And the winner(s) is…
The Ponoka Composite High School Broncs football team handed out some hardware at their awards ceremony March 11.
The Broncs were narrowly eliminated in the playoffs and finished the season with a 6-2 record. Coach Scott MacGregor believes it was the commitment, not just from players but coaching staff, which led to their success.
“I attribute the success of the kids to the kids themselves and to the staff and their dedication. These teachers and volunteers show the boys that they care and that makes the season important to them and the guys ride off of that energy,” said MacGregor.
‘The Goody’ was awarded to the most valuable player on the team. The trophy is named after Larry Goodwin who was the MVP in 1974 and helped spur the revitalization of football four years ago. It is awarded to the player, the team, coaches and training staff vote as a leader in three distinct areas: citizenship, sportsmanship and athleticism.
After the votes were counted, it was a tie.
MacGregor thought about issuing a re-vote but instead settled on giving two players the trophy — fitting considering the two became the dynamic duo for the Broncs during the season.
Zak Louis and Tanner McLaren were handed the trophy and the thought of having their names enshrined in Broncs lore wasn’t lost on either player.
“I wasn’t expecting to win it alongside Zak, but I’m really happy about it and glad that my teammates voted for me. It’s such a great program and they’ve taught me a lot. The coaches have taught me so much and it’s been great to see the people in the community who used to play football coming back and banding together to watch us play,” said McLaren. “I’ll always remember this and I’m proud to be on the trophy with Zak.”
“It’s a great honor to be named co-MVP and I’ve been at a couple of banquets now and I always wondered what it’d be like to win MVP. It was a goal of mine. The whole team worked well together and the coaches were great, I couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Louis.
The program’s two stars may have some more football in their foreseeable future. Louis and McLaren are attending post-secondary school next year and are hoping to strap on the pads at the next level.
Louis is going to take business at the University of Calgary and has been in touch with the Dinos coach. He said he is trying to put on some extra weight in hopes of making the team out of tryouts.
McLaren will take his talents to SAIT. Also taking business, he plans on trying out for the Calgary Colts of the Canadian Junior Football League, a program that has put out a plethora of CFLers.
“Our league is growing and we have two amazing athletes that are moving on to further their education and their football careers. We are trying to use football as a tool to make boys become young men and I think we’ve seen that in how they handle themselves and the character they display on and off the field,” said the coach.