Category: Features

Excursion to Kamloops ends in success for McMaster-bound Zajaros

Playing university football right out of high school isn’t a reality for every athlete. Whether it be a lack of exposure, a need to polish up on the fundamentals, or anything in between, the post-secondary approach simply doesn’t come naturally to all.

Over the years, many Winnipeg-based athletes such as Churchill’s Tommy Howes, Murdoch MacKay’s Derek Yachison, Sisler’s Dylan Schrot, Greendell’s Anthony Daley and Garden City’s Brendan Desjardine have chosen to take the junior football route instead – traveling to British Columbia specifically. Some of the rationale behind this decision includes the high level of competition, as well as the opportunity to live on your own and mature as an individual. Each of these players grew into dominant athletes in the British Columbia Football Conference, and received interest from university programs down the line.

In 2016, linebacker Jesse Zajaros opted to try this approach as well, heading to Kamloops based on the suggestion of Yachison – an alumni of the Broncos program.

Zajaros was a late bloomer to the game. He didn’t strap on the pads until grade eight, playing one year of minor football with the Transcona Nationals before making the transition to Murdoch Mackay’s high school team.

Despite being a standout at his position, as well as representing Manitoba at the Canada Cup, he received little interest from university teams, and thought that heading to BC would help him develop into a more complete player, while also being able to get valuable playing time immediately against players as old as 22.

“Right away, the first thing I noticed was the increased competition,” he says.

“You’re playing against guys that are a lot older than you are. Personally I loved it. I loved the rise in competition and there was also a better atmosphere than high school and more organization, which made you feel a bit more like part of the team.”

After a strong start to the 2016 season with 25 tackles in five games, Zajaros’s momentum was derailed, as he went down with a concussion that forced him to miss the remainder of the year. He went home at the end of the season and thought about quitting, based on the severity of his injury. But it didn’t take long for him to realize just how much meaning football brought to his life.

“[The injury] didn’t just change the game for me, it changed my entire life. It made me realize if I was going to do anything in life, either on the field or off, that I would really try to put 100 percent effort into it and make the most of the time you do have,” he says.

“For the first time I think I really decided that [football] was what I was going to put my heart towards and give my all towards, and it ended up working out.”

When the 2017 season came around, Zajaros was more motivated than ever, and it showed.

Zajaros during his time with the Kamloops Broncos.

“I wasn’t sitting behind any guys, so I could really try to take leadership and ownership of the team which was nice,” he says. “A big goal of mine was to become a captain, which I did.”

The Murdoch MacKay product was all over the ball, finishing the year with 41 tackles. He was honoured with an all-star selection at the end of the season and was also named team MVP.

“[The junior football experience] was all about learning for me,” Zajaros says. “Originally out of high school I was expecting a lot bigger, faster, stronger guys and it wasn’t too much of a step, so the first thing I had to jump to was an understanding and a knowledge of the game.

“The whole 2017 season for me was learning the game itself and the what, where and why as opposed to being bigger, stronger and faster.”

Zajaros’s long-term goal was to make it to the university level, and his dream became a reality at the end of his second year with Kamloops. He had interest from Manitoba and UBC, but ultimately he chose to commit to the McMaster Marauders in the OUA.

“[Going to McMaster] is a great opportunity to explore Canada a bit more, and to get more life experience,” he says. “Things like that jumped out to me. [McMaster] has also always been a powerhouse program that everyone knows.”

Reflecting on his time in BC, Zajaros has nothing but positives to say. His journey is yet another example of what hard work can do for you, and to never give up on your ambitions, even if they don’t happen right away.

“I think moving away from your home province, for anybody is a great way to mature faster,” he says. “It helps you understand things you can do and can’t do and how to look after yourself.”

Versatile Wilfer hoping to become the next Geoff Gray

Self-determination isn’t a skill that’s acquired easily, but for offensive lineman Kyle Wilfer, it’s come relatively naturally.

A product of local powerhouse St. Paul’s, Wilfer didn’t take the standard route when it came to the recruiting process. The average player goes through the provincial team program, hoping to make a name for themself during the Canada Cup. But Wilfer opted for the self-made approach, starting in grade nine.

“My mom would film the games so I could make a good highlight tape and start the recruiting process,” he says. “I got some responses from there and it just grew and grew.”

Wilfer comes from a football family and has been playing the game his whole life, starting at the minor football level with the Fort Gary Lions. But entering grade 10 – as a rookie on St. Paul’s AAA squad – a new challenge was thrust upon him when he was asked to switch from the defensive to offensive line.

“I remember [head] coach [Stacy] Dainard bringing me into his office and saying ‘hey Kyle, if you want to play at the next level, you’re going to have to play offensive line.’ I was 6’3, 220 pounds and I’m thinking to myself, hey I’m 220 pounds there’s no way in hell I can play offensive line right now, but it was a lot of time to bulk up.”

