Abbey Whittington - Student Athlete - Set for Success!

Written by: Ava Puhlmann

Edited by: Madeleine Homer and Sierra Park

Photo By: Abbey Whittington 

Abbey Whittington, a Grade 12 student here at T.A. Blakelock, is an incredible student athlete and TAB community member. She is admired by many for her kind heart, intelligence, and athletic achievements in volleyball.

When Abbey was little, she played for Volleygirls, a recreational program that teaches fundamental volleyball skills. At 10 years old, she joined her first team, the Halton Hurricanes, a top ranking club in Canada, which she continues to play for.

As a member of the Halton Hurricanes on an 18U (under 18) team, Abbey practices on average three times a week. She has tournaments every two to three weeks and additional practices on weekdays and weekends. Due to her busy volleyball schedule, she has to balance both school and her sport. As a result, she has learned valuable time management lessons to keep up with her academics. 

“Balancing school and volleyball is not an easy task. Being a student athlete, it is important to remember to be a student first,” Abbey said when asked how she balances school and volleyball. “Sometimes it gets hard to study for tests, pay attention in classes, and get caught up with lessons, but really, if you put your mind to it, you can do whatever you want.”

In school, Abbey’s favourite courses are Kinesiology and Health Care. It was through these classes she discovered her future pathway: Kinesiology. Abbey was also a key member of Blakelock’s senior volleyball team when they achieved gold and silver at OFSAA. She was in Grade 10 when they achieved gold and Grade 11 when they achieved silver. Blakelock’s volleyball team allowed Abbey to experience playing with new players and brought a positive experience to the court.

Not only has volleyball taught Abbey important life lessons, but it has also helped her secure scholarships for post-secondary education. During Abbey’s volleyball journey, she attended university camps and showcases all across Canada and the U.S.A. In 2023, she travelled along the United States’ east coast to visit 6 different schools: The University of Rhode Island, Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, Cornell University, Brown University, and Lehigh University. She attended their training camps and had the opportunity to practice with coaches and athletes of the highest levels. 

Around February of 2024, Abbey signed to play volleyball at Brock University with a team that has won Ontario University Athletics (OUA) three years in a row. In the fall, Abbey will be studying Kinesiology to pursue her dream of becoming a physiotherapist and helping other student athletes in the community. 

“I am most excited to meet all my new teammates next year...and I am so excited to create long lasting friendships.”

Good luck to Abbey with her future endeavors!