Flyers ready for another run at OFSAA
The Eden Flyers have a rich history when it comes to volleyball.
The Flyers have won 15 consecutive Zone 4 AA boys championships and have medalled at 13 straight appearances at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations playdowns.
The Flyers, who are ranked No. 1, appear poised to add to their medal collection beginning Thursday at the OFSAA AA championships in Sydenham.
“You always do feel a bit of the pressure and part of the season is learning to manage that pressure,” Eden coach Bill Markham said. “I feel confident but you want to perform and do your best.”
Markham admitted a medal is the goal.
“For us, our goal is to always get to the quarter-final because then you are guaranteed to be fighting for a medal. For us, it would be a disappointment to at least not be fighting for a gold,” said Markham, who is in his third season as head coach after taking over for Albino Pereria. “Say we get to the gold medal match and it doesn’t pan out, it would be a disappointment but it wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
Markham is well aware there is a fine line between winning and losing at the provincial level.
“You can have an injury or a kid gets sick. Sometimes it’s meeting a team that matches up really well against you so they take away your strengths,” he said. “I think if we play the way we’re working all year, we will put ourselves in a position to win.”
The Flyers lost in the gold medal game last season to Mississauga Secondary School. This time around, Markham pointed to Franco Cite of Ottawa, who are ranked No. 2, as a particularly tough foe.
“We’ve played them in a 10 or 11-year run three or four times for the gold or in the semifinal,” he said. “Our last big tournament, they beat us in round-robin and we beat them in finals. They’re good, very well-coached and disciplined but not as big or as physical as we are.”
Markham feels the expectation of winning goes a long way.
“There’s a culture you create, a mindset of winning. Look at any great team, they expect to win,” he said.
The Flyers feel their depth may also be a key.
“A lot of teams will only focus on their top six or seven so I think we’re deeper than a lot of teams,” Markham said. “A lot of teams only focus on their top guys. We develop everybody so that if someone needs to step in they can do the job.
“I think we’ve learned to use the athletes we have. Every year is different. Sometimes you’re stronger in one position than another so for us this year, if we run our middles, we’re going be tough to beat.”
Setter Josiah Esau, who has been to three previous OFSAA championships and come away with three silver medals, has high hopes this time around.
“It would be real nice (to win gold). Last year, the team that won was insane. They were really good and I don’t think we were going to beat them but this year I think we have a really good chance,” said Esau, a 17-year-old, Grade 12 student.
Esau said the Flyers don’t focus on the big prize until playoff time.
“I think we play it one game at a time pretty much and live in the moment,” Esau said. “When quarters come then we worry about winning quarters and when semis some we worry about winning semis. When the finals start then we worry about winning that.”
Members of the team are: Esau, Samuel Pearson, Ethan Maroudas, Nick Lampman, David Reimer, Matthew Gay, Leighton Friesen, Ashton Nieuwets, Ethan Mewhinney, Joshua Robins, Cole Duncanson, Daniel Ridings, Kersey Robinson and Peter Pilling. Markham is assisted by Pereira and Kyle Steele.
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