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Football standouts off to championships

Jul 5, 2019 | 3:51 PM

A number of local football superstars are excitedly gearing up to represent for the B.C. Provincial Football Association (BCPFA)’s provincial selects team in two separate national tournaments.

U18 selects from the Vernon Secondary Panthers Caden Danbrook (reciever), Brady Szeman (offensive lineman), Liam Reid (defensive lineman) and Zack Smith (defensive back) are joining up with Kelowna Secondary’s Easton Schmuland (fullback), Caeleb Schlachter (receiver) and Nolan Ulm (receiver); all off to Kingston, Ontario where they will take on eight provincial teams from coast to coast in the 2019 Football Canada Cup.

On Sunday, U16 selects from KSS, Jaeke Schlachter (receiver), Evan Fitchett (receiver), Jack Nyrose (defensive back) and Everett Schmuland (linebacker) travel to Kamloops for the 2019 Football Canada Western Challenge, a tournament hosted this year by the BCPFA.

The U16 boys are joined by a strong showing of local coaches including Team BC Head Coach, Trent Schmuland (KSS Defensive Coordinator) and newly appointed head coach of the Okanagan Sun, Jamie Boreham, responsible for Team BC Linebackers/ Special Teams.

For months, players and coaching staff have maintained a grueling practice schedule that required them to travel to Lower Mainland every other weekend to practice with their team-mates from across the province. “It’s a tough schedule which requires hard work and focus,” noted Coach Schmuland. “We have amazing and very passionate, dedicated coaches leading this great group of young men. I am not surprised by the commitment shown by both the athletes and coaches. It’s why they were hand-picked to be a part of this team.”

They all hope to return to their hometowns victorious.

“Yes, we would love to be able to bring the cup home to B.C.,” said Nyrose, who played in the tournament last year, which saw Team Alberta repeat as champions by defeating Team Manitoba 47 – 21. “We want to make our coaches and our communities proud. We have to stay focused and play our best.”

The U18 Football Canada Cup takes place from July 5 – 13 at Queen’s University Richardson Stadium in Kingston, ON.

The U16 Western Canada Cup will be held Jul 13 – 18 at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops, BC.

Games can be viewed live on https://sportscanada.tv/2019-football-canada-u16-western?occurrence=2019-07-16

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