2022 HIGH SCHOOL BOY’S PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONS CROWNED
AAA PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
They finally got their chance to host and they didn’t disappoint.
The Kelowna Secondary School Owls have captured their second consecutive BCSS ‘AAA’ Boys Volleyball Provincial Championship.
Last year, KSS was supposed to host the championship, but because of November 2021’s catastrophic atmospheric river event, it was moved to the Lower Mainland. Despite having to fly out at the last minute to compete, they won their first title in 68 years.
On Saturday, they repeated as champs.
“It was great because of the way things worked out last year, the last couple years with COVID, weather and everything. So, it’s really sweet to do it at home,” said head coach Mike Sodaro.
He says the hometown crowds helped spur the team on.
“Kelowna did amazing coming out to support us. It was nice to have it almost packed. It was great.”
The Owls faced Claremont Secondary School from the Victoria area in the final. The scores were 26-24, 25-18, 27-25 and 25-14.
“Everyone was good on our team so practices were very competitive. When we’re practising at that level I think it makes it a little bit easier to play at that level all year because every day at practice you’re competing against the best,” Sodaro explains.
The Owls didn’t lose a match all season. Sodaro has high hopes for next year’s team.
“I’ve got nine guys coming back so we’ll be competitive and strong. We’re looking forward to making another run at it and see what happens once we get to provincials.”
(KSS Owls win second consecutive ‘AAA’ Boys Volleyball Provincial Championship – Sports – Castanet.net)
MOST SPORTSMANLIKE TEAM: MT. BAKER
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: WALKER SODARO KELOWNA
MOST OUTSTANDING LIBERO: KADEN NELSON STEVESTON-LONDON
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS

2022 AAA First Team All-stars
KIAN BOSS- KELOWNA, NASH SEMENIUK – KELOWNA, OWEN MCPARLAND- KELOWNA, BENN CARR-ELGIN PARK
ZACK SAGODI-CLAREMONT,JUSTIN PENG-CLAREMONT
- KIAN BOSS KELOWNA
- NASH SEMENIUK KELOWNA
- OWEN MCPARLAND, KELOWNA
- BENN CARR ELGIN PARK
- ZACK SAGODI CLAREMONT
- JUSTIN PENG CLAREMONT
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS

AAA 2nd Team ALL-STAR
Kasper Giesbrecht Oak Bay, Lynden Infanti Kelowna, Alex Coppard Claremont, Tyler Tran Mc Math, Dominic Sodaro Kelowna
- NIKO ROBLES David Thompson
- ISAAC JAMES STEVESTON-LONDON
- ETHAN CHANG MCMATH
- FRASER SCOTT MONCRIEFF OAK BAY
- TYLER VALUCK KELOWNA
- ANDY CARR ELGIN PARK
HONORABLE MENTION
- Kasper Giesbrecht Oak Bay
- Lynden Infanti Kelowna
- Alex Coppard Claremont
- Tyler Tran Mc Math
- Dominic Sodaro Kelowna
AA PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
MOST SPORTSMANLIKE TEAM: MT. BAKER
AA ALL STARS
MOP- Williem Van Huizen(11) Langley Christian
MOL- Elijah Lindburg(16) Langley ChristianFirst Team
- Zack Hofer(10) Lside Langley Christian
- Ben Brandsma(9)L side MEI
- Noah Friesen(10) L side MEI
- Isaak Lank(1) R-sdie Duchess Park
- Hudson Brandsma(10) L side Abbotsford Christian
- Alex Howard(20) L side South Kamloops
Second Team
- Brett Kester(5) setter Duchess Park
- Finn Brandsma(9) R-side Abbotsford Christian
- Josh de Bruyn (5) setter Pacific Christian
- Joris Mika Knoll(13) L side Cariboo Hill
- Jared Sikma(13) L side Abbotsford Christian
- Anthony Muller(3) R-side Langley Christian
Honourable Mention
- Jeremy Weaver(7) L side Duchess Park
- Liam Richards(8) L-side Pacific Christian
- Cohen Peters(11) Setter Pacific Academy
- Joshua Laing (15) R side Richmond Christian
- Tory Ardell(8) R side MEI
- Gavin MacGregor (16) Setter South Kamloops
A PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The host team, Duncan Christian School placed 13th in the Provincial Boys ‘A’ Volleyball Championship this past weekend, winning four of seven matches.
The tournament, which featured the top 16 ‘A’ tier schools from across the province, was held at both the DCS and Frances Kelsey gyms, with the bulk of the games happening at DCS.
“Provincials was a great experience and the only way it was possible was because of the wonderful staff working hard to make it the best it could be,” co-captain Zack Neudorf said.
DCS began the event on Dec. 1 by defeating White Rock Christian (25-19, 25-19) to open their tournament.
From there, the host school fell to Bulkley Valley Christian School 16-25, 25-20, 13-15) before beating Fernie Secondary 25-20, 25-18) to earn second place in their pool heading into the championship bracket.
Their first game of the championship draw had them up against Cedars Christian School on Friday morning, Dec. 2.
DCS fell 25-18, 25-15, 25-17.
Later that day they faced, St. Ann’s and lost again, 18-25, 20-25.
On Saturday morning, Dec. 3, DCS had a rematch against Fernie and for the second time, DCS prevailed, (25-12, 25-21, 15-12). The win meant the home team moved on to play École Jules Vern for 13th/14th place. DCS won (25-21, 25-22) to take 13th overall in the 16-team tournament.
“Hosting the provincial championship has been a real community builder,” said DCS athletic director Tom Veenstra. “It’s been great to work with athletic director Adam Johnston from Frances Kelsey. Adam was keen right from the get go to get his school involved and support the tournament. The staff and students at Kelsey provided a top-notch second host site.”
The championship final featured Vancouver Christian versus Cedars Christian of Prince George.
Vancouver took the provincial ‘A’ title in an exciting game match that took four sets to decide.
The bleachers were jam-packed with enthusiastic supporters,” Veenstra noted. “The atmosphere was electric… Like a university finals match!” (story available at: Host DCS 13th at boys ‘A’ volleyball provincials – Cowichan Valley Citizen)

Vancouver Christian power hitter Calvin Hsu(#15) hitting a right side ball against Cedar Christian in the ‘A’ Provincial Final. Photo: Todd Blumel
Most Sportsmanlike Team- Maple Ridge Christian
A Provincial All-Stars
Most Valuable Player- Vancouver Christian, Brennan Wicke
Most Outstanding Libero- Vancouver Christian, Ethan Soon
1st Team All-Stars
- Bulkley Valley Christian, David Loki
- Vancouver Christian, Calvin Hsu
- Cedars Christian, John Jeong
- Nanaimo Christian, Calvin Vanderkooi
- Cedars Christian, Sam Nelson
- Unity Christian, Jay Smiens
2nd Team All-Stars
- Cedars Christian, Dylan Beuhler
- Vernon Christian, Asher Hovius
- Brockton School, Noah Kezin
- Unity Christian, Mason Bowman
- Credo Christian, Dylan Grim
- Vernon Christian, Jack Johnson