On this week’s show, Mike and Kito recap the five games in the WHSFL that they went to. Mike also chats with WHSFL commissioner Jeffrey Bannon and multiple members of the Winnipeg Rifles.
Tag: WHSFL
The Sideline Showdown: Episode 2
This week on the sideline showdown, it’s a WHSFL special! Mike and Kito discuss the results of the inaugural coaches poll and Mike also checks in with Vincent Massey Winnipeg head coach Kelsey McKay, St. John’s head coach Grant McMillan, Grant Park lead man Doug Kovacs and Churchill bench boss Kirkland Harper. The episode finishes off with some highlights from pre-season action between Grant Park, Garden City and Murdoch MacKay!
Mature Mohamed moulded by his mother
By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Mataeo Mohamed is a momma’s boy and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Me and her have the kind of relationship where if I ever need anything I can always talk to her and she’ll always be right there beside me helping me out,” he says.
“But she’s motivated me in ways that are kind of different. She’s not telling me go do you, go be amazing out there, she’s telling me about my attributes and that I’m good at what I do, so working on the positives and not the negatives.”
A rising star on the gridiron, Mohamed has his mom to thank in part for his continued success in the sport.
“I was going to quit my first year actually. The first week we were doing conditioning and I hated running. I was that lazy kid that didn’t want to do anything. But my mom told me to stay in for the first game and I loved it from there.”
An incoming grade ten student at Kildonan East Collegiate, Mohamed has been playing football for six years now. He picked up the sport quickly, earning Player of the Game honours in the 2016 peewee championship for the East Side Eagles at defensive end.
“I was a really big kid back then,” he says humbly of his early success at the minor football level. “I was a bigger guy and I think I was always the fastest on the field so I think it was my speed that was helping me out there.”
While individual success is a nice add on for Mohamed, it’s the ability to channel everything out and simply be on the football field that means the most to him. In learning about his personal life, the prior sentence becomes much more understandable.
Mohamed’s parents split up when he was “seven or eight,” meaning that his mom has been the primary care giver for essentially his whole life. But it hasn’t always been easy. There was a time when the Mohamed family didn’t have a house and had to live with Mataeo’s grandparents. Then, after the family was back on their feet, his mom broke her ankle, then her femur and then her knee.
“Everything’s just kind of been a little bit hectic at every moment. I’ve had to roll with the punches and grow up a little faster than a lot of other kids,” Mohamed says.
“I think it’s helped me in the long run and my family life I wouldn’t have it any other way. My mom is the best person in the world to me.”
Despite her personal struggles, Mohamed’s mom has always been a giver. For the past two years she’s saved up in order to pay for Mataeo’s fees for the U16 program and roughly four months ago adopted two of his older cousins, adding to a household that already includes a younger brother and sister.
“It’s a little hectic everywhere. Everyone has their own room, but everything else is shared. We all have to manage our time pretty well and it’s always kind of yelling and screaming, getting everything out before we’re late for anything. That’s the best way I can describe it. Crazy at all times.”
It’s for this reason that Mohamed is so thankful for what football offers him.
“It’s one of the biggest things to me, because it gives me time to think and it gives me time to go be me. I’m a very concealed person outside of football, but once I step on that field I love talking and being with my friends and having a blast. The sport of football has given me more than I could ever ask for. So even if I don’t go far with it, I’m so grateful for what I’ve gotten from it.”
This fall, Mohamed will make the transition to quarterback as he enters the high school ranks. Considering his maturity, it’s no surprise that he wanted to be the signal-caller for Kildonan East right away.
“A big reason why [the coaches] put me in that position was because I was a leader when I first stepped onto that field for Kildonan East. I’ve just filled that role of leadership and taken it right off the hop.”
The sophomore got his first taste being under centre during spring camp and is looking forward to growing as a quarterback after years as a difference-maker on the other side of the ball. His goal is to make it to the pro ranks in order to, naturally, help support his mother.
“[Playing pro] would mean the world to me. I couldn’t hope for anything else for me and my family.”
Selflessness and sacrifice: The story of incoming St. John’s running back Joshua Farber
By: Mike Still (@mikestill)
Feature photo: Farber with St. John’s head coach Grant McMillan shortly after receiving a bursary from the Rising Stars Foundation during the first annual Night of Excellence
Joshua Farber understands the meaning of determination, being humble and staying positive. Raised in the north end by a hard-working single mother, he strives to better himself every day.
