By Mark Squibb/May 12, 2022
As Richard Christopher looks back over the past six years spent coaching the O’Donel Senior Male Volleyball Team, he couldn’t be prouder of the boys.
“This group was definitely a very, very special group, to do what they’ve done over the last number of years,” said Christopher, the Phys Ed teacher and Athletic Director at St. Peter’s Junior High School, who, along with his fiancé Jesenta Lilly, has coached the team since day one.
The team was founded when the boys were only in Grade 7, and volleyball was only a fledging sport at St. Peter’s.
“These guys really helped grow the game here at St. Peter’s,” said Christopher. “And they’ve been really good role models.”
When the team was formed there was one boys volleyball team and one girls volleyball team. Now, Christopher said, the school boasts six or seven teams for both boys and girls.
Both coaches stuck with the team over the years, watching the players grow to become not only better athletes, but community minded young men as well.
“Myself and Ms. Lilly have been fortunate to work with this group and watch them develop into great young men in the community,” said Christopher. “We’ve had them from when they were 12 and 13 and now they’re all 18-turning-19. And just to see the passion for volleyball, and how they like helping out others, how they’re good teammates on and off the court, that’s the main things.
“Watching them have their friendships, watching them have a passion for the sport, and working together and making these memories has been the really cool thing,” added Christopher. “Because a lot of of times you don’t have that opportunity. Sometimes coaches coach teams for one or two years then move on. But we got to be with these guys from Grade 7 to Grade 12, and we’ve traveled across the country playing volleyball. And a lot of these guys now they also give back through refereeing, so they’re all staying involved in the sport which is really nice.”
Amongst their other accolades, the boys were named the 2021 Mount Pearl Focus on Youth Team of the Year, due to their success both on and off the court, which continued into 2022.
“The boys decided this year to start a community initiative called ‘Patriots Volleyball Give Back,” said Christopher. “It was a project where they helped local community groups. So, during Thanksgiving they raised money for St. Peter’s Church food bank. Christmas time, they helped raise money to buy toys for the Happy Tree. And they also come back as junior coaches at St. Peter’s Junior High and help our parent volunteers and our younger athletes.”
The team has yet to lose a provincial championship in their many years. Just recently, the O’Donel Senior Male Volleyball Team went 6-0 to win the NLVA U18 Male A Tier 1 Provincial Championships (a championship they won twice, the first time when they were still an U16 team) and the School Sport Newfoundland and Labrador 4A Provincial Championship, winning O’ Donel’s first ever 4A volleyball banner.
The championship came after two years’ worth of COVID restrictions, which saw sports tournaments heavily restricted — or cancelled outright.
“The energy in the gym, with the parents and grandparents and friends and neighbours all coming out to cheer them on was really cool,” said Christopher. “The energy was so positive… Over COVID, off and on we were able to play some games sometimes, but it would be our team and another team and the two coaches — no spectators. But bringing in the spectators and letting the family see their children play was a really special moment for the players and the parents and the coaches and referees.”
This year the boys have won every high school tournament that they took part in, finishing the season with a 31-0 match record.
And though the boys have played their last high school tournament, that doesn’t mean their volleyball days are behind them.
Five players from the senior team have post-secondary scholarships, and a number of them will represent Newfoundland in the Canada Games this summer.
Christopher encourages all students to get involved in their school community one way or another.
“I tell all the students to try and get connected to your school and your school community in some way,” said Christopher. “It doesn’t have to be sports. It can be music, or gaming, or tutoring, or any other interest you have. But if you can find something that connects you to your school and your school community, and you get to work together with other people that share the same interests or other teammates towards a goal, it teaches so many life skills and benefits you so much down the road.”
