Spartans take off for UBC tourney

Jake Thomson took his talents to Vancouver a few years ago, and now he’s taking the Neelin Spartans varsity boys’ volleyball team there.

The former Spartan, who won three AAA volleyball provincial championships from 2014 to 2017, entered the team in UBC’s high school tournament on Friday and Saturday.

“I would like to think I put this all together but that’s just not the case. These guys really took the initiative to fundraise and do things outside of our time in school to make this possible,” Thomson said.

“I have a couple of connections, but that just got our foot in the door … I give a lot of the parents credit.”

Senior outside hitter Case Ashcroft said those fundraising initiatives included barbecues and a 50/50, which will be drawn at Neelin’s Spartan Dig tournament later this season.

The team flew out on Wednesday morning and is playing an exhibition match against Delta Secondary today as a tune-up.

“I’ve been excited about (this tournament) since I found out about it last year. I know this group of guys pretty well so I’m excited to spend a full week with them in Vancouver,” Ashcroft said.

The Spartans aren’t just going for fun. Thomson told UBC lead assistant coach Jay Tremonti, who organizes the tournament, that Neelin is happy to play some of the event’s top teams before heading back to Manitoba to chase a fourth straight AAA provincial crown.

The starting lineup is unusually similar to last year, as Neelin pulled off the title run with just one Grade 12 starter. Before that season, Thomson called 2025 a building year and wasn’t too concerned with the end result.

Despite injuries and major adjustments late in the season, the Spartans peaked at the perfect time to go unbeaten at provincials.

“Winning with only one Grade 12 in the starting lineup was pretty crazy. I thought it could go either way,” Ashcroft said.

“Last year, we were all kind of nervous. We had all played together before, but the net went up, the level (went up), people were hitting harder. Most of us have that experience now.

“There’s a lot of pressure, hopefully going for the four-peat. We all have confidence after coming back from last year.”

Of course, beating three highly ranked teams loaded with seniors in the knockout stage last year puts a target on Neelin’s back this season.

Thomson said he may be more focused on results this year, but that’s not where his attention goes.

“The biggest thing for me is culture,” Thomson said.

“I give these guys so much credit. It’s a lot of our Grade 12s and some of our Grade 11s who put a lot of work into building a culture. You look at any successful program in town here — guys like Mike Steeves at (Vincent) Massey football, Ken Schneider and Lavern Popple in U18 (Brandon Wheat Kings) hockey (years ago) — there’s got to be a culture before you really start thinking about how we’re going to compete and how we’re going to win.

“At Neelin, it’s always been hard work above talent. It’s been pretty cool to see how good some of these guys got. From where they started their Grade 9 year … to competing against some of the best kids in the province … that’s pretty impressive to watch.”

The group includes setter Aiden Moore, who was named provincial MVP last year and in 2024 when most of the same players won the AAA JV gold medal.

Middle blocker Clark Goran spent the summer with Team Manitoba.

Brandon University commit Lucas Gamache played up with the 18-and-under Brandon Volleyball Club last spring. BU coach Grant Wilson regards him as one of the top high school players at any level in Manitoba.

While most of them are in Grade 12 now, the team features a few key Grade 11s in outside hitter Connor O’Greysik and setter/opposite Griffin Hargreaves.

Thomson certainly likes the group on and off the court.

“Most coachable kids I’ve ever been in a gym with,” he said. “They will literally do anything that’s asked; will play any position that’s asked. I’ve watched Aiden Garbutt the past two years play three different positions because we had to with certain injuries. He’s never said a word about it, never complained, always tried his best at it.

“You can see it day in and day out how much work these kids put in. Jackson Burgess is another one that will never get the recognition he fully deserves but has been the heart of our team at times.”

QUICK HITS: The only downside to this trip is the Spartans have to miss the Brandon University boys’ volleyball classic at the Healthy Living Centre. The 24-team event starts on Friday at 9:30 a.m., with the final scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com