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Fitness room at Rivers Collegiate being equip

 

By Jessie Bell

 

A classroom on the north end of Rivers Collegiate is being transformed into a fitness room. The goal is to incorporate it into physical education and hockey academy programs, and for those students who wish to use the space in order to become better athletes.

 

Some used equipment from the fitness facility at Tundra Oil and Gas Place in Virden has been received. These include three treadmills, two weightlifting benches, an arm curl bench and a four-station universal home gym; some pieces require minor repairs. More pieces will be added following the successful application for a $5,000 Healthy Together Now grant from Prairie Mountain Health. A recycled rubber mat for placement under the equipment has been provided by Rolling River School Division.

 

New concrete has been poured in the collegiate auditorium. It will be left to lose moisture before the laying of rubber flooring; meanwhile, the area is being vacuumed and washed of dust and grime. This gym floor renovation project began more than three months ago; the delay is due to construction difficulties.

 

As previously reported in Rivers Banner, Rivers Collegiate’s Wetland Centre of Excellence has received $11,000 in grant money from Rivers and Brandon foundations. The plan is to build infrastructure that can be used by collegiate students in their delivery of programming for younger students and for community enjoyment. Tours will begin in June 2015 involving Grade 4 students from Rivers and Minnedosa. The wetlands area is located northeast of the soccer fields. Those who have walked Aspen Trail will know its whereabouts — up a little hill overlooking the largest body of water in the gravel pits.

 

Sports news reported in the recent Rambler school newsletter includes information on volleyball. A girls team participated in the provincial qualifier tournament in Gilbert Plains. They had an exciting victory over Elton Sabres in the Zone 7A game, then lost to Gilbert Plains and Cartwright in three sets. Our team won its final round-robin game against Elkhorn to earn a sport in the semifinal where they defeated Cartwright. They came back from an 8-1 deficit in the third set to win the game.

 

The girls entered the provincial tournament as sixth seed, despite only reaching the top 10 rankings once in the season. Their first game was lost to Grandview, then tough losses to Hamiota and Gilbert Plains, followed by a victory over Grand Rapids. The girls faced the defending champion, Glenboro Panthers, in their second playoff game, but were unable to pull off the upset. Susie Paddock, who has a passion for volleyball, helped coach the girls.

 

Graduation players Nikoda Holopina and Ilse Verbruggen were thanked for their many years of dedication to the Rams volleyball teams, with congratulations to Ali Radcliffe who was named to the 2014 graduating all-star team. Ali was to have travelled to Winnipeg on Dec. 6 to attend the awards banquet. She has been recognized by coaches across the province as a standout player and as a well-deserved recipient from Rivers Collegiate.