Moes makes an impact with Kodiaks

By Lethbridge Herald on March 11, 2025.

Herald File photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Herald FILE photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks Nolan Moes attempts a hit over the NAIT Ooks defenders of Finn Howard, left, and Mason Gorski during ACAC men’s Volleyball action this past season.

My Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald
Graduating outside hitter Nolan Moes is saying goodbye to a Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks men’s volleyball program that he gradually grew into making an impact on in the five years he suited up for the team.

“Blessed, honestly,” said Moes.

“It’s been a privilege to spend my six years here (and) with a COVID year. I got to share a year with my younger brother and older brother which is a dream come true honestly. Like nothing more I want than to play with my brothers, and yeah over the years I’ve got really close with the coaching staff and all the guys and it’s been super fun.”

The Kodiaks turned Moes into more of a better man.

“I’ve had great role models in my life,” said Moes.

“Especially Greg (coach Gibos), he’s a world-class guy. I can call him my friend now and a really good friend. Prim (Matthew Primrose) (is a) great guy, I can call him a friend, and Jordan (Teliske) and along with everyone else who’s been through the program coaching.”

Moes admits he wasn’t a leader-type player coming in and he became one after talks with coaches.

“It’s all because of them that I was the leader I was able to be and it was because they painted a picture that I followed,” said Moes.

“They do a really good job in that and they really show you how to be a leader from their coaching styles.”

Teammate and leadership qualities is what Moes felt like he has improved upon in his time with the Kodiaks.

“Everyone’s kind of taught me a lot on how to just be a teammate and a good teammate,” said Moes.

“There’s nothing worse than a bad teammate and that’s just the one fear I had. I didn’t wanna be that guy and Greg ,especially, has taught me along the way how to be a good teammate, and I think that benefitted me and the rest of the team greatly.”

An eye-opener for Moes was the community surrounding the Kodiaks

“We’d finish games and we’d be getting texts from alumni, from parents, from people in the community and that says a lot honestly,” said Moes.

“You don’t get many programs where you’ll have alumni contacting you after a game saying you played well.”

The Kodiaks went 17-2 in the regular season and made it all the way to the championship final where they won a silver medal in Moes last year.

“It was awesome,” said Moes.

“Everyone was 100 per cent in 100 per cent of the time, and that really took us to the next level and it showed our true potential and it came out up to the final and we ended the year off with (a) silver medal.”

Playing with his brothers Dylan and Gavin and getting know the coaching staff were some of his fondest memories.

Moes is in the process of finding a pro opportunity in volleyball.

“He means everything,” said Gibos, on what Moes meant to the program.

“Any athlete that’s willing to put five years of their life into a program speaks (to) how much he wanted it for the Kodiaks and how much he means to southern Alberta. A lot of athletes now who grew up in the club system have seen Nolan play for five years and they all want to be like him. He’s a leader in the community in that sense and when you talk about people who build and grow and continue to make major impacts, we can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for our program especially.”

Moes won four All-Conference awards with the Kodiaks.