By Lukas Mann
Whether you're familiar with his name or not (and you probably are), anyone who's ever enjoyed the privilege of watching a Trinity Western University men's volleyball game certainly knows the name
Jackson Howe. While he's known nationwide for his astounding athleticism and high-flying plays, the Spartans 6-foot-5 middle doesn't seek the limelight. He just lives in it.
Hailing from Calgary, Howe's athletic potential was no secret from a young age. His high school basketball highlights while attending Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School were almost more impressive than his volleyball accomplishments, winning a high school dunk contest in Grade 12 with a jaw-dropping 360 degree windmill slam reminiscent of Vince Carter's legendary NBA dunk contest performances. Clips of his highlights from high school all-star games are chock-full of outrageous dunks that appeared effortless to the young Howe, which is even more impressive when you factor in that basketball wasn't even his main sport.
TWU head coach
Ben Josephson saw huge potential in the young Howe. When asked to recount what stood out in the recruiting process, Josephson laughs. "When you walk into a high school gym and all of the sudden somebody puts their hips above the net, you realize that's a freak athlete." For reference, Howe's spike touch is unparalleled in Spartan history, touching a TWU record 12 feet and 3.5 inches.
However, Josephson went on to describe that there's far more to Howe than what meets the eye on Instagram. A volleyball team is more than just the sum of its physical parts. To cultivate a winning culture, coaches need not only recruit pure athleticism but also character and integrity. With this in mind, Howe certainly fits the bill. One of Josephson's biggest praises of Howe is his willingness to elevate the interests of the team above his own and to treat the team as a family. Josephson spoke at length on the significance of Howe's attitude and how it plays in his success as a Spartan.
"To be a really great player and a really great teammate, you truly have to care for those who you play with," Josephson says. "It's an easy lesson to learn how to treat teammates well when you've learned how to treat your siblings well."
For Howe, siblings have played an integral role in his life. When asked about his fondest memory from his years at Trinity Western (apart from volleyball), he doesn't hesitate.
"Being able to live with my (twin) sister (Hilary Howe) during most of my years here at Trinity was one of the best things that happened to me over my time here."
It's not uncommon for siblings to end up at the same university, but it's far more unusual for them to choose to live together. As Josephson alluded to, one's ability to exist in harmony with your siblings is a telling sign of how one will function within a sports team. Of course, Jackson and his sister share such a special bond.
Hilary – a stand-out women's volleyball alum who is currently playing professionally in France and is an international star with Canada – describes their childhood as fiercely competitive. She recalls a moment when, as young school-age kids, they were racing their bikes around the neighbourhood. As she was hanging on to a small lead over Jackson, who was hot in pursuit, she wiped out. Jackson caught up to her momentarily, and then without so much as a pause, proceeded to run her over and win the unofficial race. A contrite Jackson later apologized for failing to stop. Hilary laughs good-naturedly as she recounts this memory from their younger years. The Howe family intensity was clearly not just a product of playing sports, but rather something that was core to their identity as natural-born competitors.
However, when watching Howe play, what you don't see is almost as impressive as what you do. Howe's demeanour on the volleyball court is far from the bravado one sometimes comes to expect from such elite athletes. He leads by example, and he's more than content to let his game do the talking. This humble composure is striking at such a high level of athletics. And for Howe, it isn't just true of him on the volleyball court. His humility and maturity are evident from the moment you start talking to him.
As I sat down with Howe over a cup of coffee, one of the most fascinating aspects of our conversation was that he asked me almost as many questions as I asked him. While he was happy to regale me with stories of his childhood and his more recent years at Trinity Western, he followed up every one of my questions with a question of his own for me. This is
Jackson Howe. He's a dedicated competitor and a brilliant athlete, but these alone do not define him. He's a humble and genuine individual who has a real interest in others. It''s easy to see why he's so well-loved by his teammates and the broader TWU community.
The fruits of Howe's labour are now coming to fruition as his university career comes to a close. The men's volleyball team is proving itself to be every bit the national title contender most expected, with Howe being named a Canada West Second Team All-Star after hitting .485 while averaging 2.18 kills per set. Howe's professional aspirations are also coming closer and closer to being realized, as he's likely to soon sign professionally to play in Europe for the upcoming 2022 season, which he describes as a dream come true. Moreover, his accomplishments over both his Spartan career and his stints with Canada's senior national team put him right in the conversation to be in the mix as one of the middles in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Josephson says he's proven through both his time at TWU and his involvement with the national team that he's given himself the best possible chance of success on the international stage.
"As a competitor and an athlete, that's all you want. Give me a chip and a chair, and let me earn it."
The future is bright for Howe. He just won't tell you about it himself.
