Ontario Prospect Challenge Profile: Lion always striving to be the best

The Ontario Prospect Challenge is an elite three phase event that culminates in an all-star game in the spring of 2016.  For more information CLICK HERE.  The TRYOUT SERIES begins in October and goes until the middle of January 2016.

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Positions:
Safety, Defensive Back

Height/Weight:
5’5, 130 lbs

Teams:
Cambridge Lions (bantam: OVFL)

Commitment:
None

Official Visits:
None

Considerations:
Open

Class:
2020

Nikolas Mahlman has been playing with the Cambridge Lions since he was eight years old and has been hooked since he made his first tackle.

He is a well-rounded player who enjoys running the ball for a special play, but since playing rep as a defensive back in his first year of peewee has been developing his skills.

Due to Nik’s agility, speed and great eye when being able to read the field, his first year Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) bantam coach, Kevin Delany, took him on as a safety.

As a safety, he and his 2015 bantam Cambridge Lions won the OVFL championship.

This will be Nik’s third time participating in the Ontario Prospect Challenge (OPC).

He loves the opportunity to learn new skills from the experienced coaches, meet new players and gain friendship that he has maintained over the years.

“OPC is a fun environment with great coaches and just a great group of players,” said Nik. “It is such a friendly and fun environment that only promotes growth as well as confidence.”

During the offseason the Lion takes part in camps throughout Ontario and the U.S.

For the past few years, he has been training in the offseason with NLPT in Cambridge, but as of 2015 he has been training exclusively with SST Waterloo to make some serious gains and increase his flexibility.

Nik also attends Lightning Camp, a specialized training in increasing speed and agility, which is a crucial component of being a successful defensive back.

The Lion also plays basketball and volleyball at school to make him a well-rounded student athlete.

In football his idol is Royce Freeman, the running back for the Oregon Ducks.

“He is an absolute beast on the field who never gives up no matter what happens during the play,” commented Nik. “He is not necessarily the fastest running back out there, but his passion and drive are greater then the biggest guy out there.”

Nik loves football because it is a game of skill and knowledge. Every practice and game brings new challenges for him to grow as a player.

The great coaches in Cambridge have taught him to never settle for good but strive to be the best player, the best teammate and to learn to have the confidence to believe in yourself.

“The friendships that are made on the field are like no other,” added Nik.

Football teaches him what it means to be part of a team, to have someone’s back and have the trust that there are 11 other guys on that have your back.