Merritt Secondary School is ramping up their sports season as the school year kicks into gear.
VOLLEYBALL
The first game for the junior girls is this Thursday, Oct. 1, in Kamloops. The Grade 8 girls’ first game is Oct. 8 at Brocklehurst Secondary.
There is a Grade 8 boys team for the first time in some 10 years, said PE teacher and volleyball coach Shelly Moorhead. They play their first game Oct. 1 as well.
“We’re excited to see the Grade 8s play, it’s awesome,” said Moorhead. “I think particularly it’s because our numbers at hockey are down a little bit in town, so I’m not sure if that’s opened up some possibilities for kids to play school sports a little more, or if there’s just an interest.”
She said there’s only two teams playing Grade 8 boys volleyball in the region, with only one school out of seven high schools in Kamloops boasting one.
“Here in the Interior we don’t have a lot of boys volleyball, so I hope this is a start to bring some of that back,” she added.
Junior girls will host home games on Oct. 8 and Nov. 5.
SOCCER
Boys soccer, Grades 8 to 12, is also on, playing in two exhibition leagues. Moorhead said that because there are four seniors on the team, they’re playing exhibition against the Kamloops AA division’s junior squads. Our MSS players will also be playing in a single A division against Logan Lake, Ashcroft and Kamloops Christian School. “Because we’re a double A school we’re in exhibition with their single A program as well,” she said.
“Because of the strike last year we didn’t have boys soccer, so it’s good to see that program up and running again this year,” she added.
CROSS COUNTRY
There is also a cross country team for Grades 8 to 12, meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays. Most meets will be in Kelowna, but the dates for those have yet to be announced, said Moorhead.
BASKETBALL
Slated to start in November, Moorhead said they’re hoping for boys and girls Grade 8 and junior teams.
SWIMMING
There may be a swim team this year, but with the pool being closed for maintenance that’s still up in the air.