It was a title 24 years in the making for PECI and the school’s junior boys’ volleyball team.

With the Bay of Quinte championship in the balance against hosts the Quinte Christian Eagles, a smart bump set by Ethan Thompson allowed team captain Grady Holmes to rise at the net and provide the game-winning kill the Panthers had been waiting for all season.

The Cats showed up to the Bay of Quinte tournament and embraced the role of giant killers. Coming in as the third seed, PECI toppled the power house North Hastings Huskies in the semi-finals, using a clutch third-set tiebreak win to shock the Pups and send them northbound with their collective tails between their legs.

PECI’s Cameron Billing holds aloft the 2023 Bay of Quinte Jr. Boys Volleyball championship trophy. (Submitted Photo)

In the finals with a gold medal and a trip to the Central Ontario Secondary School Association championship in Haliburton on the line, PECI was all business against the Eagles, winning in straight sets and avenging an earlier round robin loss in the process.

Captain Grady Holmes said the squad knew PECI hadn’t held the championship trophy in a number of years — but when they learned the day of the tournament that the Panthers hadn’t won since the turn of the century, a fire was lit to end the drought.

“When they called me up to receive the trophy, I thought to myself, this is what we’ve been working toward all season. All of the hard work in practice and throughout the games had finally paid off,” Grady Holmes told the Gazette. “As I handed the trophy off to the next person on the team and watched them celebrate with the others, I knew they were as proud as I was. We all have worked very hard throughout the season and I know everyone was extremely excited about the victory.”

The captain noted high energy and verbal communication on the court helped the Panthers stay focused and aware of what the opposing team was setting up.

“If one person was down, our teammates were always reassuring them that mistakes happen and to just shake it off and focus on the next play. I think those two things were the most important keys to our successes this season.”

Malcolm Gregor kept the mood light, leading the pre-game chants. Add in Cameron Billing, who shook off a hand injury and nailed the game winning spike in the ultimate set against the Huskies.

Will Bolton used his frame to make blocks on the  opposition, or at least force opposing teams to make an emergency manoeuvre and play into the paws of the lurking Panthers.

Long suffering bench boss Andrew Holmes finally caught lightning in a bottle with title.

Grady said he hoped the PECI teacher — also his Dad — was proud.

“We all hope we made him proud of the team,” Grady said. “He made us all work hard for this championship, and I’m glad it paid off after so long.”