The Abbotsford News’s new high school sports blog, Students of the Game, features local athletes sharing their experiences and unique perspectives. Today, W.J. Mouat Secondary multi-sport phenom Callum Pilgrim reflects a busy cross-country and volleyball season.
These past couple of months have gone by so fast – now fall sports are coming to an end and basketball is starting up again.
Throughout the volleyball season at W.J. Mouat we had our ups and downs but unfortunately in the end we were one position away from gaining a wildcard spot to provincials. I was so happy to have shared such a wonderful experience with the volleyball team and coaches even if we did not get the result we were hoping for.
This year’s cross-country season started with a trip to Yakima with the Valley Royals track and field club. That is one of my favourite races, because we get to race against high school students from all over the USA. It is also a great chance to bond with the team which is just as important.
Just a month later I ran in the Fraser Valley XC meet. I was very happy with that race because I felt like I had finally gotten my rhythm back when I run. Sadly, our team got second place overall by one point to none other than the Walnut Grove Gators, our biggest rivals. We weren’t too upset because we knew we had left it all on the course which was the goal from start to finish.
After a short three-day rest I ran as a Royal in the B.C. club cross-country championships. This race was definitely stressful as the top six in my race qualify for Team B.C. for the Canadian national championships in Vancouver. I came seventh. But to my surprise one of the girls who beat me wasn’t from B.C. so I was in the top six and ended up making the team!
And finally, after a week of recovery for our legs came the B.C. high school provincials on a very cold, windy and rainy day in Aldergrove. Coming in fifth as a team last year, our main goal was to improve on that which we did by coming in fourth place overall.
Lastly, this past weekend I ran In the Canadian cross-country championships in Vancouver as a member of Team B.C. which was an amazing experience that I will never forget. Even though we were sinking in almost a foot of mud the entire race, the team finished in third place which is awesome! I hope one day I will get another opportunity at this amazing experience.
With the XC season being officially over I can now be fully converted into a member of the W.J. Mouat Hawks senior girls basketball team. After many games in only two weeks, our main goal as a team is to gain chemistry so we can all rise to our full potential.
During the cross-country and volleyball season I learned very quickly that being busy with sports and school can be tough. I’m happy that I have finally figured out how to manage my time so I can be there, ready and focused for the team 100 per cent of the time.
Previous Students of the Game blog entries
Tessa Ratzlaff: If you’ve learned from a loss, you have not lost
Tanner Friesen: Coming to terms with a season-ending defeat
