Trio of Badgers make Team Alberta

By Mario Prusina Times Editor

Three members of the Strathmore Badgers bantam football team will represent Team Alberta at the U16 Western Challenge later next month.
Locals Brady Johansen, Jack Warrack and Bennett Salmon were selected to the team after taking part in Football Alberta’s inaugural Junior Bowl on May 20 in Calgary.
The trio made an impression for Team South – which defeated Team North 14-13 – and were invited to play for Team Alberta.
“Making it on to Team Alberta feels really great,” said Warrack. “It’s one of the best teams someone my age can get to. It also feels good to know that you are one of the best in the province at what you do. I think I’m most looking forward to just seeing what kind of talent is in the other provinces as well as just spending time with the team.”
According to Warrack, it was a pressure filled game and one mistake could have cost their team a victory.
“The game went pretty well,” said Warrack. “I felt like I showed the coaches that I can perform not only in practice, but in real game scenarios as well. After playing, I really felt like a more polished player. The coaches were really good and knew exactly how to coach you for specific position. The game also really put into perspective how many other great players there are out there.”
According to Salmon, it was an honour to represent Strathmore and the local football program.
“I feel really privileged,” said Salmon. “It also makes me really proud to be from a great football program like we have in Strathmore. I’m looking forward to the competition between all the different teams and I hope I learn a few new skills I can use in the regular season this fall.”
According to Salmon, it took a few plays to get a read on the competition and more comfortable with the game.
“It felt really cool, but I definitely felt the butterflies while sitting in the dressing room before the game,” he said. “The game showed me that momentum is everything. There were moments in the game when I was playing and the other team just stopped us in our tracks and took away all the momentum.
“So the next play you have to go back out there and try not to overthink. (You) just have to try and get the next first down and once you get the first down, try and get the next one, until you get the momentum back.”
According to Johansen, he remembers playing well and making a few key plays.
“It was exciting,” said Johansen. “I was nervous before the game, but everyone was loud and ready to go in the locker room. It was a once in a lifetime experience (and) was probably the highest level of football I’ve ever participated in.”
According to Johansen, it is a thrill to make the provincial team.
“It makes me proud to know that people from small towns can represent a whole province,” he said. “I’m excited to see how we do against the rest of Western Canada. I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates from the north and just playing football.”
Team Alberta will play In the U16 Western Challenge, which includes teams from B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Team Alberta will meet in Red Deer on July 11-12 for a mini camp, before taking a bus to Kamloops and playing their first game versus B.C. on July 15. The winner of that game will play for the gold medal and the loser for the bronze medal on July 18.