Just weeks before the Canada Games, Manitoba’s men’s beach volleyball team looked like it might not exist at all. The original two players - Kai Boyko and Luke Lodewyks - had both earned their spot on the U21 men’s indoor national team, whose competitions directly overlap with the Games. Representing the country meant leaving the province without a duo in the sand.

What followed was a whirlwind of phone calls, roster shuffles, and a last-minute reunion that brought two former teammates - and long-time friends - back together on the national stage.
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A Call-Up to Team Manitoba

In the middle of the scramble was Everett Smith, the first alternate thanks to his second-place finish at last summer’s selection tournament. But there was a catch: Smith’s partner from that tournament, Owen Weekes, was also chosen for the U21 indoor team. One roster slot was filled, but the other was in limbo.

“I was actually golfing with Owen when Dusty [original coach] called,” said Smith. “He said I’m going to Games,” Smith continued. “I was really excited about getting the call to go, especially since Kai and Luke were two really good players. And I mean, Dusty was pretty quick to it and told me I had to start looking for a partner. So I kind of put a couple of guys together, and we started training.”

To keep training alive while the roster was rebuilt, a “practice squad” of four athletes came together. The team included three Winnipeggers in addition to Smith: Levi Unger, Jack Taylor, and Keon Torz.

While the practice team was forming, original coach Dustin Spiring stepped down for personal reasons. But he wasn’t ready to walk away completely — he stayed on long enough to help run practices with the group of four, making sure the program wouldn’t lose momentum.
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Clutch Coaching

But there was still a gap in the coaching role. That’s when Spiring made a key phone call to Marshall Jones, Smith’s high school coach from Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg. Jones, a phys ed teacher and veteran indoor volleyball coach of 15 years, didn’t hesitate.

He accepted the role and began the process of getting his credentials up to Canada Games standards - a whirlwind of paperwork, planning, and preparation, aided by Jen Horvath at Volleyball Manitoba and Susan Lamboo at Sport Manitoba Coaching. 

For a few weeks, Jones and Spiring ran practices with the four athletes, watching closely to see who might have the right chemistry to step into the Games spotlight.
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Rebuilding the Team

The answer ended up being a reunion. Levi Unger - Everett’s former club teammate - was chosen as his partner.

The two had history: in 2023, they were teammates on the 17U Junior Bisons team that captured a national title.

Unger joined the practice squad with a bit of encouragement from his U SPORTS coach, Chris Voth, at the University of Winnipeg, and an extra nudge from Smith. He didn’t know what to expect but was excited by how it played out.

“I was pretty stoked,” said Unger. “I came into [the practice team] with no expectations. I just tried my best, and was super excited to get to go to Canada Games.”

With only a short runway to prepare, Unger and Smith dove into training, adjusting to the pace and demands of beach volleyball at the highest youth level in Canada.
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The Canada Games Experience

When they arrived at the Canada Games, they stepped into a world of energy, competition, and provincial pride.

Smith commented on the Games experience so far, touching on the pleasant surprise of pin trading, the quantity of volunteers, and the unique culture of the Games. “I didn't know Canada Games had pin trading,” said Smith. “And I was never really into pin trading the first couple days, but once I got introduced and started trading pins, I kind of got into it.

“I think also the amount of staff and support there is is cool,” Smith continued. “Even the courts have like 20 people working on them at one time, making sure everything is good. It's really a well-kept tournament, and it feels like an international game.”

Now in the thick of competition, the pair are focused on playing their best while soaking in the atmosphere. From the uncertainty of a vacant roster to the excitement of representing Manitoba together, their journey has been anything but ordinary. They’re making the most of their time at the Games - grateful for the call-up and determined to make their mark in the sand.