By Larry Moko
Isaac Davis of Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School probably went home after the 2024 Hamilton High School All-Star volleyball game on Wednesday with a sore left thigh. It was from slapping it so much with his left hand.
Davis recently had surgery for a fractured right elbow -- screws were inserted -- and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic team selection sat on the bench during the Mohawk College competition in street clothes with his arm wrapped and in a large sling.
He couldn't play, but that didn't stop him from being an enthusiastic and supportive teammate.
"I was trying to clap and encourage them on," Davis said.
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic junior squad lost the annual showdown against Team Public, 4-0. Set scores were 25-19, 25-16, 25-19 and 25-21.
"I'm glad he was here on the bench," coach Lisa Pauletto of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic champion Bishop Tonnos Titans said. "He was a big factor in us winning the league.
"We would have liked to have him on the court. We missed him. He's a rep player and would have added a lot."
A Grade 9 student, powerlifter and wrestler, Davis plays left side in volleyball.
"He's a great kid, on and off the court," Pauletto said. "He's always happy, positive and motivating."
Tonnos was coming off a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the St. Jean de Brébeuf Braves in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic final. Brébeuf had won both of its regular-season meetings against BT and took the first set of the final before Tonnos roared back with three-straight set victories.
"It was an intimidating crowd at St. Jean de Brébeuf," Pauletto said. "So loud and intense. Very exciting. I'm happy for our kids." Said Davis: "That was great. The stands were packed. When we lost the first set we didn't think we were going to win. It was a surprise."
In regard to the all-star event, coach Pauletto said her team did "quite well" against a strong opponent.
"We had about three rep players on our team," she said, "In comparison, their team's entire lineup minus one maybe was rep."
Player of the match selections were Hayden Cornelson of the ACMT Jaguars and Marco Zorzetto of the Westmount Wildcats.
Other players on the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic junior roster were: Matthew Kolodjies, Francesco Montecchia and Alessandro Pauletto (Tonnos); Adrian San Buenaventura, Jakob Wells-Britton and Mateo Zukowski (Brébeuf); Benjamin Soules (ACMT); Cole Fursman and Nick Prawak (St. John Henry Newman); Hermon Samuel (Bishop Ryan); Diadonny Becerra Betancourt (St. Thomas More); Alex Tschirhart (St. Mary); Tabeel Kamal (Cathedral).
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
More photos on the HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page here
