There's just a handful of high school athletes to draw on at South West Arm Academy.
The small school in Little Heart's Ease has a population of just 96, with just a couple dozen boys in the high school grades to make up a volleyball team. Yet they've proven that it's not the numbers, but determination, hard work and team spirit that really matter in competition. This past weekend the South West Arm Tigers, made up of just eight players, took home the gold at the 10th annual Subway Classic senior boys volleyball in Clarenville.
The team went up against Heritage Collegiate, Roncalli Central High, Gonzaga High and Clarenville High School Juniors in the round robin, defeating all their opponents to advance to the quarter finals.
In the quarter finals, the Tigers defeated Clarenville High School in two straight sets. While South West Arm was making their advance, Booth Memorial was outplaying Gander, defeating the Concords in two straight sets to go on to the gold medal game.
Up against the city school, which had enough players to fill the court with six fresh players on a change-up, the outport boys proved their mettle once again. The Tigers wiped out Booth Memorial in two straight games to claim the gold. Clarenville High took home the bronze, defeating Gander Collegiate in two straight sets.
At the end of the event, Reilly Smith of South West Arm was selected the Most Valuable Player for the tournament. The six selected to the all-start team were: Brandon Vey and Damien Stacey of South West Arm; R. Laire and Noel Tilley of Booth; John Miller-Mercer of Clarenville High; and Daniel D. of Gander.
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