WILKIE — There is a family of boys in Vermilion, Alta., who play volleyball and have a Wilkie connection. The boys are the sons of Joey and Kristy Reiniger, grandsons of Rose of Wilkie and Ken of Leipzig.
This fall, Will Reiniger, a graduate of St. Jerome’s Catholic School, is off to Medicine Hat College with twin brother Brett, to join older brother Landon to play volleyball with the Medicine Hat Rattlers in the ACAC. The young men are receiving scholarships to attend the Alberta college.
This has also been a banner year for Will, as he is graduating from the Rustlers program after four years with the team. At the recent Rustler Volleyball Club Awards night, more than 400 people gathered in the Lakeland College gymnasium to celebrate the young athletes of the club. The Rustler Volleyball Club has grown over the past four years with the dedication of coaches, athletes and support from families and friends.
At the celebration, Will was named Male Athlete of the Year. Club president Taylor Dyer said Will had been a staple within the Rustlers program for the past couple of years and, within his age group, was a standout athlete. Will thanked the Rustlers Club for helping him and his brothers progress through the volleyball world. During his Grade 12 year, Will was chosen for the Ganza All-Star tournament in Edmonton, Alta. with the Golden Bears, which led him to his selection to play post-secondary at Medicine Hat College. Brett also received the Rustler Pride Award for the 18U Gold Team.
Will has capped his career off with the Rustlers, being selected to play on the Saskatchewan Canada Summer Games team, to be held in August in St. John’s N.L.. He competed in the Canada Cup in July in Niagara Falls, Ont., where he was named the team's MVP.
The Rustlers will continue to see the name Reiniger on the court. The youngest of the four boys, 15-year-old Ethan, just wrapped up his season with the 15U team and will be competing in the Rustler Beach Volleyball program with partner Ethan Orbeck. The duo were the winning team in the third Sask Cup for beach volleyball.