Somewhat reserved off the field, Farber turns on another gear when playing football — a sport he started at age seven with the North Winnipeg Nomads after some encouragement from his mom.
“First, my mom was like, ‘you have to go try something. You could try out for football.’ I was like sure, I’ll try it out. At first I didn’t get the full hang of it, but then my first game I dominated and I just started liking it and it became a big feature of my life.”
Farber — now 13 years old — spent the first three years of his minor football career as a defensive lineman and like he said, absolutely dominated. He was named the Nomads best defensive lineman in 2014 and was the team MVP the following two years in a row.
But things really picked up for Farber in 2016 when he made the transition to running back after a suggestion from his coach. Originally hesitant to make the switch to offence, it took just one play for the powerful and built downhill runner to change his mind.
“When I first got the ball, it was my first time ever dropping the shoulder and the kid went flying! And I was like, I actually did that. I surprised myself and thought that maybe I could continue doing this.”
Farber was offensive MVP for the Nomads in his debut year as a running back and two years later helped shoulder the load as his squad won the Manitoba Minor Football Association (MMFA) PeeWee “A” Division championship.
Instead of boasting about his accomplishments or even the championship itself, Farber was quick to emphasize key personal values such as perseverance and trust.
“It makes me feel good every time I do something good to help out the team,” he says. ““When we were down, we would somehow always rise back up and try staying positive in the best way.”
This season, Farber will make his WHSFL debut at the varsity level, suiting up for last year’s CanadInns Bowl winners the St. John’s Tigers.
In preparation for high school ball, the Nomads alum decided to try out for the U16 provincial team following the suggestion of a teammate. That choice paid off big time as Farber was one of the standouts during the selection team process, cementing his spot on the roster during after an impressive showing at the phase two inter squad scrimmage.
But as usual, he remained humble.
“I didn’t feel that I did the greatest, but I know that I can improve on a lot. People said I did pretty good, but I don’t really know about that.”
Farber carries the rock during U16 practice. 
Farber demonstrates his blocking abilities. 
Inside the huddle with the hoggies. 
Taking a breather with fellow U16 running back Dylan “Hallsy” Halls.
The workhorse that he was, Farber also chose to attend indoor practice sessions hosted by the Football Manitoba Prospects Program, which provides an opportunity for players that are not selected to the U16 or U18 High Performance Program.
“Josh attended essentially every single indoor prospects practice as well as our Sunday night prospects sessions at Gordon Bell,” Eric Vincent, a coach for the prospects program says.
“Even when he knew he was going on to phase two (of U16), Josh continued to come to Sunday night prospects practices to work on his skills with coach Brian Marks.”
It’s important to note however, that in certain instances the cost to be a member of Team Manitoba can be a challenge. In order to take some of the pressure off of his mom’s shoulders, Farber applied for a bursary with the Rising Stars Foundation — a local non-profit corporation whose mission is to “enrich the amateur sports community in Manitoba by supporting, developing, and mentoring young student leaders from all backgrounds.”
In order to apply, Farber — who admits that long-form writing can be a challenge at times — was tasked with writing an essay that detailed his academic and athletic achievements as well as volunteer involvement within his school and community.
“I wanted to do it for my mom, because we needed the extra money so we could get to this level. That really pushed me to write the essay, even though writing and stuff isn’t the easiest for me.”
The humble athlete was successful in receiving a bursary to help aid in the cost of the program, thanks in part to the excellent essay he wrote which detailed a multitude of community work such as delivering Christmas hampers from Winnipeg Harvest to those less fortunate in the community.
Farber — who draws many comparisons on the field to former Grant Park Pirates standout running back/fullback/linebacker Dustin Ellis-Kyle — is eager to test his skills in the upcoming U16 Western Challenge, taking place in mid-July in Kamloops, BC, as well as against top Division 2 competition in the WHSFL.
“Because of the age gap and the fact that there’s going to be stronger people than me [in the WHSFL], I want to push myself and be able to take them down and not the other way.”
