Pair of Gryphons had a major impact after transferring from Alberta

Written by Dan Howse

While there is certainly plenty to be excited about for next season, one thing that no one on the Guelph Gryphons men’s volleyball team is excited for is losing fifth-year captain Jonathon Whitton and fifth-year Libero of the year, Gabriel deGroot.

Second-year setter Riley McAllister expressed how different – and difficult – it will be to adjust to playing without Whitton and deGroot.

“It’s gonna be tough, those guys are awesome,” McAllister said. “We had a great passing lineup with Gabe, Andrew Bartram and Jon.”

Bartram, a fourth-year leftside and another key defender and passer for the Gryphons, is likely finished school, but still has one remaining year of eligibility. The coaching staff is trying to bring him back for one more season.

“We’re trying to talk him into coming back for another year,” said head coach Cal Wigston.

While the team remains optimistic about Bartram returning, they are also staying realistic.  Even if Bartram does return, the Gryphons are still losing part of the core of one of the most effective passing lineups in the OUA.

“It’ll be hard to replace them,” said Wigston.

The combination of Whitton’s leadership and passing with deGroot’s defensive tenacity created a ton of opportunities for the Gryphons. With deGroot at the libero position, no spike was un-diggable.

And with Whitton keeping everyone calm and collected, very few points led to overwhelming streaks for the opposing team.

The result was a team that turned tough kill attempts into impressive passing sets. This quality is imperative to a winning volleyball team.

“I don’t think there’s a more moment-rich game than volleyball,” said Wigston. “It’s so predicated on runs. It’s just such an up and down sport.”

Whitton and deGroot helped keep the Gryphons on the right end of those runs.

Both Whitton and deGroot came to the OUA two years ago from the King’s University College in Alberta.  Whitton originally comes from Edmonton and deGroot from Langley, BC.  Both had tremendous success in college and wanted a chance to prove they could play at the CIS level.

Both earned all-star credentials in college, where deGroot, in particular, shined. deGroot became the second all-time leader in digs in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference with 449.

“From the time he stepped on the court, Gabriel deGroot was a huge success,” said Wigston. “It will be hard to replace his work ethic and on court presence.”

Whitton’s more versatile game doesn’t lend itself to breaking records with one specific statistic. It’s his combination of defence, offence and passing that made him one of the most important players for Guelph. However, the most valuable commodity he brought the Gryphons can’t be measured at all.

“Jon’s on-court leadership has been nothing short of tremendous and will be greatly missed,” said Wigston. “It will be very hard to replace what Jon did for this team, on and off the court.”

While every varsity team eventually loses their key contributors, the leadership and energy these two brought will be especially difficult to replace. Add the potential additional loss of Bartram and we could see a very different looking Gryphons team next year.  That doesn’t, however, faze Wigston.

“We’ve got some young guys and some recruits,” he said. “And we’re excited to see what they can do.”

Your anonymous comment may be printed in The Ontarion's print publication.