Wildcats capture bronze at Brock U.

The Widdifield Wildcats were on the road again over the weekend. The Wildcats started the weekend tournament on Friday at 2:00 p.m. vs. Christ of Kind school, and won both sets easily. The same effort and outcome fared in the next game vs Governer Simcoe. The Wildcats were up for the next game as they were to face an OFSSA rival school Grimsby and beat them two straight 25-18 and 25-18, a game that featured some powerful attacks from Kristen Shieffield who scored at will with 15 kills in the match. This concluded the Wildcats round robin play finishing again unbeaten 3-0 and clinching the first seed within their respective pool.

Saturday the Wildcats woke up early to do battle with another AA school, Sir Winston Churchill. After a great start the Wildcats just kept rolling along. The Wildcats strong and tactful serving game was just too much for Winston Churchill, as they easily won 25-13 and 25-12. This win propelled the Wildcats to the quarter-finals vs. West Park, a Toronto AAA School. The Wildcats followed their game plan again, with great hitting and passing. They had their eye focused on playing in the semi-finals vs. Jacob Hespler, who earlier this year defeated the Wildcats in a close 3 set battle at the Fanshawe tournament that knocked the Wildcats out of the tournament. The Wildcats went on to win in straight sets vs. West Park setting the stage for Jacob Hespler.

Focusing on the semi-finals, the Wildcats were ready for Jacob Hespler. The Cats came out on fire as they took the fight right out of Hespler with a 9 -0 run to start the set. With a lull intensity and some irregular bad passing from the Cats, Jacob Hespler came rowing back. Jacob Hespler who's team features two giants in the middle, whom have acquired full ride scholarships to Florida State University really hurt the Wildcats, as time and time again they would score seemingly at will all over the court. Proving to be too much fire power for the Wildcats, Jacob Hespler won both sets vs the Wildcats( 25-19) and (25- 22), and eventually went on to win the tournament.

With that loss, the Wildcats met Chatham-Kent in the Bronze medal match. Once again the Wildcats would not disappoint themselves as they came out strong and fought for every point back and forth the entire match. Both team used strategic time outs at key times in the match and when all the dust settled the Wildcats relentless defense and well thought out game plan would be the difference in both sets. The Wildcats setter Julia Knox was name first team all-Star, as she had a great weekend.

The Wildcats are back in action this week seeking their second consecutive NDA title in two years vs. Scollard Hall, starting Monday February 19th,2007 at Widdifield. Game time is 4:30 p.m.

The Wildcats will be on the road next weekend seeking their second consecutive NOSSA AA title in Sudbury, hosted by Lo-Ellen Park. A NOSSA victory in Sudbury would allow the Wildcats to head east for this year's OFSSA "AA" championships that take place in Kingston.

Submitted to BayToday.ca