No one is going to suggest that capturing multiple city high-school championship banners and compiling post-season runs that would culminate with back to back gold medal performances at OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) is not a whole lot of fun.

Cale Bast just happens to find college volleyball (OCAA - Ontario Colleges Athletic Associations) a whole lot more fun.

This, in spite of the fact that Cale Bast and the Cambrian Shield men's team that come painstakingly close to winning it all in Ontario, only to have their hearts broken on championship weekend and settling for either bronze (2023 & 2024) or silver medals (2025 & 2026) the past four years.

Make no mistake: Bast is as competitive as any other top-end volleyball talent in the Ontario collegiate ranks these days. But the graduate of both Northeastern Public School and Lasalle Secondary also knows that some victories are simply not as meaningful as others.

"In grade 12 and my victory lap, there wasn't a lot of competition in town (for the Lasalle Lancers)," he said. "But in college, I can't just jump and swing. I have to read my opponents a lot more."

Opponents that are, simply put, different than those he would have faced while donning the orange and black in his secondary school days.

"Yes, everyone here is bigger, faster, stronger," said Bast. "But everyone is so consistent too. If you're making a mistake, somebody else is getting a point."

Twenty-one years of age and now in his third year of Computer Technology at Cambrian, Bast has been fixated almost entirely on volleyball since early into his high-school days in New Sudbury - almost to a fault, as he looks back.

"I think I've always leaned toward volleyball," he said. "Now, I'm starting to enjoy other sports more, just getting out and playing some basketball with friends. I wish I had taken other sports a little more seriously in high-school."

"I think it would have made me more athletic for volleyball."

"More athletic" is a relative term for the 6'2" (or so) left side who won track and field gold in both the triple jump and 400m race in elementary school as well as mixing in time with the GSSC (Greater Sudbury Soccer Club) Impact in his younger days.

Within the ranks of the OCAA, however, Bast is simply one of a good number of multi-faceted athletes - some who enjoy a three inch or more height advantage over the Cambrian lad who shared team MVP honours last year with Liam Hansen.

"I'm not a big left-side," said Bast. "Honestly, when I am late on my block, that's usually when I get the best block. If I jump up with a big player, he will just hit over the top of me."

Therein lies the challenge, the key motivator that drives Cale Bast on a continual search for improvement - something that was needed as his team trailed the Fanshawe Falcons two sets to none in the OCAA semi-final match at Cambrian last March.

"We had to get fired up - and then we were fine," said Bast. "It's fun to play Fanshawe, fun to play Humber."

"Competition is fun."