Midwest City YMCA volleyball team wins championship

Turtles defeat undefeated Bethany for U-12 title

By Alyssa Dalley-Schofield
Staff Writer

After four seasons, the Midwest City Turtles volleyball team took home the Spring 2023 U12 YMCA Volleyball Championship which was held in Edmond at The Hive Complex on May 13.

The head coach of the team, Tiatia Cromar, started as an assistant coach for his first season. His son and niece joined the team, and they played well for the first two seasons according to Cromar. 

In the third season, Cromar’s daughter joined the team alongside Coach Kjersti and new teammates. 

That third regular season we went undefeated. In the tournament we beat everyone including the undefeated team from Bethany up until the championship,” said Cromar.

The Bethany team took home the win in the Championship Game. With the fourth season came a new determination to beat the Bethany team. 

“This fourth season we went 8-0 in the regular at the Midwest City YMCA where we played against all Midwest City teams. In the tournament we beat two of the best Edmond teams, which led us to play our third game against the returning champions, the Bethany team,” said Cromar. 

Up against their enemy from the previous year, the Turtles faced the team head on.

“We dropped the first set, rallied strong in the second and dominated in the final set to bring the Spring 2023 U12 YMCA Volleyball Championship to Midwest City,” said Cromar. 

The players and coaches celebrated the win and looked back on the journey over the past four seasons.

“Coach Kjersti and I had to teach a lot of life skills such as mental fortitude, self-confidence, and the importance of teamwork. I am just so proud of them for sticking it out, believing in themselves, and giving everything they had to win the championship,” said Cromar.