Waterloo Warriors bolster lines, add CFC100

Warriors add three Ontario commits, including one CFC100, to their Class of 2018.

Linemen Tyler Greer from Football North St. Joes, CFC100 Liam Gracey from St. Andrew’s College and Jonathan VanSchubert from Bear Creek Secondary School have faith in the University of Waterloo Warriors’ coaching staff and, in turn, they hope to be part of a Warriors resurgence.

Tyler Greer

When Tyler Greer heads towards southern Ontario, he won’t be all alone in his new city of Waterloo. “I have multiple friends that are on the team already and I have a strong relationship with the coaches there,” he said. “The university’s coaching staff is top-notch and will prepare me for the upcoming seasons due to their experience and knowledge of the game.”

Greer added that he also chose Waterloo because it had the perfect program for him, legal studies.

Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Greer has spent three years on the St. Peter’s Knights (National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association) before spending a year with Football North St. Joes. He also spent four years with the Orleans Bengals (NCAFA) and two with the Cumberland Panthers (NCAFA/OVFL). He is a three-time high school champion with the Knights and a three-time lineman of the year recipient. In 2014, he was rookie of the year on the Panthers.

Standing at 6’1, 315lbs, the defensive tackle has a blackbelt in martial arts. “This has helped me tremendously with my hand movement and my foot movement, which is key at the defensive tackle position,” he said.

CFC100 Liam Gracey

When Liam Gracey joins the Warriors, he has the utmost confidence in the coaching staff. “The coaches at Waterloo are awesome guys and are genuinely interested at developing me as a player. I also believe (that) having a former NFL defensive lineman as my coach will give me a major advantage over other players,” he said.

“They are also building a special program there. New facilities are being built and some amazing players are signing,” Gracey added.

Standing at 6’4, 210lbs, the defensive end from Toronto, Ontario, said he also chose Waterloo because it has a great business school and it is close to home. He will be taking the business/arts program. He plans on joining the Velocity program, which he said, “is an amazing entrepreneurship program that gives students a chance at kickstarting their business.”

In his five-year career, Gracey has played with the TNT Express, the Vaughan Rebels (OFC) and the St. Andrew’s College Saints (Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association). He is a three-time team and defensive MVP. While with the Kerry Blues, he received the Harry J. Addison Memorial Award. “I am proud to have received this award that many amazing athletes have won over the course of St. Andrew’s existence,” he said.

“I would like to that my parents as none of this could be possible without them. They have worked very hard and have made many sacrifices so that I could continue playing football,” Gracey added. “In addition, I would like to thank the St. Andrew’s College coaching staff. They have given me a chance to play for one of the post prestigious schools in Canada and have taught me a lot about the sport I play.”

Jonathan VanSchubert

When Jonathan VanSchubert looks towards the Warriors’ future, he likes what he sees. He said he chose the school because he felt it was the best chance he had to further his academic and athletic careers.

“The culture of the program is changing, and they are gearing up to be perennial contenders and that’s something I want to be apart of,” he added. “The staff at Waterloo is top-notch. Head Coach Bertoia is very welcoming and has a great vision for what the program has the potential to become.”

The 6’3, 265lbs centre is also looking forward to learning from Coach Fraser, who he calls “one of the best O-line coaches in the country.” With a consistent staff, VanSchubert said that “talking with Coach Bertoia and Coach Fraser, they both are proud to be coaches in this program and what to bring success back to the program.”

While the Warriors have been rebuilding their team, the school itself has undergone some renovations as well. VanSchubert said they are “second to none and will offer an environment in which I can excel both on and off the field.”

Entering his 11th season of football, VanSchubert has spent four years with the Bear Creek Secondary School Kodiaks (Simcoe County Athletic Association) in his hometown of Barrie, Ontario. He has also played with the Huronia Stallions. In 2016, the Kodaks were Georgian Bay Secondary School Athletics champions and finalists in the OFSAA Simcoe Bowl. Last season, he was named as the Kodiaks’ lineman of the year. He is interested in Psychology.