Interview with a Grizzly: Why you should try out for varsity sports

June 24, 2019

*updated in July, 2019, to include the Future Grizzly Student-Athlete form.

Varsity sports can be the source of your best memories when you look back at your time in college.

Georgian runs programs in:

• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Indoor soccer
• Badminton
• Rugby
• Golf
• Cross-country running

You can learn more, including tryout dates and how to sign up for your sport, on the Georgian College Athletics website, and get yourself on the coach’s radar by filling out the Future Grizzly Student-Athlete form. Most varsity team tryouts take place in August and September.

We asked Liam Gray, a key member of the men’s volleyball team and CCAA All-Canadian, why he thinks you should become a Grizzly.

Why did you decide to join?

Because I played sports for years and years and knew what it was like to be part of a team and have that solid group of friends. Part of it was for the sport, and part of it was that I wanted to be part of something bigger.

What was your first game like?.

It felt great. We had practised as a team, but practise is different, obviously. I was really nervous, but I’d made some good friends on the team already and gelled with some guys, so as nervous as I was I still felt supported and all the guys knew I was going to do my best. Everyone really helped each other.

What’s the difference between college volleyball and high school volleyball?

The difference is the level. Most people who play college or university ball really care to play. They’re not just going out and having fun – there’s a lot more drive to win. And the effort level is higher or more focused. The speed of play is greater.

How often do you play?

As a team we practise three times a week and we usually have one or two games a week. The season is October to late February.

As much as it takes a lot of time, it doesn’t feel that way. It’s usually four days a week. About six hours of practice, altogether. It’s not too much. It’s comfortable, it keeps you busy and it keeps you focused.

How do you balance sports and study?

Honestly, being in volleyball last semester is why I got honours. It’s because I was always at school. Instead of sitting at home doing nothing, I was on campus. My class might have ended at 4 p.m. and I had practice at 6 p.m., so I just stayed on campus and studied.

Sports remind me all the time to stay physical and stay active. Volleyball keeps me busy and out of trouble. We’re not supposed to drink 48 hours before a game. It keeps you in line and helps you academically. You stay more focused.

What’s the best part about being a grizzly?

It’s like being part of another family. It’s a chance to network and meet people all across the province, because you travel. It’s actually really cool to be able to see Ontario. Sometimes you just play and come back, but usually, on those long trips, you have time after the game to see other things and other places. With overnight stays, you end up talking to people a lot and making close friends.

Do athletes date one another?

We play at the same places on the same days and travel together. So you get to know a bunch of people from different programs. At least a quarter of my teammates are dating someone else in Athletics. We have similar interests, and we’re in the same gym all the time, so it’s easy to build that initial connection.

How are the coaches?

As coaching staff, they put in tons of time and tons of effort and they care to win just as much (if not more) as the players. They have the same goals as us and they want to see us succeed.

Has varsity helped you in any way? Personally? Academically?

Playing for Georgian has given me a lot of opportunities. Being named All-Canadian two years in a row and OCAA all-star three years in a row; it’s kinda put my name out there on the volleyball scene. So I’m currently playing in a Toronto professional league called One Volleyball Premier League. I drive downtown Toronto twice a week. Once for practise, once for a game.

This is Canada’s first premier volleyball league, running off-season from the bigger, European leagues. When all the Canadian pros come back home from Europe, they play with us. My goal is to play overseas professionally. I want to make this a career for as long as I can. Then hopefully, come back and coach.

How did it feel to be named an All-Canadian?

My first year getting the All-Canadian award was last year: 2016-17 season. When I saw my name come up on the screen at the banquet, I thought it was a mistake. Like, I could not believe it. Honestly. It came up on the screen, and they said my name. And then I stood up really slowly, to make sure there was no mistake. And then I walked up.

I was super surprised and very very proud. It made me feel like all the work I put in – all the time – was worth it. My goal was always to play professional sports. That has been my main focus in life for years. So getting those awards made me feel like those dreams I have are in reach. Like holy crap. I’ve been named one of the top 10 players in Canada in college volleyball. I might actually be able to do this. It was very, very special.

What would you say to someone considering tryouts?

Being a varsity athlete is a great learning experience. You become part of a family. It really helps you grow as a person – for me it did, anyway.

Even if you don’t get in right away, a lot of coaches here might tell you “not this semester, but if you train, we’ll try again next semester.” That happens all the time. You have a chance to improve and earn a spot.

If you don’t try out, you never know if you would have made that team. So I say just go for it. If you don’t try, all you’re doing is selling yourself short. You’re missing out on a huge opportunity to make friends and be part of a group of people who share your goals.

Ready to try out? Check fill out this form to express your interest and complete the tryout forms.

Barrie native Liam Gray is an honour roll student in his second year of the Electrical Engineering Technology program. He’s going into his fourth season as a Georgian Grizzly. Liam is a key member of the men’s volleyball varsity team.

In 2017-18, Liam was named Georgian’s Male Athlete of the Year after leading his team to a second straight Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) East Division Championship – where he was also designated a league all-star. Liam was also named a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian for the second year in a row. He’s the only Georgian men’s volleyball athlete to have ever earned All-Canadian honours, and is one of only nine OCAA athletes ever to win the award in consecutive seasons.