No ordinary coach
Bill Markham didn’t go out a winner on the scoreboard, but that was the least of his concerns.
Markham coached his final game Friday as the Eden Flyers dropped a 25-17, 18-25, 24-26, 24-26 decision to the Westmount Wildcats in the Southern Ontario Secondary School Association senior girls AAA volleyball final at Eden.
The 54-year-old St. Catharines resident had no regrets following a dramatic, well-played set between two evenly matched squads.
“It’s funny, because in our culture we focus on results too much instead of just appreciating the process,” Markham said. “Westmount played outstanding. Nothing can be taken away from that so I never feel bad when you lose against a team that played outstanding, and they did.”
Markham, who coached the girls team for 15 years and was head coach of Eden’s boys team for another eight years, was proud of the development his team showed this season.
“The greatest victory for this team this year was how they came together as a team. At the beginning of the year we wouldn’t even have been able to come out here at this level,” he said.
Markham admitted this group was particularly special.
“I’ve really enjoyed my 15 years, I’ve got a lot of great memories and I’m going to remember this group,” he said. “They were very special. Their chemistry, their team spirit, their willingness to work hard and do the right things should be commended.
“In my mind, they are champions.”
Eden’s Kiara VanSteekelenburg is going to miss playing for Markham.
“He means a ton. We could never do it without him and all the past teams the years before, his legacy will go on forever,” said VanSteekelenburg, a 17-year-old, Grade 12 student. “He always just roots for us, no matter what. When we need it, he disciplines us in a good way, but he is just so proud of us and we just fully feel supported by him and so loved and appreciated. He always puts us in the best positions to win and uses everyone for anything.
“He’s an amazing coach.”
Markham said he won’t be a stranger at Eden but said it’s time he moved on.
“For me, it’s just changing priorities in the stage of life I am in,” he said. “I’ll still probably stick around and help every once in a while but I know there are other opportunities that I need to step into now, especially with my family.”
Markham wasn’t sure exactly how many trips to OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) he has made over the years.
“I went every year as head coach of the boys and about half the time with the girls,” he said. “I honestly don’t remember but I’ve had an amazing run. I’m truly blessed and grateful to Eden for giving me this opportunity.”
The Flyers advanced with a 25-5, 25-10, 25-8 victory over the A.N. Myer Marauders in the morning semifinal while Westmount defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in four sets in the other semifinal.
The Flyers took the first set before the Wildcats responded with three straight set wins.
“It was a heart breaking game but we fought our hardest and that game just showed what we worked for this season,” VanSteekelenburg said. “The chemistry with our team was out of this world. It was such a good game, at the end of the day, I’m always going to remember it. It was a coin flip.”
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