WinMan Volleyball Club

MEET THE COACHES-2027 WinMan Tide 17U Girls

We’re excited to introduce the coaching staff leading our 2027 WinMan Tide 17U Girls this season!

Head Coach John Olfert brings over 15 years of coaching experience and is entering his 14th season with WinMan Volleyball Club. A Certified Advanced Development Coach, John has coached athletes from the developmental level through varsity, helping numerous players continue their volleyball careers at the college and university level.

Throughout his coaching career, John’s teams have captured multiple Provincial Championships and earned both National Championship Gold and Bronze medals at the Volleyball Canada National Championships. John led the WinMan Tide 14U Boys to winning the Tier 1 National Championship in 2010. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport, he was honoured as the Volleyball Manitoba Mary Jean England Coach of the Year.

John is passionate about creating an environment where athletes can grow both on and off the court. His greatest reward is seeing former players return to the gym as coaches, continuing to give back to the next generation of volleyball athletes.

Beyond coaching, John has dedicated countless hours to serving the volleyball community through leadership roles with Volleyball Manitoba, U SPORTS, the True North Youth Foundation, and KidSport Manitoba.

Assistant Coaches for the 2027 WinMan Tide will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned as we continue building an exceptional coaching team committed to helping our athletes reach their full potential!

We’re excited for another incredible season and can’t wait to see what the 2027 WinMan Tide accomplishes together!

MEET THE COACHES- 2027 WinMan Rush 17U Girls

We’re excited to introduce the coaching team leading our 2027 WinMan Rush 17U Girls this season!

Head Coach Amy Johnston brings an incredible playing and coaching résumé to WinMan. A Manitoba Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee, former U SPORTS All-Canadian, and University of Manitoba Female Athlete of the Year, Amy combines elite volleyball experience with a passion for developing confident, skilled athletes. Entering her 5th season with WinMan, she has also coached at the Manitoba Summer Games and guided West Kildonan Collegiate’s Junior Varsity girls to their first-ever AAAA Provincial Championship appearance. Away from the court, Amy works as a nurse at St. Boniface Hospital.

Assistant Coach Kierstyn Bakker has been coaching since 2007 and has worked with athletes of all ages across Manitoba and Ontario. A former Provincial Team captain and university standout at both the University of Manitoba and McMaster University, Kierstyn competed at four National Championships and helped McMaster capture the 2013–14 OUA Championship. With a background in personal training, she brings valuable expertise in strength and conditioning while creating an environment where athletes are challenged, supported, and inspired to become the best versions of themselves.

Together, Amy and Kierstyn share a commitment to developing not only strong volleyball players, but confident, resilient young people. We can’t wait to see what this team accomplishes this season!

MEET THE COACHES: 2027 WinMan Warriors 18U Boys

The WinMan Volleyball Club is incredibly proud to unveil an extraordinary coaching staff for the 2027 WinMan Warriors 18U Boys team. This is not just a coaching announcement; it is a declaration of intent to provide the most elite training environment possible. We are bringing U SPORTS-level leadership and extensive international expertise directly to the court.

Head Coach: Liam Markesteyn
Now entering his 3rd season as Assistant Coach for the UWinnipeg Wesmen and bringing a degree in Kinesiology, Liam’s tactical mind is second to none. He’s spent his summers on the sidelines with Team Manitoba Gold and served as an Assistant Coach for Canada’s U21 Men’s National Team in 2025.

For our 18U Warriors, Coach Liam brings a modern, athlete-first approach—combining skill mastery with mental and physical performance training to get guys ready for university ball and beyond.

Assistant Coach Chris Voth
Joining Liam on the bench as Assistant Coach is a name that needs little introduction in Canadian volleyball: Chris Voth.

Chris’s story in the sport reads like a textbook for aspiring pros. After a stellar career with the Manitoba Bisons, he spent over a decade playing professionally across Europe (winning 7 national championships along the way!) and representing Team Canada on the world stage.

When he took over as Head Coach of the UWinnipeg Wesmen in 2024, he didn’t just rebuild—he made history, leading the team to their first-ever Canada West title in his debut season and earning Canada West & U SPORTS Coach of the Year honors. He’s since led Canada’s U21 team at the 2025 World Championships in China, and now, he’s bringing that elite, global insight directly to our 18U court.

To round out the staff, the Warriors will also be bringing in additional coaches and mentors directly from the Winnipeg Wesmen Men’s program.

Our athletes will be training inside a true high-performance environment, learning directly from current collegiate leaders who live the U SPORTS standard every day.

Welcome Coach Liam and Coach Chris!

MEET THE COACHES: WinMan Wolves 18U Boys

Building a great volleyball team starts with setting a vision, and for our 18U Boys, that vision comes down to a coaching staff that has lived every side of the game—from developmental courts all the way to international podiums.

