The Bisons’ win of the national championship remains a historical moment. The Manitoban was interested to interview other Bisons’ stars, and this time, it was middle blocker, Eve Catojo.

Catojo shared her thoughts on the experience of how it felt to have won the competition. “The only word I can use to describe it is just amazing,” she said. “We worked so hard. It’s impossible to even describe and convey to people who weren’t a part of the team how much work we actually did put into this.”

Catojo spoke about the importance of her team’s culture and the strong bonds between teammates. She noted that their connection, built over years of growing and competing together, was a key factor in their success. “We just care about each other so much,” she said. “You just lay down your life for the girls on this team. We’ve been together. We started out as a very young team in Canada West all together. And our team has not changed fundamentally for four years […] the relationships we have are so incredibly deep that it just makes you want to succeed for each other.”

The camaraderie played a significant role in their success, as Catojo noted that “everyone is so invested in our goals […] Everyone is watching the film, everyone is buying into the game plan.”

Regarding her personal motivation for performing well in the competition, Catojo cited her desire to do it for her team. “Some of the girls have just gone through things this year that are just tough, extremely tough,” she said. “We just have a culture of showing up always and pushing through anything.”

Her faith also played a crucial role in her motivation. “There was a point in the season where I was dealing with my back injury, and it was so debilitating,” she said. “I just knew like every weekend I had to perform, and I was an integral part, and I just couldn’t let anybody down.”

Catojo acknowledged that she struggled with anxiety and self-doubt, particularly before games. “I’m a person who will sit before a game and be like, ‘I’m going to make 50 errors today, and I’m going to miss every serve, and I’m going to trip and fall,’” she said. “It’s like something just completely out there that will never happen.”

When asked about her plans for the future, Catojo expressed her desire to become a kindergarten teacher and settle down. “I want to just kind of lay low, teach my kindergartners, have a family, raise my kids,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to live on an acreage outside of the city.”

Looking ahead to next year’s competition, Catojo is confident that her team will continue to thrive despite the loss of several key players. “I don’t believe for one second that the level of our play is going to drop after this year,” she said. “We have girls that have been working so hard behind the scenes.”

Catojo highlighted the depth of her team’s roster, citing players like Ella Gray and Chelsea Siebenga who are ready to step up and make a difference.