Boys volleyball squad nets Carbonear Collegiate’s first banner

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Three years ago, English teacher Matthew Sheppard revived boys’ volleyball at Carbonear Collegiate. Not having the experience of other schools, the team started as underdogs. Change that now to top dogs, after winning gold won gold in Tier 2 play at VolleyWest 2025 in Corner Brook.

The win earned the Sentinels their first Newfoundland and Labrador Volleyball Association banner.
The team has 17 members from Grade 9 to 12. One of them is Grade 11 student Nathan Janes, one of the team’s junior captains, who plays as a libero, the rearmost defensive player on the Sentinels’ side of the court. Three years ago, when the team’s first tryouts were held, Janes did not make the cut.

“Janes wasn’t cut because he wasn’t good enough,” said coach Sheppard. “It was just that other people could do what he could do that were in senior high.”

The school’s policy is that junior high players cannot displace senior players. However, Sheppard eventually realized he needed more players and asked Janes if he would join.

“I always knew he was very mature and reliable and a good kid, so once the opportunity presented itself, he joined and he’s done it all since.”

Janes is one of three team members who has been on the team since the beginning.

When the team first started playing, they were at a disadvantage due to a lack of experience. They would sometimes overhear people mock their ability to compete, but Sheppard said they continued to play hard, nonetheless.

“I really tried to foster a sense of mental health awareness, kindness, compassion, empathy,” said Sheppard.
When they attended VolleyWest last year, the Sentinels came in last place.

“Three hundred and sixty-four days later, we go to the same tournament, and we come first in our tier,” said Sheppard.

Janes served as team captain during VolleyWest.

“It was the first big banner we won, so it was a pretty big accomplishment,” said Janes. “It was on my birthday, so it was a pretty good birthday gift. It was a really fun time, too.”

It was the first NLVA banner won by Carbonear Collegiate since the school’s inception.

“That’s a really big accomplishment, knowing we genuinely started from the bottom, and seeing what they’re able to do now,” said Sheppard. “So, for me, that moment, I burst into tears. I cried for about two hours straight.”

Sheppard said he has grown very close during his time coaching the players and the win was a moment of utter pride. While he was proud to put medals around the necks of all the players, giving them to the two members present who had been there since the team’s beginning was especially significant.
Janes, meanwhile, is confident there are more banners in the team’s future.

Sheppard added the team is hoping to go to national this year. “I don’t want to make our goals about banners and medals,” said Sheppard. “It’s just really cool to see when that comes through good goal setting, through solid practice and training.”