Two teams from Blue Steel Volleyball Club earned National Championships this past summer capping off a record breaking season for Gateway Region.
Trent Massey and Cam Sheehan of BSVBC Boys 18u Black capped of a lifelong journey of trials and tribulation. These 2 young men have been best friends since 3rd grade when they began playing on a little league baseball team. Both sets of parents are heavily invoked in the the volleyball world. They started playing sand VB together the summer after their 6th grade year in Camryn's backyard. Their rocky journey began the following year 2018 when Camryn suffered a shark bite, and had to forfeit in Siesta Key. So they set their sites for the following year in Manhattan Beach...and Camryn wrecked on his electric bike, and was left having to serve underhand with his off hand. So, 2020 would be their summer of triumph - only to be cancelled by COVID. Their 2021 Campaign saw them medal 3rd place in Ft. Lauderdale. Their Ft Lauderdale tournament run in 2022 fell short in 5th place. But their 2023 Summer saw them earn their Gold Medal, and Jr. Beach National Championship Title.
Trent Massey--DeSmet graduate, Player of the Year in STL area, 1st place in State, played bb at DeSmet until senior year...going to Webber International to play indoor and beach VB
Camryn Sheehan--O'Fallon HS graduate, 1st Team All State, 4th place in State, also played wide receiver for O'Fallon FB team...going to McKendree University to play Indoor VB
BSVBC Boys 16 Black - USAV Boys 16s Jr National Champions!
from Head Coach Gabe Norsigian -
It’s difficult to put this whole experience into just a few words, but the major takeaway that I saw as a coach during our time at Nationals was our boy’s mental toughness. We have always been a team that has had immense talent that would sometimes stumble when things didn’t go our way. However, this tournament they proved to everyone watching, us coaches, the other teams playing, and most importantly to themselves what a championship caliber team looks like. I am honoured to have been along for this journey and to watch all these boys accomplish the goal they set out for themselves at the start of the season.
from Assistant Coach Kelly Rose -
What a season!!! Blue Steel VBC Boys 16 Black!! Each and every player played a part in the success of an amazing season and magical ending! The growth I witnessed with each player was HUGE!! Their growth show up in all different ways. For some it was talent, for others the mental game, leadership, communication, maturity, and sportsmanship. I love that they all brought back things they learned from their school season and applied and adjusted what they learned. While at Nationals, many other coaches and parents from other teams had nothing but awesome things to say about our team. Well except one (they didn’t think St Louis knew anything about volleyball
Roster: Jack Byers, Cam Ely, Abraham Kniepkamp, Jacob Kulp, Drew Neulzling, Keegan Rose, Micah Swank, Jack Toennies, Brayden Wallis, Tyce Watson, Maximillian Westphal.