Sisler, Bison alum Mitch Harrison earns head coaching gig at Dakota Collegiate
By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Harrison during his time with the Manitoba Bisons. Photo by David Lipnowski.
The 2019 season will see a fresh face on Dakota Collegiate’s sideline, when North Winnipeg Nomads, Sisler Spartans and Manitoba Bisons alumnus Mitchell Harrison takes over as varsity head coach for the Lancers starting this fall.
The spirit of inclusivity drew Harrison to football when he was a young child and that passion hasn’t left him ever since.
A self-proclaimed “nerdy kid” in elementary school, the sport helped him make new friends while also gaining an appreciation for teamwork and dedication, among other things.
“I really fell in love with [football] because I was super awkward and uncoordinated, and the good thing about football is that there’s kind of a spot for everybody so I was able to find my own little niche. I really liked the brotherhood aspect of the sport.”
A multiple-time provincial team member with the Spartans, Harrison was recruited to play for the U of M beginning 2010. His versatility was — and continues to be — a massive asset as he suited up as both a defensive back and strong side linebacker for Sisler while learning the responsibilities of all the back end players during his time with the Bisons.
Arguably the biggest moment during Harrison’s tenure with the Herd occurred in 2014, as the squad upset Saskatchewan and Calgary in back-to-back weeks on the road to earn their first conference title since 2007 with the North Winnipeg product playing a large role.
Harrison was also a standout in the classroom, receiving Academic All-Canadian status (minimum GPA of 3.5) in five straight university seasons.
“My parents have always been keen on making sure my brothers [Brett and Riley, both also football standouts] and I were getting a good education, and making a backup plan at the very least because you never know when one injury [on the football field] could end it all for you.”
With a passion to coach instilled in his mind and a strong academic standing, it just made sense that Harrison would pursue education as a career path once his playing days were over. It gave him the opportunity to give back to the next generation while also continuing to be involved in football.
Destiny came calling in 2016, as the Sisler alum had the honour of returning to his former high school as a teacher/coach, quickly shifting into the defensive coordinator position.
“It was a dream come true being able to come back and coach at my old school and build upon the culture with [co-head] coaches [Sean] Esselmont and [Dave] DeGrave,” says Harrison.
“I’m just thankful that they gave me such a key role so early on. Lots of schools wouldn’t be willing to just hand over a coordinator role to a new grad, so I’m thankful for that and being able to experiment with a lot of new things and to able to grow as a coach.”
Harrison was quick to mention his time at the U of M as having a massive influence on his knowledge of defensive schemes.
“Being able to experience higher-level football with the Bisons specifically — in multiple positions on the defence — really allowed me to flourish when it came to coaching, because I knew the techniques necessary for all of those spots,” he says.
“When you’re playing linebacker, you also have to have an understanding of what the defensive line is doing, so it all meshed really well.”
Interestingly, Harrison received head coaching offers from a few schools straight out of college, but wanted the chance to learn and grow first. Following the 2018 season however, he knew he was ready but wanted the right opportunity to come.
That opportunity came courtesy of Dakota Collegiate, with the defensive specialist accepting a teaching position [that will start in the fall] and head coaching duties in early June, where he will take over for the highly respected Ray Jarvis.
“By no means was it oh I’m looking to leave,” Harrison noted of departing from his alma mater.
“I really loved my time at Sisler and it was amazing being able to give back to that community and to help out that area. I live in the North End and I’m from that area, so I’m definitely going to miss it.”
Harrison has already met briefly with the team and is looking forward to continuing a strong legacy with a Lancers program that made it to the ANAVETS Bowl two years ago and is a consistent Division 1 contender.
“I’m really just excited to build on that culture and see what I can do. I really don’t know what my own potential is in regard to this or what the team’s potential is. I’m really just excited to continue to bring in high-quality coaches and to hopefully be one of the pre-eminent programs year in and year out.”
Passing his way to a better future: The story of Sisler quarterback Richard Lugumire
By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Lugumire in action last year against Oak Park.
Growing up, learning how to throw a football was the least of Richard Lugumire’s concerns.
Born in the Congo, he moved to Uganda with his mother as a refugee when he was four.
“My mom had to work hard,” Lugumire says.
“She didn’t have a proper job. She’d make food and go sell it on the streets so that we would get some of the money. We didn’t have house, we didn’t have electricity or anything like that.”
