No matter the sport, Cochrane produces incredible athletes.
But what is it about the town that makes its athletes shine?
The Cochrane Cobras Senior Varsity Girls Volleyball team definitely has the answer.
Ranked seventh, the Cobras were the underdogs heading into the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) 3A Provincials in Strathmore last week.
But against all odds, the team clinched the provincial bronze medal with a stellar performance.
The Road to Bronze
The Cobras fought tooth and nail to win their pool and triumphed over Magrath in the quarter-finals.
Coach Esther Seiben highlighted this victory as a turning point that propelled the team into the top four.
“By beating McGrath, who was one of the top teams in the province, it shot us into the top four…it was a real eye-opener about what a gritty, hard-working, mentally strong team can do,” Coach Seiben told the Cochrane Eagle.
The Cobras’ journey to the bronze included a challenging semifinal loss to the Holy Rosary Raiders of Lloydminster.
The Cobras may have lost against the Holy Rosary Raiders, but they still had their fangs and plenty of bite.
Heading into the bronze medal match against St. Joseph Composite High from Grand Prairie, the team made strategic adjustments.
But it wasn’t looking good for the Cobras, who were lagging behind St. Joseph 14-9. The team’s senior members took the reins in a Hail Mary play.
The Cobras’ coaches took a backseat and let the girls handle the rest of the match. It was all or nothing.
One senior’s determination during her serve turned the tide, helping the team tie the game at 14-14 and eventually secure a 16-14 victory, earning the bronze medal for the Cobras.
Wow!
“One of our seniors went back to serve the ball, and she just said, ‘I’m not missing this ball.’ “They said, ‘We’re gonna play hard. We’re gonna play some great defence.’ And next thing we know, it’s 14-14, and she had served five in a row, and we had dug five balls,” said Coach Seiben.
Coach Seiben expressed her pride in the team, considering them one of the grittiest she has coached.
In the face of challenges such as injuries, the Cobras still showed up and kicked ass.
A Community Win
While winning gold is nice, Coach Seiben believes a bronze medal is worth more when hard-earned.
But it wasn’t just the Cobras that shone this year.
Coach Seiben praised the contributions of fans, volunteers, referees, parents, and the Rocky View School division, emphasizing their role in the team’s success.
She noted that Cochrane High School has earned a reputation for creating champions in many sports, not just volleyball.
“We are a sporty bunch, and I think parents are starting to understand, you know, what it takes to be the top in the province. I think with these kids, the more appearances they make at these provincial championships, the more that they have that growth mindset– thinking, yes, we can,” explained Coach Seiben.
The Cobras remind us that a team isn’t just about players and coaches; it’s about community.
Cochrane wouldn’t have as many talented athletes as it does without the efforts of parents who attend every game or the fans who pack the stands.
The same could be said for many aspects of our province, not just sports.
Some of our greatest accomplishments were built on the foundation of community.
The Cobras’ hard-earned bronze medal is a shining example of what we can accomplish together.
