Barriere Secondary School student Kamryn Cousins has just completed grade 9, but rather than kicking back and enjoying the lazy days of summer this teen from McLure is on a mission to play volleyball at the BC Summer Games.
In her grade 9 volleyball season at school Kamryn played on the junior volleyball team, she was also invited to play on the senior team due to a shortage of players.
This opportunity, coupled with positive coaching and mentorship from Barriere Secondary coach Ashley Shannik, has been instrumental in allowing Kamryn to flourish and finish with a great season, culmunating with the Senior girls team making the Provincials for the first time in 20 years. At the end of the season Kamryn was presented with the school’s Outstanding Junior Female Athlete Award.
Coach Shannik then encouraged Kamryn to try out for the Kamloops Club Volleyball team.
Although a fairly quiet kid, to attain her goals with volleyball Kamryn has to put herself out there. She tried out for the Club Volleyball team without knowing anyone else at the event. But her hard work and commitment paid off; Kamryn made the top Kamloops team for U15 (AA U15 girls), and earned the opportunity to play for TRU (Thompson Rivers University) alumni coaches Matt Kruger and Graham Stoliker.
At the end of the club season, both of these coaches encouraged Kamryn to try out for the BC Summer Games team.
The first tryouts for the Thompson Okanagan (Zone 2) Summer Games Volleyball team were held in Kelowna on May 28. Over 50 girls tried out, all hoping for one of the 12 spots on the Zone 2 team.
Kamryn was one of a handful of girls representing the Kamloops-Thompson area and was the only Kamloops-Thompson player to successfully make it through three rounds of cuts to the final 12.
She is a lucky kid, very well supported by club coach Graham Stoliker and senior high school coach Ashley Shannik, who have been volunteering their time to offer her additional coaching in preparation for the games which take place in Abbotsford from July 20-24. Over 2,400 athletes will compete in 18 different sports at these games, and Kamryn Cousins will be one of them.
Being on the team is a big commitment for Kamryn, and she is currently training in the Okanagan almost every weekend leading up to the games.
This teen has a true passion for the sport, and is well on the way to attaining her goal of playing university volleyball.
Find more about the BC Summer Games on page 12. Find BC Summer Games information, participants, photographs and results at: BCGAMES.ORG.