I remember some nights without eating. But as a young kid these were things that weren’t a big deal for me because all I did was play outside all day and come back home, then eat if there was food. I basically didn’t have a normal childhood like someone here would have, but I wasn’t worried, because I was only five, six or seven years old. As long as I was happy, nothing else really mattered to me.”
One thing that made Lugumire happy was being active. Soccer was the most popular sport in Africa and he took part. He was also an avid tree climber.
“We had a guava tree close to where I used to live,” he says happily. “Every now and then when there was nothing to eat I’d go up and eat some guavas and go back home.”
But seven years ago Lugumire’s world changed, as he moved to Canada. Living in a permanent residence, he took nothing for granted.
“For the first time, I would spend days on end without being dirty. In Africa I would always be looking at my hands because they’d be brown from touching dirty stuff. Here, my hands and clothes would be clean for days on end.”
Another discovery for Lugumire was football — a sport that would change his life in more than one way.
He first strapped on the pads at age 12 for the Valour Patriots as a running back. Blessed with tremendous speed, Lugumire thrived at the position. But as he entered his grade nine year at Sisler High School in 2017, he decided he wanted to play quarterback and be a leader for his team.
“After practice one day, I remember seeing the way the quarterback threw the ball. It was amazing and a perfect spiral and I said wow, I want to learn how to do that.”
I took the ball and threw it. It wasn’t pretty at all. And after I threw it I was like, I want to learn how to throw like that kid. That’s when I started taking football seriously.”
Lugumire’s work ethic and infectious personality immediately caught the eye of varsity co-head coach Sean Esselmont. At the conclusion of his freshman year in junior varsity and with a vacancy at the pivot position, Esselment felt the time was right to bring up the determined gunslinger.
“[Richard] always had that infectious personality where he laughs and is a person that you gravitate towards,” he says.
“He was under our radar right away. As soon as we put him under centre — and I’m the offensive coordinator — we never really wavered from him being our guy.”
Last season, Lugumire led the Spartans to a 4-3 record in an incredibly deep Division 1 and was also nominated for Rookie of the Year. But the season didn’t come without its trials.
“It was hard. As a person who’s just starting to play this position on a team that is expecting a lot from you, it was hard to deliver and deal with the drama when things didn’t go my way,” he says.
“These were older guys who were expecting more from me and when I didn’t provide it for them I didn’t know how to deal with it. That was the first time I experienced not feeling like I wasn’t good enough at everything I did.”
But his head coach saw things differently.
“There was a little bit of tribulations at first. He was dealing with kids that were older than him and had been around longer than him. But he never shied away from that. He’s like any high school kid but he’s found ways to cope and not get down on himself and rebound. His heart is undeniable.”
Lugumire has also had the privilege of developing under numerous mentors during his career as a pivot.
Last year, he took part in the Football Manitoba Prospects Program — going both ways as a quarterback and safety — and this offseason is a part of Team Manitoba’s U18 squad where well-respected Manitoba Bisons coach Ryan Karhut is the bench boss.
“As a new quarterback there were moments where I relied on my feet to make plays. That was the biggest thing that [Karhut] told me was to trust my arm and trust my reads and what I’d learned.”
Additionally, Lugumire has benefited from the support of the Rising Stars Foundation (RSF) , whose vision is “to help young people from all socio-economic backgrounds in Manitoba see that they can rise up and help make our community a better place.”
The RSF accomplish their vision in a number of different ways. Eric Vincent and John Kiesman, who help run the Prospects Program, also offer tutoring sessions an hour before the start of practice. The RSF’s scholarship and bursary fund also goes towards removing financial barriers for Winnipeg youth in high performance support. Since launching in February, they’ve handed out over $12,000 to deserving athletes and coaches.
“As an athlete we are all caught up in getting offers and performing great, but we also forget the important stuff which is doing well in school and the money,” Lugumire says.
“One thing I like about the Rising Stars is that it’s provided me with all of those things. I remember working with Coach Kiesman and I thought that was the end of it, but he started getting involved with my schooling and wanted to know how I did in class and if I attended school that day.
The foundation itself offered me a bursary and I was like, wow. These guys are really trying to help me out. For them, it’s about more than just the athlete. They also want to develop the person in you.”
