Football action will continue for several Olds High School (OHS) Spartans, as they depart for the inaugural ABC Current Star Border Bowl in Chilliwack, B.C. this weekend.
The game will be played at Exhibition Stadium on Dec. 13 between high school seniors from Alberta and British Columbia. Collegiate scouts are expected to be watching closely as the game will be broadcast online.
Tylen Smith, Dwayne Neustaeter, Cole Jacobson, Brody Dirk and Ryland Couture will be representing team Alberta.
From December 6-7, they attended a camp in Edmonton to meet teammates, learn the playbook and practise.
Dirk, who played linebacker for the Spartans said he is looking forward to meeting other football players from the province, including some OHS has played against this season.
“Former enemies are going to be teammates,” he said.
Dirk and Couture — a defensive tackle — qualified for the team after attending a tryout in Airdrie, where they were tested for fitness level and ability to run plays.
Couture has gone through the ranks of the sport in Olds, having played for the Bulldogs and Huskies before spending three years with the Spartans.
The most important lesson he learned from the OHS program was work ethic.
“Dedication and hard work pays off at the end of the day. You can be as skilled as you want but if you don't put in the effort then you're not going to go anywhere, do anything. If you just work hard in life, good things will follow,” Couture said, adding he hopes to try out for the Calgary Colts of the Canadian Junior Football League.
On the other hand, this was Dirk's first year playing the sport, having previously been a hockey goalie. Making the Alberta team as a rookie was a big achievement for him and he also hopes to continue with football.
“I like the sport a lot. If I get a chance to go anywhere after high school, my doors are always open,” he said.
The game will be broadcast on Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. MDT on www.vbnsports.com
