Stallions end solid growth season


“Rebuilding” is a word that fans of most professional teams cringe at the thought of.

But when you’re dealing with varsity football players, it can work pretty well.

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Despite fielding a very young and inexperienced squad this season, the Huronia Stallions varsity team finished the year just under .500 and a game shy of the playoffs.

“It was an up-and-down season for us,” said coach Martino Di Sabatino. “With some luck at any point, our record could have been 5-2 instead of 3-4.”

The young players had to learn the hard way about tough losses this season.

“We lost our first game by a point,” Di Sabatino said, “and then in our second game, we blew a 16-point lead with nine minutes remaining.”

After the team found their way back into the win column, they started facing other roadblocks.

“The players fought hard, but we fell into some injury trouble mid-season,” Di Sabatino said. “That made us really thin as far as player personnel goes.”

Reinforcements were brought up from the level below with mixed results, but one call-up in particular stood out and proved he belonged.

“Dan Vandervoort was a junior varsity kid who played in every game,” Di Sabatino said. “He went up a level and didn’t miss a beat.”

The Bear Creek Secondary student, going into Grade 11 next season, was quickly recognized for his talents as a wide receiver.

“He was selected (along with Evan Hughes) to play for Team Ontario East at the Canadian under-18 championships in the Maritimes,” Di Sabatino said.

The pair of Stallions survived the cut down to 40 roster spots and went out to Acadia University earlier this month to compete against provincial representatives across Canada.

“(Vandervoort) may still be a youngster, but his talent is clearly there and he’s going to keep on improving over the next couple of years,” Di Sabatino said.

Next year could become another rebuilding season, given the country-wide changes implemented by Football Canada.

“Starting next year, varsity football goes from ages 19 and under to 18 and under,” Di Sabatino said. “They want us to match up with the rest of the long-term athletic programs across the country.

“What that means for us is that we’ve just graduated 18 kids this year. If we thought this was a rebuilding year, just wait until the next one.”

There are a few standouts graduating from this roster headed to the next level for fall 2010.

“Terry Hart was part of our fantastic offensive line that never missed a practice,” Di Sabatino said. “He’ll be going to St. Francis Xavier University next year, and we’ll be hearing about him for years to come.”

Staying closer to home will be quarterback Jamie Cook, who plans to attend the University of Guelph this autumn, a squad whose starting pivot has just graduated.

“He had an outstanding year for us,” Di Sabatino said. “He threw only one interception all year.

“Kyle Graves, who was our quarterback last year and now starts for Acadia University, came back and worked with Cook and the other quarterbacks and had a really good influence.”

As the players move up the ranks, Di Sabatino looks to have a positive influence on them, in both football and life.

“I truly enjoy developing the players and making sure they’re good citizens,” he said.

And seeing them grow up and be successful gives the coach a sense of pride.

“I remember putting Vandervoort’s helmet on for him as an eight-year-old, and we couldn’t find a helmet for him at first because his head was too small,” Di Sabatino said.

“And now, he’s developed into this fine athlete who will go on to the next level and play university football somewhere.”

By STEPHEN SWEET, SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

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