Indigenous youth lands volleyball scholarship, gives back teaching skills camp

By Kelly Anne Smith

NORTH BAY—Tessa Pizzale has graduated from being a Laker to a Panther and this August she passed along her skills and passion for volleyball.

Pizzale has received a scholarship with Canadore College to play varsity volleyball as part of the Canadore College Panthers team. The North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre in partnership with the North Bay Youth Volleyball Club featured Pizzale to offer a skills camp for boys and girls aged 7 years and up.

Pizzale herself is a North Bay Youth Volleyball Club graduate and a Cree youth from the James Bay area. At the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, Pizzale walked the players through a few warm-up exercises and some skills training.

Mina Linklater, her cousin, is a Laker and is a coaching assistant for the volleyball summer camp. Linklater is working one-on-one with one participant, Keisha, while Pizzale shows 10-year old Sassa how to wipe out properly. Pizzale then calls everybody’s attention to her to show them the triangle position for their hands. Pizzale’s sister, 15-year-old Kaelyn, is volleying with Keisha.

Pizzale also shared her story of resilience and perseverance. Pizzale put on her ribbon skirt. Pizzale looked all of the young players in the eye and told them that volleyball is a commitment that is worth it.

“Volleyball helps me make good decisions.”

Pizzale talked about her progression to varsity.

“I started out with Youth 13. We had a really good team at the start. But in Youth 14, we ended up losing a lot of players. Then we built confidence and built a good team for Youth 15 and had a really good team. Then a year after having this amazing team that we had all bonded with, a lot of things started happening.”

The coach at the time left, leaving Pizzale and Linklater devastated, changing their whole outlook on volleyball.

“Then we left volleyball for a year. Next, we were on the Youth 17 team. We all really bonded like an actual team. It was great and we earned a lot of medals and had opportunities.”

Just months later, Pizzale had a big letdown.

“That year I tried out for the same team [as Mina] and unfortunately for me, I did not make it. Mina and I had played together for six years, and then we got separated.”

Piizzale continued explaining that being on separate teams never really changed anything.

“So, I played for the Laker’s white team and feel that was a really good decision because that got me my scholarship at Canadore…Because when I was really low and down, I went to a meeting with Andrew, the coach for Canadore, and he said he’d love to try me out for the team. So, a week later, I practiced with them and instantly clicked with them. Then in February, I signed with Canadore. At the same time, I was with U18 Lakers White. It was a really good experience with the coaches and with everyone.”

Canadore Panthers Volleyball coach Andrew Nicholson says that Pizzale caught his eye in her Grade 11 year.

“She was a player that had a lot of natural strength, even at that age, so I knew that she would be able to physically compete in our league two years on‎. To be able to compete at our level you need physicality and a good level of volleyball IQ. Tess certainly had the physicality and a modicum of meanness to her game that I liked. But I needed to see if the volleyball IQ would grow in her Grade 12 year. Luckily, we were able to get her into a few of our practices during her last high school year and that was where we were able to develop her aggression; foster her desire to play at our level; and most importantly, see if her volleyball IQ was up to our level. Bottom line, Tessa will push for a starting role on this year’s roster. Nothing is guaranteed for her, but if she shows a consistent work ethic, her skill will allow her an equal chance at that starter’s role.”

In the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre gym, Pizzale offers her volleyball wisdom.

“I say it’s important to stay with volleyball. Stay with the team. And that support person that is the same as you—stay with them through everything…I think volleyball changed me into who I am and how I am now. I think volleyball will make good opportunities and help with decisions for you too, especially for the skill level you are at. And It’s important to find support in your parents and your friends at school. Mina was one of my biggest supports. Having that support of one or two friends is nice.”

Pizzale told the younger players that playing a sport while in school takes work at time management.

“If you want to do sports you have to do well at school. If you don’t have a 75 percent average, you can’t play on the team. You have to prioritize.”

When asked how she got through the tough times, Pizzale said her mom, Laureen Linklater-Pizzale, helped her overcome her barriers. Her mother looks on beaming with pride.

Laureen said she and her husband talked to Tessa about overcoming obstacles in a positive way and seeing it as an opportunity opposed to it being a letdown—”even though it’s hard.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Pizzale is passing along the good way to the young volleyball players.

“Sometimes if you are having a hard time, especially with certain teams, its good to just go to a pow wow and dance or just go and watch. You can feel support from your culture as well, not only by your team.”

The Camp ran August 7, 16 and 27 in the afternoons.