The Ballenas Whalers football team did not let the searing heat that hit Vancouver Island keep them from honing their game for the coming B.C. Secondary Schools Football season.
The commitment they’ve shown in training in full gear for more than a month, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. has impressed new head coach Jeremy Conn.
“I have to commend everyone in our program who is showing up in this heat,” said Conn. “It’s been brutal but we have been productive.”
The Whalers senior varsity side will get to test their mettle when they play their traditional pre-season exhibition game against Triple A Belmont Bulldogs at Ballenas field on Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. The junior Whalers get their turn to face the Bulldogs when they travel to Belmont on Sept. 15 with the game to start at 1:30 p.m.
“We expect both teams to be very competitive,” said Conn. “Usually we get 20-25 players on each team and it looks that way again. We are hoping to pick up a few more players once school starts. Usually we get a few international players.”
The Whalers senior varsity lost core players who graduated last year. They also will be without a key player in defence, lineman Enzo Agostini, who decided to play his final year in high school in Massachusetts this coming season.
On offence, Conn will rely on the leadership of his two veteran players, Will Dubesky, an all-provincial player ,and Mason Muelleder.
“Our seniors have a lot of weapons led by quarterback Brayden Jupe handing off to speedy running back Kooper Chambers and passing to Carter Brett, Mark Filko, Rohan Barlow, Cole Chislett and Dylan Vigneault to name a few,” said Conn. “So we have a lot of weapons to score with.”
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On defence, the seniors Whalers will have returning middle linebacker Brayden Harvey, who the coaching staff expects big things from.
The junior varsity Whalers, Conn said, will be led by Ajay Herrera and Brendan Dubesky who are also expected to suit up for the senior Whalers. Conn said they have an excellent backfield on offence led by Riley Wilson, Mattthew Greenshields and Zeen Lecuyer with pivot Markus Neugebauer passing to Dylan Crosson, Ben Jeffrey, Aster Pablo and Julien Kerman.
Noah Silzer will also a be a key player said Conn as he can play numerous positions such as tight end, wide receiver and quarterback along with safety on defence.
“We have an excellent core of players we just need to stay healthy as it’s a tough schedule once again,” said Conn. “I am very proud of our progress so far and we have an excellent coaching staff with lots of experience.”
The junior Whalers will play another exhibition game against arch-nemesis the John Barsby Bulldogs in front of home fans at the Ballenas field on Sept. 21 at 3:15 p.m. The senior Whalers play their first AA Coastal Conference game when they host the Windsor Dukes on Sept. 23, which will also be dedicated to mothers and family. Game starts at 3:15 p.m.