A Passion for Volleyball

By Kelly Sharp

Mike Sookochoff admits it was somewhat intimidating to inherit a high school boys volleyball program that had been synonymous with success. Sookochoff arrived at Prince George Senior Secondary in the fall of 1980 after developing junior volleyball talent at Blackburn Junior Secondary, a feeder school to PGSS. The physical education teacher had watched Reg Baylis mold a provincial volleyball power. Led by future Olympian Randy Wagner, the 1976 volleyball Polars captured the first major BC high school title for Prince George Senior Secondary. The Polars went on to beat a club team from Quebec for the Canadian juvenile volleyball championship. The PGSS Polars of 1975-76 finished with a staggering 92 and 1 record after finishing third in an opening tournament of the year.

Mike Sookochoff fondly remembers his coaching years at PGSS.  There was the short bench and injured lineup that gutted out a second place finish at the 1980 provincials. Two years later, the Sookochoff coached Polars won the BC high school boys volleyball title. He coached the Polars to at least a top four finish from 1980-1988 at provincial volleyball championships.

Thanks to his connections in Europe, Mike Sookochoff took his high school volleyball team on an exhibition swing through Finland and Estonia.

“We ended up playing University men’s teams,” laughed Sookochoff, when recalling the European surprise.

Mike Sookochoff is quick to deflect any credit when asked the reason he had so much success coaching volleyball at PGSS.

 “The kids I coached, many went onto professional careers. They already had the smarts when they stepped on the volleyball court, making my job as a high school coach much easier.”

Besides high school commitments, Sookochoff  coached the College of New Caledonia women’s volleyball team. His 1979-80 team won the provincial title and a bronze medal at the Canadian Collegiate women’s volleyball championship.

No longer coaching, Mike Sookochoff, a level two volleyball official, could be found calling points at the BC triple-A girls volleyball championship in Prince George.

He will be retiring from the classroom at the end of the school year, but don’t be surprised after 32 years he will remain involved with the sport he loves.

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