The inaugural Columbia Heights boys’ volleyball team and their student managers. The boys tossed miniature volleyballs to fans in the stands. (Cynthia Sowden)
The Minnesota State High School League established boys’ volleyball as a competitive sport last year. It didn’t take long for Columbia Heights High School to put together a team.
On Wednesday, April 16, CHHS celebrated its inaugural season at the high school gym, complete with junior varsity and varsity games, player introductions and on-the-house treats.
“A few years ago during one of our girls’ volleyball open gyms, a group of boys came up to me and said they wanted to start a team,” said coach Elizabeth Brubakken. “I told them to organize a plan and come back to me. I also talked to Jake [Henderson, CHHS athletic director] and we tossed around some ideas. Luckily, the MSHSL announced soon after that boys’ volleyball would be introduced, so everything lined up perfectly from there.”
Henderson said it took a while to get MSHSL to sanction the sport.
According to the Junior Volleyball Association website, the Minnesota Boys High School Volleyball Association was started in 2018. By 2022, more than 1,200 boys throughout the state indicated interest in competitive varsity volleyball. High school coaches lobbied MSHSL to sanction the sport; in October 2023, the organization voted to make spring the official season for volleyball. Henderson was a part of the representative assembly that voted to approve boys’ volleyball in 2023.
This year is the first fully sanctioned year of boys’ volleyball throughout the state.
Recruiting was easy, Brubakken said. “These boys were already excited and motivated. Word of mouth did most of the work — many of them had been attending girls’ open gyms for a while. They were just waiting for the opportunity to officially play.”
The team got an assist from the Columbia Heights Police Department. “CHPD helped fund our inaugural season with a community grant program,” said Henderson. “In addition to funding, CHPD supports our team in other ways through community meals and mentorship and a positive presence in our schools and at our matches.”
Henderson said the bulk of the costs are new equipment and uniforms which will be reused for several years. Other costs include referees and transportation. It’s approximately $20,000 for the Hylanders’ first season.
Deputy Police Chief Erik Johnston said CHPD has mentored other CHHS teams in the past, including the basketball team. “The police department has become aware of our growing Latino population and a high interest in an organized volleyball program,” he wrote in an email. He said the department made use of one-time public safety funds to help the school district create a varsity boys’ volleyball program and provide another opportunity for mentoring relationships between youth and police department members.
Brubakken said the weekly mentorship program focuses on leadership, character building and community connection.
“Officers use to the time to work on life skills, leadership, academics and building positive relationships,” Johnston said. “Chief Markham and the police department staff believe strongly in the value of positive interactions between police and youth to help build trust and encourage post-high school success.”
Henderson noted the Columbia Heights VFW and the Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters also donated to help fund the inaugural season.
There are 23 boys on the roster and five student managers who support the team. The first year’s team includes Jhonderson Silva Blanco, Elijah Schulz, Juan/Martin Reiban Vasquez, Jose Ortiz Robles, Desmond Lee, River Kieffer, Lenny Hohmann, Carlos Bustamante, Deshaun Wilson-Johnson, Ethan Mendieta Idrovo, Camron Velin, Artur Serdiuk, Carlos Chicaiza Sacta, Justin Alvarez Merchan, Bryan Estrada Riera, Anthony Robles Celleri, Johand Orellana Velez, Lyno Baldovinos Miranda, Juvenal Romero Penaloza, Gabriel Mendez Campos, Wilmer Carchi Astudillo and Davian Harris. Student managers are Kenzie Aquino, Ava Sinchi, Mareli Gutierrez Tacuba, Karla Fernandez Torijano and Ariana Villacres Bravo.
The team practices from 3:30 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, on days when they don’t have matches.
“A lot of the boys are so eager to improve that they’ll start warming up as soon as school ends if a coach is available,” said Brubakken. “Their energy and commitment have been incredible.”
The varsity and junior varsity Hylander teams both lost their first games to Robbinsdale Cooper. In coming weeks, they’ll face Fridley, Brooklyn Center, St. Anthony Village, DeLaSalle and Richfield in conference play.
Members of the Robbinsdale Cooper junior varsity volleyball team, right, prepare to defend a volley from the Hylanders’ junior varsity team. (Cynthia Sowden)