Alberta Winter Games Recap, LVC Athletes Shine for Zone 1
LVC was proud to have strong representation on both the boys and girls Zone 1 teams at this year’s Alberta Winter Games. From the opening moments of the event, both teams supported each other every chance they had. Whenever schedules lined up, the boys were in the stands cheering for the girls and the girls were right there cheering for the boys. That connection and team spirit set the tone for the entire weekend and became one of the highlights of the experience.
Zone 1 boys
Coaches: Arron Lai and Michael Harrison
Roster: Devon Goth, Dominic Di Loreto, Finn Bevans, Hardus Boshoff, Jack Billyard, Lincoln Romeril, Camden Crabb, Gage Myer, Mason Ginter, Nova Mulder, Tazman Neufeld, Wyatt McFarland
The boys roster was made up entirely of our LVC athletes and they arrived ready for the challenge of competing with the top U15 players in Alberta. They earned a strong fourth place finish, climbing three spots from Zone 1’s result last year. Their improvement spoke to their work leading up to the Games, including valuable training time with the Lethbridge Kodiaks that helped prepare them for a high performance environment.
Throughout the tournament, the boys showed composure, teamwork, and growth with each match. They pushed strong opponents, stayed competitive in tight moments, and represented Zone 1 and LVC with pride. While they finished just outside the medals, they left with meaningful experience and confidence that will carry into the rest of their seasons.
Zone 1 Girls
Coaches: Mishaela Lanigan and Chantel Tillsley
Roster: Aniston Weenk (LVC), Bella Morgan, Brooke Pilsner (LVC), Brooklyn McShannock, Dylen Pancoast, Ella Tillsley (LVC), Kadence Vanderberg (LVC), London Weiss, Lyrah Cunningham, Mirabel Valgerdson (LVC), Mya Fenton, Vivian Lavens (LVC)
Half of the girls roster represented LVC, and their Winter Games experience became something truly special. Their weekend started with a bus detour that added two hours to the drive, but by the time they stepped into Opening Ceremonies and saw fireworks raining from the ceiling of the arena, the excitement of the event took over.
Once the competition began, the girls were immediately tested. Their pool was the toughest in the tournament. They opened with a strong win, then dropped two very close third sets at 16 to 14. By the end of cross overs, every single team from their group advanced to the semifinals, showing just how competitive their side of the draw was.
Instead of letting early heartbreak define them, the girls responded with steady confidence. They battled through their quarterfinal, then earned rematches against the two teams that had edged them earlier. This time, they rose to the moment, finishing both matches with focus and grit.
Their final match was played with the same determination they showed all weekend. They also had the support of other Zone 1 athletes from other sports, and the other Southern Alberta Volleyball Zones cheering them on making the last game electric! It had the feel of a true North vs South battle of Alberta, and when the last point dropped, Zone 1 had secured the gold medal! It was a proud moment for the team, the coaches, and all the fans!
Beyond the court, the girls embraced everything the Winter Games had to offer. Athlete Village was full of energy and connection, and they made new friends with players from across Alberta.
Coach Chantel shared how proud she was of the team not only for their championship finish but for their character, their growth, and the way they represented their community throughout the weekend.
Congratulations to all the LVC athletes that represented and made us so proud!
Thank you to Arron and Chantel for the awesome recap of our athletes experiences and again to Chantel for the incredible pictures from the weekend!