By Emily Jaycox For the Stettler Independent
Four young football players from Stettler participated in Football Alberta’s Superweekend Camp Jan. 11 to 13 at Foote Field in Edmonton and two will move on to the next selection round.
The Superweekend is a skill development and tryout camp for Team Alberta U18 and U17.
Luke Martin, Brett Mercier, Curtis Myshaniuk and Colton Ansorger attended the camp.
“They were recommended to attend this camp because they have the skill and talent to succeed at the next level of football,” said Norbert Baharally, the head coach of the Wm. E. Hay high school football team.
The weekend featured coaching from university and junior teams, exposing players to a post-secondary football experience.
The camp also gets players’ names in the Football Canada database, which opens up the possibility of being considered for international teams in the future.
Out of the 400 attendees, 130 will advance to the final selection camp from April 5 to 7 in Calgary.
Martin, in Grade 10, was selected as an offensive lineman, and Myshaniuk, in Grade 11, made the cut as a defensive end and will move on to the next selection camp in April.
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“I’m very grateful that they choose me,” said Myshaniuk.
“I’m glad they’re giving guys from a Tier Four school a chance to represent our province.”
If Myshaniuk makes the U18 team, he’ll be eligible for Team Canada.
Both Myshaniuk and Martin were on the Wildcats football team this year.
“[They] are very capable players and are highly skilled at the positions that they play,” said Baharally.
Martin participated in the 2018 Alberta Summer Games for Zone Four and Myshaniuk was on Team Alberta U17 last year.
The Zone Four team finished fourth, one point away from the bronze medal.
“We are going to be very lucky next year to have both of these young men return to be a part of our program.”
Mercier and Ansorger will also be eligible to return to the Wildcats next season.
In the next round in Calgary, the Team Alberta U18 and U17 teams will be selected.
The U18 team will represent Alberta Football Canada Cup in Kingston, ON July 6 to 13.
The U17 team will plan an exhibition game versus Saskatchewan U17 and participate in a development camp in Maui, Hawaii in August.
“We are looking for athletes with a great skill set as well as great attitudes and character to move on to the next level,” states Football Alberta’s website.