What a Difference a Foot Makes
T.J. Sanders with his silver medal. Photo: Craig Glover, LFP
When T.J. Sanders began high school at Oakridge, a future in volleyball was far from a sure thing. It’s looking quite a bit more certain now.
Now a second-year student at McMaster University in Hamilton, Sanders, 18, is a vital member of Canada’s junior men’s volleyball program. The team’s setter, he helped lead Canada to a silver medal at the recent NORCECA (North and Central America and Caribbean) championship in Gatineau, Que. That qualified Canada for next summer’s world championship in Brazil.
Sanders has won OFSAA gold and silver with the Oaks, a national-under 17 title (and MVP honours) and an 18U silver with his Forest City club teams, plus three top-three finishes as captain with Ontario at National Team Challenge Cups.
Not too shabby for someone who wondered if he’d even be good enough to play.
“In Grade 9 I was 5’-2”, 5’-3”, just a tiny guy. I didn’t even know if I was going to make the junior team at Oakridge,” he said.
Now a good foot taller, he’s tasted success at every level and this was no different.
“It was interesting,” he said. “All of us were playing for Canada for the first time and it was a big difference. We were all used to playing each other, all playing the same style. At this tournament, there were some scrappy teams playing completely different styles than we were used to. Guatemala, for example, their average height may have been 5’-10’, but they held their own.
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