Any long-time Bisons football fan knows the name Shane Munson. A quarterback for the Herd from 1999-2003, he led the team to the Vanier Cup for the first time in over three decades (2001 season) and still holds the program’s passing touchdown (62) and completion (507) records. He also held the passing yards record (7474) for almost two decades, broken in 2022 by Des Catellier.
Suffice to say, his name carries weight in the football community, and he’s been referred to as one of the best players to ever don the black and gold.
Last year, he got back into the coaching ranks, mentoring the next generation for St. Paul’s High School. The local powerhouse featured a collection of talented quarterbacks, but it was rookie Cole Anseeuw, then a grade 11, who won the battle for the starting spot.
A high-level AAA defenceman, Anseeuw previously made the JV football team, but ultimately chose to focus on his main sport. After some convincing from his friends, he strapped on the pads for a full season in 2022, turning into a natural under centre.
“I like how you can be a leader,” he says.
“You’re always involved in the play no matter what. I’d say quarterback is more of a mental game instead of physical. You have to read the defence, make sure everybody is in the right positions, get everybody checked, as well as play your own position and make great plays.”
His leadership and communication skills carried over from hockey, and with the tutelage of Munson, Anseeuw threw for over 1400 yards and won the ANAVETS Bowl – the most historic championship in the WHSFL – as a first-year.
“It’s very rare for a player to become the starter in his first year, and win the championship,” stated the Bisons alum.
“Cole works hard, is very coachable and is an awesome teammate. He has great potential with impressive arm strength, agility and field vision. He demonstrates excellent decision-making skills and displays strong leadership qualities on and off the field. With continued development, he has the potential to move onto the next level.”
That’s high praise for a rookie quarterback, who soaks up information like a sponge, and doesn’t get rattled in high-pressure moments. Like his coach taught him, he keeps it simple, taking what the defence gives him and moving onto the next play in cerebral fashion.
“[Munson] showed me how to read defences. If the safety drops, where I should throw it and if the corner drops. The easy stuff that really helped me develop as a quarterback, as well as footwork. He really highlights that as much as possible and the throw will come after that. Next year, footwork is going to be one of the main things I work on.”
The opening touchdown of the ANAVETS Bowl in the first quarter was a great example of Anseeuw’s football IQ.
Playing against an elite Dakota Lancers defence, one that had knocked off the Crusaders just a few weeks prior, the pivot saw that the defence was playing with high safeties.
Pre-snap, dynamic athlete Olu Akinola motioned to the wide side of the field, creating an off-balance look with trips. The inside receiver on the play, both safeties crashed down on Akinola, leaving senior Porter Holland – the middle receiver – wide open on a go route which Anseeuw saw the instantly for a 55-yard major.
Entering the 2023 season, Anseeuw is part of a loaded quarterback group that features Blake Penner, entering year three as Dakota’s starter, and grade 11 Ryan Wirtzfeld, who started as a sophomore for Oak Park last year, among others.
Anseeuw has already received a scholarship offer from the Bisons, but he’s not settling, knowing how much talent there is around him. He’s currently practicing with Team Manitoba, with the hopes of leading his province to an upset of Quebec in the opening round of the Canada Cup later this summer. And the work will keep going from there.
“It would mean the world [to play for the Bisons], keeping it at home and with the family. Of course there’s a lot of quarterbacks in the league that are great, and I guess it’ll be a tough decision [for the team on who to sign],” he says.
“I’m just going to be training as much as possible and going to Dakota to throw. I’ll also be training with [Bisons quarterbacks coach] Cory Waldbauer and the quarterbacks at the Bisons. Hopefully I can improve and be the best I possibly can be for next year.”