CHAMPIONS SPEAK - 2020 Hall of Fame Inductee 1981 WETASKIWIN AVALANCHE JUVENILE MEN'S VOLLEYBALL CLUB
by Kristi Paukstat
The strength of a team depends on each individual
member. The strength of each member depends on the team.
Good evening
inductees and guests. I am so grateful to be able to
recognize and celebrate all of tonight’s accomplishments in
person once again. It is so important to preserve our past,
honour our present, and provide others in our community with
a dream of what could be in the future.
I was reminded
earlier this week how some young people do great big things
in life yet fail to notice the significance. It’s not until
we grow a little older and begin to reflect that we realize
those moments were never to be recreated. It’s never too
soon to be proud of your accomplishments, and it’s never too
late to be recognized for them. With that in mind, I’d like
to congratulate the 1981 Wetaskiwin Avalanche Juvenile Men’s
Volleyball Club for their induction into the Wetaskiwin and
County Sports Hall of Fame.
The 1981
Wetaskiwin Juvenile Men’s Avalanche Volleyball Club are the
most decorated Volleyball Team in Wetaskiwin’s history.
After the
Wetaskiwin Sabres men's volleyball team won the 3A
Provincial High School Volleyball Championship, eight
members of the 80-81 team, coached by Larry Ethier,
continued on with the Wetaskiwin Avalanche.
Larry’s
coaching and determination lead these boys from small town
Alberta, to another provincial championship, and then all
the way to National Championships in St. John’s,
Newfoundland (with a few stops and stories along the way).
With their commitment to the cause and Larry’s ability to
lead and inspire his players, a bronze medal was brought
home to Wetaskiwin.
For that
reason, I would like to invite the following team members to
the front. In alphabetical order:
Manager,
Bruce Grant
Greg
Kirwer
Ken Klause
Harold
Mohler
Trevor
Norton
Captain,
Bill Verbeek
And
representing coach Coach E, his wife Deb.
Congratulations to the 1981 Wetaskiwin Avalanche Juvenile
Men’s Volleyball Club.
