The Kelowna Secondary School Owls害羞草研究所� junior varsity football team has done something no other Okanagan high school football team has done before: they won the provincial championship.
On Dec. 1, the Owls squad 害羞草研究所� Grade 9 and 10 students 害羞草研究所� rolled over the Belmont Bulldogs 38-12 and took the provincial crown to the Okanagan for the first time. Led by quarterback Nate Beauchemin, the Owls embraced their underdog status as no previous Okanagan team has even made it to the finals, nonetheless won.
害羞草研究所淥ur core group of players have been playing together for eight years and we have chemistry,害羞草研究所� said Beauchemin. 害羞草研究所淭he coaches put in amazing systems for the players and our team has embraced it.害羞草研究所�
Beauchemin, who plays QB and linebacker, threw for three touchdowns, ran in one touchdown while notching nine tackles and almost three sacks while on defence.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e a well-rounded team on both sides of the ball. Throughout the regular season, we scored 328 points and only had 18 points scored against us,害羞草研究所� said Beauchemin. 害羞草研究所淥ur biggest struggle this season was playing the stronger teams in the playoffs that we weren害羞草研究所檛 used to playing in the regular season (because we play in the Okanagan).害羞草研究所�
The journey to the finals and the game itself is something Beauchemin said was unforgettable.
害羞草研究所淲e woke up at 5 a.m. to get on the bus to Vancouver, thankfully we were able to sleep,害羞草研究所� Beauchemin laughed. 害羞草研究所淭he stadium was unreal and so big, I think it took as a little while to get used to playing on it.害羞草研究所�
But the Owls would get used to playing on the same field the BC Lions use very quickly as the offence came out running and gunning to hold a lead most of the game. Beauchemin says though the offence was firing on all cylinders, it was the defence that won the Owls the game by only allowing 12 points.
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Owls football program director and varsity coach Chris Cartwright has been with the Owls for three years and commends the coaching staff and players for the historic moment in Okanagan football.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e made history, it害羞草研究所檚 very exciting, and it害羞草研究所檚 an amazing achievement for these young players. Our great coaching staff work hard and are constantly learning to help coach these young kids to get them in the right spot to succeed on and off the field,害羞草研究所� Cartwright said. 害羞草研究所淥ur goal is to have our players be the best players they can be when they reach grade 12. (The junior varsity) boys have tasted success and will use it for their future.害羞草研究所�
When Cartwright took over the Kelowna football program three years ago, he wanted to embed a culture into the program. T.O.U.G.H, as he calls it, is a mantra the players use for on and off-field activities.
害羞草研究所淭eam, Ownership, Universal, Growth, Heart. We believe it helps with the success of our players.害羞草研究所�
It害羞草研究所檚 something junior varsity coach Kendall Gross has helped Cartwright develop at Kelowna Secondary.
害羞草研究所淜endall has done an amazing job coaching. Our coaching staff works together on both junior varsity and varsity,害羞草研究所� said Cartwright. 害羞草研究所淲e have 12 coaches committed to helping the kids develop life skills as well as football skills. Kendall coaches in the community and together we wanted to bring community and high school football together to help the players.害羞草研究所�
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With the football season over, next year害羞草研究所檚 Owls team will look a little different when the grade 12s graduate and the grade 10s move onto the varsity team. This means Beauchemin will have to battle with the seniors for a starting position, but Cartwright sees confidence in the young player.
害羞草研究所淣ate害羞草研究所檚 an all around athlete and he害羞草研究所檚 played football for a lot of years,害羞草研究所� Cartwright said. 害羞草研究所淗e can play anywhere, and could play QB. There害羞草研究所檚 going to be a lot of challenges and competition for next year害羞草研究所檚 team.害羞草研究所�
For Beauchemin, he only wants one thing for next season.
害羞草研究所淭ry and repeat the win,害羞草研究所� stated Beauchemin, who害羞草研究所檚 favourite player is, fittingly, John Elway.
害羞草研究所淚t could be a battle for the starting QB; if the team needs me at QB, I害羞草研究所檒l play there. I want to get better and get noticed too. I害羞草研究所檇 like to go to a good (university) with a good football team, and study physiotherapy when school is over.害羞草研究所�
The football off-season is long, so the Kelowna Owls will take some time to regroup and develop. The season picks back up in February, where the Owls will battle for another provincial championship.
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