Wilfer spent all summer working out and “eating whatever he could,” in order to be ready for his debut season at the AAA level. Not only did he achieve this feat, he also started – at left tackle no less – on a squad littered with grade 11’s and 12’s. Wilfer was rewarded for his efforts at season’s end with the team’s rookie of the year award.

He would switch to right tackle in his grade 11 season and then back to the blind side in grade 12, winning back-to-back championships in the process as a valuable leader and captain for his squad.

Wilfer (#48) celebrating with his teammates after winning the AAA title with St. Paul’s. Photo by canadafootballchat.

“[Switching positions] was a huge jump and a lot of pressure, but it really made me into the offensive lineman that I am today, since it is a high pressure position, protecting your quarterback,” he says.

Teams across Canada also took notice of Wilfer’s skills, including the current Vanier Cup champion Western Mustangs, as well as StFX, Alberta and Simon Fraser in the NCAA. But Wilfer felt most at home with the Bisons. Head coach Brian Dobie started talking with him in grade 10, and the bond they formed over the years was invaluable.

“Coach Dobie and I have a great relationship,” Wilfer says. “We’ve had many meetings and many great talks, not just about football, but about life, which is an awesome thing.”

Wilfer felt comfortable enough with the Bisons program that he chose to commit before his senior season was even over – putting pen to paper in October. Seeing alumni such as David Onyemata and Geoff Gray – a fellow offensive lineman – make it to the NFL was also a big factor in Wilfer’s final decision. His long-term goal is to follow in their footsteps and make a name for himself south of the border.

“Any success in life isn’t any one persons doing, it’s a team effort,” he says. “It was hard work for Geoff Gray to [make it to the NFL], but he also had the support of his trainers and coaches at the U of M, and that’s something that I wanted to be a part of.”

Sweeter Life: Detailing Somto Anyadike’s pursuit of musical greatness

When Manitoba Bisons running back Somto Anyadike isn’t producing touchdowns on the field, he’s producing and writing beats off of them under the alias of Kingsley – his given middle name.

Anyadike began writing music in 2014. His biggest musical influence was Kanye West, due to his versatility and willingness to speak openly on his tracks.

“[Kanye’s] not afraid to speak his mind and have his own thoughts. I look to him as a way to carry myself,” says Anyadike.

Up until grade 11 in 2015, Anyadike would travel to studios downtown, paying $50 an hour for professionals to produce his music. It didn’t take long for him to realize this wasn’t a viable long-term option.

“I wasn’t satisfied with the quality and the time that was put into my songs,” Anyadike says.

“I was 16, and [the producers] just looked at me like a kid who just wants to do music for fun and was going through a phase, so they wouldn’t really put the time into producing my beats the way I wanted them to be. Eventually I thought, if they can do it, I can do it too.”

Not long after, Anyadike had his own set-up in his basement, complete with a mic, interface, MacBook and speakers. He admits that learning how to mix and master his own songs wasn’t easy at first.

“That took a while. A lot of YouTube tutorials, and a lot of trial and error.”

Anyadike wasn’t alone in his musical ventures however. His close friend Ben ‘Lavi$h’ Tshibamba was also a writer and performer, and played a big role in motivating Anyadike to pursue such a venture.

Kingsley and Lavi$h perform on stage together. Photo by Ben Tshibamba.

In May of 2017, Tshibamba came through Anyadike’s studio with a track known as No Friends. He had recorded it at his house originally, so the quality wasn’t great, and he was going to scrap it. But Anyadike connected with the lyrics.

“[Ben] was talking about how some of the people in his life are fake, and how he’s been through ups and downs and how music is his only way out. I related to that personally,” Anyadike says.

“We’ve been through those stages in life where everything isn’t happy, and you can’t really trust people anymore. I always wanted to rap about something like that, so I was like, man I’ve got to be in this track, I really relate to this.”

Once the track was complete, the duo decided to take their partnership a step further, and make a mixtape.

“We’d been making music before we made the tape, so I was like, man why don’t we just work on a tape together,” Anyadike says. “We probably made 20-plus songs, and only eight of them made it onto the tape.”

Kingsley and Lavi$h released their mixtape Sweeter Life in October. It’s gained traction quickly in the local music scene, with numerous songs being played in the clubs.

“Hearing your songs played at the club, it’s unreal, especially when people start dancing to it,” says Anyadike. “You know you did a good job when people don’t just stand there.”

The tape offers a little bit of everything, from the sombre and reflective No Friends, all the way to the confident and cocky 40 Million. Anyadike and Tshibamba show their breadth as artists, with powerful vocals as well as impactful lyrics.

Another song that stands out for Anyadike is Show You, a track that offers a little taste of the duo’s culture.

“We wanted to bring out that African side of us,” he says. “Ben is from the Congo, I’m from Nigeria, and the Afro-pop style we really relate to, so we thought that should be on the tape too.”

