Academics, welcoming coaches – a winning recipe

Warriors welcome four Ontario commits to their Class of 2018.

Offensive lineman Josh Carr from Innisdale Secondary School, Lucas Di Cicco from Catholic Central High School and Jet Correia from Sir John A. MacDonald Collegiate Institute are set to battle in the trenches for the the University of Waterloo Warriors.

Kicker James Wilson from Saint Andre Bessette Secondary School will also be adding his talents to the team’s special teams.

Josh Carr

It was academics that drew Josh Carr to the Warriors. He said he committed to the school because of its “high academic standard. The facilities are (also) great.”

He added that, “The coaches were great throughout this whole process, very knowledgeable and (I) look forward to working with them.”

The 6’1, 305lbs guard spent six years on the Huronia Stallions (OFC) and four on the Innisdale Secondary School Invaders (Simcoe County Athletic Association). He is a two-time lineman of the year with the Invaders in 2015 and 2017. In 2016, he was an OFC finalist with the Stallions and the team’s lineman of the year. This past season, he was a captain for the Invaders.

Carr, who is from Barrie, Ontario, is interested in either science or psychology.

Lucas Di Cicco

When Lucas Di Cicco started his athletic career, football wasn’t on his radar until grade eight. Instead, he played soccer. But soon, the allure of the gridiron was too much to overlook. Now, he will be taking his game to the next level.

“I chose Waterloo due to the growing culture and welcoming feeling throughout the university. The school has a lot of positives and exciting things to come to it in the years coming,” he said. “The coaching staff is a top-tier coaching staff who welcomes its players and makes them feel welcome and like they belong at the university.”

Originally from London, Ontario, Di Cicco spent four years with the Catholic Central Crusaders (Thames Valley Regional Athletics) and two seasons with the London Jr. Mustangs (OPFL). In 2014, he won an OVFL championship with the Jr. Mustangs and in 2016, he helped the Crusaders capture an OFSAA Bowl championship.

The 6’2, 240lbs lineman is interested in taking legal studies or recreation and leisure.

Jet Correia

Jet Correia didn’t need much convincing that his future lies with the Warriors. “I committed to the University of Waterloo because they have a great academic program and I wanted to be apart of a team that has lots of promise,” the potential sports business student said. “I also fell in love with the campus and how friendly everyone was.”

The Waterloo coaches were leading the charge on this friendliness. Correia said, “The coaching staff is great. They were very nice and welcoming to me as well as showing a lot of interest in me as a person and not just me as a player.”

Correia is entering his third season with the Scarborough Thunder (OFL). The 6’4, 287lbs offensive tackle and guard is from Toronto, Ontario.

“I’m really looking forward to playing for Waterloo,” he said, “and growing my football skills as well as my football knowledge.”

James Wilson

James Wilson’s career didn’t start until grade 11 when he began kicking and punting with the St. Andre Bessette Bulldogs (Thames Valley Regional Athletics). He didn’t need much time for the Warriors to take notice.

“I chose to commit to Waterloo because of its great coaching staff and its academic reputation,” the potential business or environmental studies student said. “Great coaching staff, always very positive and they always look to better their players on and off the field. I have never heard anyone within the game of football say one negative word about Head Coach Bertoia and his staff.”

This past summer, Wilson was a member of the OPFL championship team, the London Jr. Mustangs. “Really was a great experience to be on the team under head coach Jean-Paul Circelli,” he said.