By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The Osoyoos Secondary “Rattlers” Senior Girls Volleyball Team have qualified for the 2025 BC “A” Girls Provincial Volleyball Championships, taking place in Castlegar/Nelson from Nov. 26-29 and are now seeking help from the community to defray some of the costs.
Rattlers’ Head Coach, Sr. Girls Volleyball, John Seminoff said the team’s achievement “reflects the hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship demonstrated by our student-athletes throughout the season, and l am thrilled to see them represent our school and community at the Provincial level.”
The 2024-25 Osoyoos Secondary Sr Girls Volleyball team.
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It was a “fantastic” season, he says, with the Senior Girls Rattlers spending a good portion of the season – six weeks – ranked number one in the province. In the recent Okanagan Valley Championships held Nov. 14-15 in Kelowna, the Rattlers were knocked out of top position by number two ranked Immaculata Regional High School from Kelowna.
This means they will travel to the Provincials ranked number two or three, but this matters little, however, as it has been a “very successful year,” Seminoff reiterates, noting the Osoyoos girls won their home tournament and placed in the top tier in tournaments organized by Thompson River University in Kamloops and Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.
The schools competing in these tournaments are AAA and quad-A schools, meaning they are very large, which makes it “pretty impressive for a small school,” he notes.
Rattlers in action.
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He says there’s going to be pressure on the team even though they didn’t finish top ranked because the whole season has pretty much seen top position bounce back and forth between the Rattlers and Immaculata.
“We want to do well,” he said, adding that “it’s a great group – we’ve had a ton of fun throughout the season, but we’ve said after last weekend that we’ve got some unfinished business.”
The Rattlers are no strangers to the Provincial as various iterations of the team have qualified and placed well over the years, with the 2021 team taking top spot, something this year’s team is keenly focused on repeating.
But as Seminoff notes, as with any major tournament, competing comes with significant costs. The OSS team is currently raising funds to help offset expenses related to the entry fee, travel, meals, and accommodation and is reaching out to local businesses, organizations, and community supporters to ask for assistance.
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“We’re just trying to get some funds to kind of alleviate some of the costs,” he said, adding that any contribution, large or small, will directly support Osoyoos’ young student athletes. Because the team only qualified at the Okanagan Valley Championships held last weekend, they haven’t had much time to raise money.
Donors will receive recognition on the school’s social media platforms and at any public team events leading up to provincials, Seminoff added. Receipts or additional documentation can also be provided.
“Thank you for considering this request and for the ongoing support you provide to youth athletics in our community. Our athletes are honoured to represent Osoyoos, and your contribution will help make this memorable opportunity possible,” the coach urged.
Those wishing to donate can do so by cheque payable to Osoyoos Secondary School (memo: Sr. Girls Volleyball), or by contacting the school directly at 250-485-4433.
Once the tournament begins, schedules, scores and live streaming coverage will be available at the provincials.bcschoolsports.ca website.
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