Anyadike is currently in the process of debuting his solo album. His plan is to keep it local, with his brother and other friends helping on the production side. Based on the success of his first project, there’s no doubt that the name Kingsley will be well-known in the industry in no time.

Scott Borden Jr. brings maturity, patience to quarterback position for Bisons

Quarterback Scott Borden Jr. knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity on the football field. It started when he was eight years old.

“You weren’t supposed to play football until you were 12 years old, so I was playing with all the older kids,” he says.

Borden Jr. grew into quite the athlete as he grew up, excelling not only in football, but also basketball and baseball for Halifax West High School in Nova Scotia. His goal was always to pursue sports at the university level, and he got the opportunity on the gridiron in 2013, committing to his hometown school of Saint Mary’s.

A year into his time with the Huskies however, Borden Jr. was yet again forced to overcome a major obstacle.

Borden Jr. in Huskies colours. Photo by Tim Krochak.

It was the third week of the 2014 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) season against Mount Allison. Borden Jr. was asked to run a quarterback draw on the last play of the first half. Hoping to make a big play to spark his team, he quickly felt the weight of two Mounties defenders on his back. The duo fell on top of him as he landed on the football.

His wrist snapped, wrapping around the football like a coil.

“It sounded like a branch,” Borden Jr. says. “That was tough, and it was my throwing arm too.”

The pivot ended up having surgery after discovering that he’d broken both the radius and ulna in his forearm. Doctors told him they didn’t know if he’d ever be able to play football again. It all depended how hard he worked with his rehab.

Borden Jr. went right to work, making a remarkable recovery. The injury occurred at the end of October, and he was throwing the ball again before Christmas.

“Breaking my wrist was a blessing, because now I had no excuse,” he says. “I had to work hard no matter what, because if I didn’t, there’s a chance I couldn’t play anymore.”

Borden Jr. was rewarded for his dedication with an invitation to the Montreal Alouette’s mini-camp that June as part of the U SPORTS internship program. He got the opportunity to work alongside Anthony Calvillo, and made great strides in his game.

The future looked bright for the young quarterback entering the 2015 season with Saint Mary’s. But in the first week of the season, he was forced to navigate yet another troubling situation.

Borden Jr. had won the starting quarterback job in training camp, and had expected to be the guy for the Huskies. But instead, former Saint Mary’s head coach Perry Marchese opted to go with a two-quarterback system.

This came as a shock to the sophomore pivot, and he decided that it was in his best interest to de-commit from the program, as he didn’t feel that he’d been given an appropriate opportunity to play to the best of his abilities.

Borden Jr. was contacted by a number of schools as soon as he de-committed. Ultimately, he decided to take his talents out to British Columbia for the 2016 season, signing with the Westshore Rebels, a junior football team in the British Columbia Football Conference (BCFC).

“My mindset was, I might as well go to junior, develop as a player, sit my year [of university football] out and come back to university polished.”

The Rebels had been a perennial basement dweller in the conference, finishing 2-8 the year prior. But former Westshore head coach JC Boice assembled a who’s-who of university athletes in the offseason, securing Manitoba’s Jamel Lyles, Christian Krause and Kent Hicks, Mount Allison’s Shaun Robinson and Bishop’s Jeremie Drouin, just to name a few.

Borden Jr. (middle) with his Rebels teammates Trey Campbell (left) and Jeremie Drouin (right). Photo by allsportmedia.ca

The squad rallied together, winning the conference title, before being knocked off in the national final by the Saskatoon Hilltops.

“We were a team,” Borden Jr. says. “That was the best team atmosphere that I’ve ever been on.”
That offseason, the pivot signed with the University of Alberta. Unfortunately, he was forced to de-commit, as be was unable to get a scholarship for the 2017 season. With his university plans put on hold momentarily, he chose to return to Westshore.

The Rebels finished the year 9-1 before being upset in the conference final. Borden Jr. was a standout, finishing the year with 1904 passing yards and 12 touchdowns en route to a conference all-star selection. The two years with Westshore fully prepared him for his second go-around at university football, as he was lining up against the best-of-the-best.

“Our practices were harder than the games,” he says. “You knew you were going against the best defensive line that you were going to see all year, or the best defensive backs. It really taught you how to compete all the time.”

At the end of the year, Borden Jr. knew he wanted to get back to university. He had his sights set on the Canada West, due to the consistently high level of competition. That’s when Manitoba’s Brian Dobie came knocking. He was given a good word about Borden Jr. from Lyles, who had returned to the Bisons for the 2017 season.

Dobie gave his reasoning about why Manitoba would be the right fit, and Borden Jr. bought in. He’ll be joining a roster that already has veteran Theo Deezar and upstart Des Catellier, who saw action in the back half of the 2017 campaign. But for the Halifax product, it’s just another challenge he’s ready to take on.

“Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve always had to compete,” he says. “I’d rather have to do that than to have the job handed to me. As a quarterback, you need to know that you have to perform. I like knowing that.”