Leading the charge is Tim Au, whose name is practically synonymous with Manitoba volleyball. A long-time Physical Education teacher and current Physical Education & Health Consultant for RETSD, Tim brings over three decades of coaching wisdom to the floor. He’s an NCCP Level 3 coach, a former Canada Games Gold Medal winning assistant coach, and someone who has medaled in every single club season at Provincials. From taking WinMan teams to national gold to currently sitting on the Volleyball Manitoba Board of Directors, Tim’s drive to develop high-level athletes is matched only by his deep roots in the sport.

Joining him is Mike Pittman, a coach whose passion for the game is completely contagious. Mike’s journey began on the court as a dominant setter for the Selkirk Royals before earning a spot on the National Juvenile Team and taking home "Best Setter" honors at Nationals. After stepping away for a period, he returned to the game with renewed enthusiasm—and hasn't looked back since. Over the last six years, he’s coached multiple teams to provincial titles and currently serves as a Lead Development Coach with Volleyball Manitoba, bringing technical mastery and energy to every practice.

Also on the staff is Stefan Lavallee, someone who knows exactly what it’s like to wear the WinMan jersey because he was once in those exact shoes. As a player, Stefan was part of a rare group that won Provincial titles every year from 15U through 18U, capping it off with a National Championship in 2015. After competing on the University of Manitoba Bisons golf team, Stefan returned to his volleyball roots. Now a PE teacher at Steinbach Regional, he recently guided the Steinbach Sabres JV Boys to a Provincial Gold and Silver.

Rounding out this phenomenal crew is Chris Voth, whose resume speaks volumes at every level of volleyball. Currently the Head Coach of the University of Winnipeg Wesmen men’s program—where he led them to a historic Canada West title and earned U SPORTS Coach of the Year honors—Chris brings world-class expertise to our bench. Before coaching, he enjoyed a standout playing career with the Manitoba Bisons and played professionally across Europe, capturing seven national titles over a decade as both a player and coach. Add in his experience with Volleyball Canada (from representing Team Canada as an athlete to coaching the NextGen team and Canada’s U21 team), and our athletes have an extraordinary mentor in their corner.

With decades of championship pedigree, U SPORTS caliber leadership, elite setter experience, and true club loyalty on the bench, this season is shaping up to be something special.

Welcome Coach Tim, Coach Mike, Coach Stefan, and Coach Chris!

MEET THE COACHES | 2027 WINMAN FIRE 18U GIRLS

We are thrilled to officially announce our coaching staff leading the WinMan Fire 18U Girls for the 2027 season!

Coach Christine and Coach Leanne bring decades of championship-level coaching experience, and dedication to athlete empowerment.

Head Coach: Christine Rewniak

Coach Christine enters her 10th year with WinMan Volleyball Club, bringing extensive experience across middle years, high school, club, and provincial team levels!

Highlights:

7x Provincial Champion: 4 Club Provincial Championships and 3 AAAA High School Provincial Championships with St. Mary’s Academy!

Volleyball Manitoba Coach of the Year (2010), 2018 MHSAA Grey Cup Legacy Female Coach of the Year, 2x St. Mary’s Academy Coach of the Year, and 2x AAAA Graduating All-Star Coach.

Fully certified Level 2 coach holding Bachelor degrees in Physical Education and Education, currently teaching at St. Mary’s Academy (28 years coaching).

“Christine is looking forward to continuing to help young athletes develop their skills and knowledge of the game she loves.”

Assistant Coach: Leanne Leskiw

Coach Leanne brings decades of coaching experience in Manitoba, including over 25 years with the JV and Varsity programs at St. Mary’s Academy!

Highlights:

Assistant Coach for the Varsity AAAA Provincial Championship (2011) and Head Coach for the JV AAAA Provincial Championship (2014) with a perfect 52-0 record!

Leanne also served 9 years as Past President of Volleyball Manitoba, sat on the Board of Directors for Sport Manitoba, and worked as a Technical Facilitator.

“I believe that young women should be empowered to be competitive and want to win... Success comes from hard work, discipline, and a desire to be your best on and off the court.” — Coach Leanne

We welcome back Coach Christine and Coach Leanne to our coaching community for 2027.

MEET THE COACHES | 2027 WINMAN SURGE 18U GIRLS

We are thrilled to introduce the incredible coaching staff leading the WinMan Surge for the upcoming season!

Bryan, Jayda, and Tyson bring decades of elite playing experience, championship pedigree, and passion for player development, we couldn’t be more excited to have them at the helm.

HEAD COACH: Bryan Enns
Coach Bryan brings over 25 years of coaching experience across grassroots, high school, and elite indoor/beach club levels!

Highlights:
🏆 Hall of Famer & Champion: Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame inductee, 2x U Sports National Champion (U of M Bisons), CIS Player of the Year (2001), and former professional athlete.
📋 Coaching Pedigree: Certified Level 1 NCCP coach, MHSAA Varsity Girls Coach of the Year (2016), and 2017 Canada Summer Games Men’s Assistant Coach.
🍎 Community Leader: High school teacher in the St. James Assiniboia school division coaching Westwood Collegiate AAAA Varsity Girls since 2013.
“Bryan is excited for another season as Head Coach of WinMan Surge!”