While the financial support has meant a great deal to the young gunslinger, it has also been a weight off his mom’s shoulders.
“She knows I work hard, she’s seen me play and knows I’m passionate about the sport. She can’t do enough for me to continue to do what I love and it doesn’t feel to good to her, so getting this extra money from Rising Stars makes life much better for both of us.”
And in the long run, creating a stable future for his mother is what matters most to the grade 10 student.
“I’ve seen how hard she works. She’s been through a lot. I remember when I came here the first thing I wanted to do was buy her a house. I thought soccer could do that, but I realized it’s not going to take me anywhere if I’m not passionate about it. So when I found that passion for football and that it could take me somewhere it motivated me to be able to pay back my mom for everything she’s done for me.”
Solypa, team blue top team white 24-18 in annual Rifles rookie scrimmage
By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Timmy Solypa is back in town and looking to make a difference for the Rifles
Over 80 players spread across the rosters of the Winnipeg Rifles and various teams from the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL), Midget Football League of Manitoba (MFLM), Rural Manitoba Football League (RMFL) and Northern Ontario came together this Sunday at Dakota Collegiate to cap off a stellar two weeks of Rifles rookie camp with a team scrimmage.
One of the players present was Timmy Solypa, who helped pace team blue in their 24-18 victory with a touchdown reception on a go route and was all over the field, lining up at both wideout and slot.
A standout in the WHSFL with the Murdoch MacKay Clansmen, he spent the past two seasons with the Kamloops Broncos in the British Columbia Football Conference (BCFC), hauling in a combined 45 receptions for 677 yards and two scores.
A coaching change this offseason resulted in Solypa looking to explore new opportunities and he seems to have found his niche with Winnipeg.
“Playing here, you see from the scores and the standings that the competition is so much higher,” he said of the Prairie Football Conference where the Rifles are a member.
“There’s definitely some great players here starting and they’re only first or second-year guys. I think this season is going to be a fun one and I’m looking forward to it.”
It was an air show all afternoon, with Solypa and Ethan Schnerch (DMCI) picking up touchdown receptions for team blue, while team white found the end zone on big plays from receivers Ethan Danell (Dakota) and Brock Gates (Kelvin) as well as running back John Alade (St. Vital). The latter showcased his jets on a catch-and-run that went roughly 50 yards for the biggest play of the day offensively.
When all was said and done however, it was team blue’s defence that played arguably the biggest role in the outcome of the game. Defensive end Lucas Coreia (Miles Mac) started the scoring off by forcing a fumble that was recovered in the end zone, while defensive back Alex Minor (Grant Park) registered a critical pick six with the game tied at 12.
“I never got the opportunity to play that much wide receiver in [the WHSFL] season,” Minor — who has received interest from both York and Queen’s in the OUA — joked postgame. “This time I got it and made no mistake.”
Other players from the secondary that stood out from team blue included Josh Patterson (Garden City) — who had an interception — along with Brandon Kamenz and Teagan Simon from Vincent Massey Winnipeg’s ANAVETS Bowl-winning squad. Defensive end Spenser Pilon (River East, CTV Bowl champs) who’s “worked his ass off in the gym” according to former head coach Sean Oleksewycz, also wreaked havoc in both the run and passing game.
One the other side, defensive end Nathan Poetker (Steinbach) was all over the ball with two sacks, while second-year Rifles linebacker Treyton Viera had an interception.
Next up for the Rifles is their spring camp, taking place from April 24-May 4 at Dakota Collegiate. Things will wrap up on May 5 with a contest against Augsburg University, an NCAA Division III team. That game goes from 12-3 at East Side Eagles field.
AMFC conference in Manitoba a major success
By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie speaks to the crowd at the AMFC conference.
Over 100 coaches from across Canada came together this past weekend to network and learn from each other as part of the 2019 Association of Manitoba Football Coaches (AMFC) conference.
Organized by Football Manitoba and Team Manitoba U16 head coach Jeff Ready, the clinic was the first of its kind locally since 2011.
“I think a conference like this is incredibly valuable, because we had a diverse topical lineup, hit community and competition levels, strength and conditioning systems, position specific program building and leadership seminars,” Ready said.
