By Scott Roblin

Young Kwahommies team getting ready for provincial stage

Nov 20, 2017 | 11:36 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – They may be considered underdogs going into 4A high school volleyball provincials, but don’t tell the Medicine Hat High Kwahommies that.

One of 12 high school girls teams left standing in Alberta, the Kwahommies are getting ready to welcome the province to town this week.

The Kwahommies are coming off hosting south zone finals over the weekend, a tournament in which they were knocked out during the playoff stage.

However, Medicine Hat High will field teams in both the boys and girls divisions due to being the host school.

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Senior Rhiannon Ware said she’s looking forward to the tournament, which will close out her high school career.

“It’s definitely exciting, there’s some intimidation and nerves going through as we get closer,” said Ware. “But, as it comes through this week I think we’re really going to be ready, going to get after it.”

This year’s Kwahommies team is one of the youngest in recent memory, with Ware serving as the lone Grade 12 player on the roster.

Head coach Darren MacMillan said preparations for provincials have gone well, with the team focusing on the mental side of the game ahead of the tournament.

“Trying to really just focus on having lots of energy and playing with excitement, and really being able to control our emotions,” said MacMillan. “Being a young group, emotions can sometimes be a little tricky when they’ve never been in those certain situations. So, we’re really trying to keep our energy up, stay positive, and work on the emotions.”

Along with a chance at winning a provincial title on home court, MacMillan added this tourney will provide some great experience for their Grade 10 and 11 athletes.

“Now we get to experience that, we get to host provincials,” said MacMillan. “Girls get to see that if they ever get to go there in their high school careers, whether that’s next year or [2019], they know that provincials is just another tournament. We’re playing against the same girls that are the same age as us, and they go through everything the exact same way.”

The Kwahommies kick off provincials on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 pm against the Foothills Composite Falcons.

Meanwhile, the Mohawks get their provincial tournament going at 3:15 pm versus Centennial High School out of Calgary.

Opening ceremonies for provincials will get underway at Medicine Hat High School on Thursday as well, getting started at 10:00 am.