Meet Austin Korten — the Otterville volleyball player chasing provincials

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Meet Austin Korten. He is 16, from Otterville, and he plays middle for the Delhi District Secondary School boys volleyball team. Austin fell for the game in Grade 8 and has not looked back, building all the way to a back row hit that won his team a championship. Now he is chasing bigger goals: a spot at the collegiate level, a provincial title with his Simcoe Extreme club, and a trade he can build a life around. Here is his story, in his own words.

His Story

Austin's volleyball story started in Grade 8. He stepped onto the court, and something clicked right away. He fell in love with the game almost instantly, and a lot of that came down to one person. His coach, Mr. Dewar, took the time to set his foundation early, teaching him the basics that still shape the player he is today.

From there, Austin kept climbing. His proudest moment came when he led his Delhi District team to an AABHN finals win in junior boys volleyball. Standing in the way was Holy Trinity, a powerhouse program. Austin and his teammates did not back down. They closed out the championship the hard way, finishing the match with a back row hit that sealed the win. For a middle who lives at the net, ending it from the back row made the moment even sweeter.

Behind every player like Austin is a group of people pushing him forward. He credits his coaches, Mr. Dewar and Ms. Snowden, for working him hard at practice and keeping him motivated when the grind got tough. And then there is his mom. She has been there for the parts most people never see, the diet, the rides to practice, and the pep talks before big matches. Austin knows that kind of support is its own kind of coaching.

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What's Next

Austin is not short on goals. He wants to play volleyball at the collegiate level, and he is hungry for more hardware along the way. That means winning more AABHN finals with his high school team and chasing a provincial title with the Simcoe Extreme club based right here in Norfolk.

Off the court, Austin has a clear plan. He wants to become a licensed electrician. He also wants to give back to the community that raised him and step into coaching one day, passing on what his own coaches gave him. A trade, a hometown, and the next generation of players. That is a future worth working for.

Who He's Thanking

Austin wants to thank the people in his corner. He is grateful to his parents, who go the extra mile by sending him videos on how to sharpen his skills, always looking for new ways to help him improve. He also wants to shout out his friends for being supportive through it all. For Austin, the game has never been a solo effort. It is a team built of coaches, family, and friends, and he is quick to give them the credit.