“Being able to offer that type of content and a venue for coaches to actively network and share was amazing to see.”
Among those providing their insight during the two-day conference were CFL commissioner and Manitoba Bisons product Randy Ambrosie as well as 13-year CFL veteran/best-selling author Angus Reid, Winnipeg Blue Bombers coaches Paul LaPolice, Marty Costello and Richie Hall and Manitoba Bisons head coach Brian Dobie.
Ambrosie — a former first round CFL pick and Grey Cup champion — provided a passionate speech during the evening dinner on day two about the state of football in Canada. He discussed the many values it teaches and how it can change people’s lives. As part of his talk, Ambrosie included his personal journey in the sport and the role it played in him overcoming academic struggles in school en route to obtaining a business degree from the U of M.
“For me, I was a kid who couldn’t see the value in school. I literally saw my mother go to parent teachers from the time I was in elementary school right through junior high and come home crying every time. Every semester she cried because she thought ‘how could my kid be that rotten consistently?”
And then I played for the East Side Eagles and I fell in love with football. And the first question I asked was what does it take to play pro football? And somebody said ‘well you’ve got to go to university.’ And it totally changed my life.”
A common theme all weekend long was the importance of trust.
“Trust is a skill, and skills need to be practiced,” Reid said in the first of his two keynotes during the weekend.
“Anything that can be improved with work is a skill. Anything that can erode without work is a skill. Trust can be improved with work. It can fall apart very quickly if we don’t work on it. It is not something that just happens and it is not something that you just give somebody. It needs to be practiced every single day.”
Dobie — well known for the bond he’s formed with his players over more than four decades of coaching — spoke about trust in with reference to the player-coach relationship.
“Trust. It’s not blind anymore. [The players] have a clue. And they need to believe in you. They need to believe that what you’re doing is in their best interest. That’s important.”
Feedback from the event was tremendously positive, with a follow-up for next year almost a near guarantee at this point.
“We want to keep bringing coaches together from across Canada,” said Ready.
“We already have interest in next year’s conference from coaches in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Alberta.”
Athletic success runs in the family for Bison commit Tachinski
By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Tachinski back to pass against St. Paul’s
It was a memorable season for Vincent Massey Collegiate quarterback/point guard Jackson Tachinski, who took home provincial titles in both football and basketball in 2018-19. His athletic journey has far more mileage to go however, as the two-sport star announced his commitment this week to play both sports for the University of Manitoba in 2019-20.
“It’s going to take a while to transition obviously, because of the faster pace of the game,” he says.
“I’m expecting to make a lot of mistakes but that will help me to improve. With balancing the two sports, I’m just looking to work really hard. It’s going to be a challenge but I think I’m up for it. This is what I really want to do.”
Each of Jackson’s older siblings – twin sisters Victoria and Kennedy and the eldest Xander – come from athletic backgrounds, so it should come as no surprise that he went all in as well. Victoria is at Penn State on a track scholarship, while Xander recently completed his first year with the McMaster Marauders as a receiver.
Back in the day though, Xander was an accomplished pivot, including winning MVP in the WHSFL Division 1 ANAVETS Bowl in his senior year with St. Paul’s while also excelling in hockey and basketball.
“Being the oldest, I was always allowed to figure my way and my parents were always super encouraging of me trying out multiple sports, whether it was basketball, football, hockey or soccer,” he says.
“They always supported it and I think that led to my siblings trying out a bunch of sports and being successful at that.”
His abilities as ‘the guy’ had a clear impact on Jackson.
“Growing up [Xander] was a really good quarterback for St. Paul’s. I really looked up to him and thought I might as well try it. I like being a leader on the field and conducting everything. I also like having all the pressure on me. When the team gets blame I can take it. I think that’s really important.”
Jackson had his older brother as his coach for both flag football and basketball in middle school. While he wasn’t necessarily the star player at that time, it was his ability to take direction and work ethic that stood out.
“It was fun. He’s a great guy to coach because he’s super responsive. I guess that also comes with being his older brother. He’s going to listen to me because we know each other so well,” Xander says.
“He wasn’t the star player but he was still super hard working and very coachable. Because he built those traits as a secondary player, now he has the physical ability to be the star player and he still has those other traits. That’s what makes him such a special player.”
