Hilltop High School junior set to represent Whitecourt at the Alberta Winter Games

Grade nine Hilltop High School student Taryn Lamb is set to travel to Airdrie to take part in the 2020 Alberta Winter Games being held February 14 to 17. She will be representing Whitecourt when she joins her U15 Zone 5 teammates on the volleyball court with hopes of landing on the podium. After spotting flyers posted up at school about upcoming tryouts in the city, Lamb took the initiative to try out for the Zone area team. “The tryouts were held at the Spruce Grove High School. There were all these real tall girls and I’m like 5’5,” she laughed. “They were all way bigger than me and I was scared but we played games together and then they separated us into a gym.”

She said as the numbers dwindled down and cuts were made, she realized she had a chance. “We were playing and all of a sudden the coach walked in and said, congratulations you guys are on Zone 5.” Lamb said 98 other girls tried out and landing on the team of 12 was exciting but also a little weird. “I’ve never been in this kind of a tryout position before. My tryouts before this have been in Whitecourt but it was just where everyone would automatically make the team because there was no-one to cut. Seeing these tall girls that I thought would be the best because they looked like college level players, I didn’t think I had a chance. So, it was weird for me to make it.”

The high school junior is hoping the experience will lead to future opportunities. “I’ve heard there are a lot of scouts who attend just like for hockey and there are people watching you because they know you’re the best players in that zone. They are looking at your skills and that could end up with you getting on a club team or even being recruited to college.” Her dreams right now include working her way up to a specific club team that is connected to the University of Alberta (U of A).

“Ever since I’ve joined volleyball, we’ve always feared the Pandas girls’ club team. They are from Edmonton and the coaches are all from the U of A. I’ve always wanted to play there because when you play with the Pandas and you get up to U18 level they give you a chance to try out for the U of A team and I really want to play on that team.”

Along with volleyball, there are 19 other sports categories that make up the events at the 2020 Alberta Winter Games including hockey, speed skating, judo, snowboarding, fencing, biathlon, badminton, archery, artistic gymnastics, and alpine skiing. Local schools in Airdrie will be hosting the athletes in separate male/female athlete villages as done at the Olympics which is a new experience for many who take part. There is also a televised opening ceremony to add to the thrill and excitement of the event.

Lamb said she is looking forward to seeing the players from around the province so she can see what she needs to look forward to in her future competitions. “I want to see the girls from around the province and see the competition that I have to look forward to because these are the best girls in Alberta that we are playing against. I want to see what I have in front of me if I want to try out for a city team in the next year.”

She encourages other young athletes to take chances and not hold themselves back. “I’ve heard people say they aren’t good enough to make it but if you don’t try and practice then you won’t be able to actually reach your goal.”