COACH: Jayda Nault
From playing in the WinMan system to competing at the U Sport level and Canada Games, Coach Jayda brings high-level expertise across all positions!

Highlights:
🏐 WinMan Alum & Standout: Played 14U–18U with WinMan (2x Provincial Champion & 2x MVP) before playing at Queen’s University and the University of Winnipeg.
🥇 Gold Medalist & Player of the Year: 2017 Canada Summer Games Gold Medalist, 2x Volleyball Manitoba Player of the Year (2017, 2018), and recipient of the Mike Burchuk & Players Choice Awards.
Coaching Highlights: Assistant coach for WinMan 15U girls in 2022, guiding them to a bronze medal at Nationals!

“Jayda is excited to share her knowledge and create the same amazing club experience she had.”

We are pleased to have Coach Bryan, Coach Jayda, and Coach Tyson back for the 2027 season.

Scott Naujoks was a fantastic WinMan Athlete and then an even more fantastic WinMan coach. Check out this award in his honour.

Scott Naujoks coached with full effort and zero favourites, and every athlete he worked with knew he genuinely cared.

This award carries that forward for young coaches and athletes in our community putting in the same work.

Submit an application » https://bit.ly/3Tp82H7

WinMan 2026 Season Recap

What a fantastic year for our WinMan teams.

This year, WinMan hosted 22 teams, with 12 girls teams and 10 boys teams from 13U-18U.

While medals are not the only indicator of success, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our teams.

This year, WinMan brought home 6 Provincial Championships, 5 Silver medals, and 4 Bronze medals bringing our club’s total Provincial medal count to 56 Gold, 48 Silver, and 51 Bronze.

In addition, the 16U Boys WinMan Wild team were the 2026 National Champions, with 15U Boys WinMan Bounce finishing with a National Silver, and 14U Boys WinMan Ice were National Bronze medalists. Other notable performances were the 15U Girls WinMan Rage and the 14U Boys WinMan Bolts who finished tied for 5th overall at Nationals.

We look forward to the 2027 Season and look to continue the tradition of excellence.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST for 2027 season.

This form is for any interested athletes who will be intending to TRYOUT for our 2027, 16U, 17U or 18U team(s) in December 2026. The age categories are:

16U athletes are those born Sept 1, 2010 – December 31, 2011 or later

17U athletes are those born Sept 1, 2009 – December 31, 2010 or later

18U will be those born Sept 1, 2008 – December 31, 2009 or later

The expression of interest list can help us determine how we use our resources to program for next year. When possible, registered athletes on this list will also be scouted/observed throughout the high school season. These age categories are in the Volleyball Canada Long Term Athlete Development model (LTAD) Learn to Compete stage and completion of this form assists us in our planning.

For 17U & 18U athlete’s families-If you have any questions regarding the following programs you may contact the Head Coaches of those programs on or after Tuesday August 4th, 2026 until Fri Sept 4, 2026. Any dates before or after this period are in the Volleyball Manitoba Recruitment Blackout period.

Once an athlete is no longer competing for their high school team, then the recruitment blackout will also be lifted.

**After completion of this form, you will have to complete a tryout registration/payment again once our registration for tryouts open on our website in October. Some of our 17U & 18U teams may choose to have an ID camp during the week of Aug 24-30th, 2026 if interest is high. You will be notified if we plan on running an ID camp.

This form is merely an expression of interest so that we can begin planning for our 2027 season. Please follow our social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram so that you are aware of Registration dates. Due to circumstances of high demand, we may have to limit the number of athletes we can accept in our tryouts.

Please visit our link here to register your intention.

https://winmanvolleyball.com/winman-expression-of-interest-for-2027-season/

We are excited to recognize Emily Gradt as one of this year’s WinMan Scholarship recipients!

Over the past four seasons, Emily has been a valued member of the WinMan family, consistently demonstrating the qualities that make our club so special. She has balanced the demands of competitive volleyball with academic excellence, meaningful volunteer work, and leadership opportunities at school—all while continuing to give back to the volleyball community.

Emily’s passion for serving others is evident in everything she does. From volunteering at Concordia Hospital, Siloam Mission, Winnipeg Harvest, and local physiotherapy clinics to refereeing youth volleyball and helping with WinMan tryouts, she has continually chosen to invest her time in making a difference. Her commitment to helping others reflects the kind of person and teammate she has become.

This fall, Emily will begin her Bachelor of Science at the University of Winnipeg, with aspirations of pursuing a career in healthcare. Whether her path leads to dentistry, medicine, or physiotherapy, there’s no doubt she will bring the same compassion, discipline, and selflessness that she demonstrated throughout her time with WinMan.

The WinMan Scholarship recognizes graduating athletes who exemplify the values our club strives to build every day: leadership, commitment, community involvement, academic achievement, and giving back.

Emily’s dedication to serving others, both on and off the court, makes her a wonderful example of those values.

Congratulations, Emily! Thank you for the positive impact you’ve had on our club and community. We are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see where your next chapter takes you. Wishing you all the best at the University of Winnipeg!