Jackson’s dedication to athletics continued to grow as he aged. He was rewarded in grade ten by being appointed starting quarterback for Vincent Massey’s JV football team. The squad rolled to a provincial title with Tachinski being named MVP.
“I think his JV years in terms of basketball and football, they were stepping stones,” says Xander.
“He wasn’t necessarily ‘the guy,’ but he was enough of the guy more than he was previously. He developed the hard work and the leadership and confidence enough in himself at a young age and it just allowed him to get better and better every single year.”
The following year Tachinski made Massey’s varsity team for both basketball and football. But the year ended in heartbreak as the bball team was ousted by St. Paul’s in the provincial final while the football team fell in the semi-finals.
Despite the result in both sports, Jackson was quick to bring up the lesson that was learned in defeat.
“I think every championship team needs to learn how to lose and our grade 11 season that’s exactly what happened. You need to learn how to lose so that you can take that feeling and know that you never want to feel it again.”
In the offseason and into the summer, Tachinski put his head down and simply got to work. When he wasn’t on the field or on the court training, he was in the weight room. Additionally, he was Team Manitoba’s starting quarterback for the U18 Canada Cup in July and the following month helped lead his province to an undefeated gold medal in flag football in Halifax. Right after that, he headed to Kamloops where he was Manitoba’s backup point guard for nationals.
“It was really good for me, because I dedicated a lot of time to those teams and the coaching was amazing,” he says of his provincial team experience last summer. “I improved a lot with them and got to play against really good competition with both provincial teams. I’m thankful I got to play for each.”
Tachinski’s senior year was one to remember. On the field he threw for over 1200 yards and didn’t toss a single interception en route to an undefeated regular season. The year was capped off with the team’s second victory of 2018 against powerhouse St. Paul’s in the ANAVETS Bowl. Tachinski was rewarded for his efforts as game MVP after perfectly executing the two-minute drill for the come-from-behind 28-25 win.
“When I was walking onto the field for the final drive of the game, I just didn’t want to lose at all,” the humble pivot says.
“I couldn’t even imagine losing and nothing was going to stop me or our team from losing that game. In that kind of situation, you’ve just got to keep looking at the clock and keep trying to get first downs. You can’t really worry about how many yards you’re going to get, just keep focusing on first downs and keeping your eye on the clock.”
The recognition didn’t stop there as the senior was named Division 1’s co-winner of Offensive Player of the Year along with Garden City pivot and fellow Bison commit Jarrett Alcaraz. But like the leader that he is, Tachinski preferred to take the attention off of him and focus on the team as a whole.
“I don’t really care too much about winning awards,” he says after a quick pause.
“The very first game of the season against Oak Park I threw three touchdowns and 200 yards or so. I didn’t really know what to expect from our team and myself but we played a really good game. After the game I was really excited because I saw the path our team was going towards and I just wanted to work hard and be a part of it and hopefully we had a championship-winning season ahead of us. We did and it was really fun.”
On the basketball court, Tachinski also turned into a game-changer, providing 20 points per game for a club that already had a massive impact inside with long-time friend and multi-sport teammate Kyler Filewich along with fellow big Donald Stewart. He was also named a provincial tournament all-star when all was said and done.
“I think I just got a lot better skill-wise,” he says.
“I became a much better shooter and got much more confident, and sports is all about confidence in my opinion. When you have that confidence you can do better things. I think that’s what really kicked in for me.”
Now, Tachinski sets his sights on the post-secondary experience. He has his siblings to use as resources, however Xander isn’t worried about the moment being too big for the younger bro.
“As a family, we don’t look for pressures or limitations. We just look for opportunities. We’ve talked university sports because of my experience and the time commitment and stuff like that, so I think he has a pretty good idea of what it’s like.
I think he’s able to put it together pretty well just based on what he sees in his older siblings. In terms of pressure and being a university athlete, I don’t think he thinks about that at all. I think he focuses on being a good teammate and doing whatever it takes for his team to win.”
Everything you need to know from Team Manitoba’s U18 provincial team tryouts
By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Plenty of talent was on display this weekend as Ryan Karhut and his coaching staff got their first look at this year’s crop of players looking to make Team Manitoba. Click the above video for the full breakdown.