One Kodiaks athlete has ensured his name will live among legends.
Lethal left-side hitter Dax Whitehead has been officially named the most potent offensive volleyball player in Kodiaks history.
Originally from Moose Jaw, SK, Whitehead joined the Kodiaks in 2013.
Head coach Greg Gibos says that since joining the squad, Whitehead has been a driving force behind the team’s accomplishments.
“We as a team don’t have success without the efforts Dax puts in. He is always there pushing harder in the gym, training the young guys and just showing us what it takes to be one of the most successful Kodiaks of all time,” said Gibos.
After earning his record breaking 796th kill during the Kodiaks’ last loss in Briercrest, Whitehead captured the title from previous record holder Jeffrey Marthaller.
“It is an honour to get the kill record. It’s not something I had planned for at the beginning but it’s still nice to get,” said Whitehead.
Kodiaks captain Matt Primrose has been playing with Whitehead for the past two years and says it was an honour for him to receive that recognition so close to his hometown.
“It’s great to see him break that record in front of the people that have supported him. Especially in front of his mom and dad.”
Primrose continued to praise Whitehead’s skills as a player and a team pillar.
“He’s our safety valve. Anytime we’re in trouble we can always count on him to score. He’s a really great teammate,” said Primrose.
Though Whitehead performs consistently on the court, Gibos believes his dominance comes from the things that don’t appear on a stats sheet.
“Dax’s reach doesn’t extend to just the court, his true power he has comes from what he does for our program. He is singlehandedly the hardest working athlete I have ever coached. Through the summertime Dax had jaw surgery and still came back with 15 additional pounds of muscle,” said Gibos.
While working on his personal growth has always been a priority for Whitehead, he remains a team player to his core.
“I’m just one guy, it’s really about the team. We have grown a lot this season and I’m confident we can get a provincial win,” said Whitehead.
The award-winning Kodiak sits second in the ACAC for kills this season and looks to break the all-time provincial record for kills when he returns after a well-deserved Christmas break.