been playing volleyball since Grade 6.

“I love the fast pace of the game and the team aspect of volleyball, because we’re like a little family. As teammates, you support each other when you win and you lose, and you have to be there for each other through thick and thin,” she said.

“I’m so proud of the girls, as they’ve worked really hard to achieve this success. They’ve been so amazing. Hats off to the girls, as I couldn’t ask for better teammates.”

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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