Innisfail Jr/Sr High School Grade 11 student Simon Bigger is an indoor soccer provincial champion with the U-18 Red Deer Renegades and he is not yet ready to hang up his cleats.
The Red Deer Renegades defeated CalGlen United 4-1 at the U-18 tier II Alberta Indoor Provincials in Calgary the weekend of March 14 to 17 to take the gold medal. Coming off a strong three win no loss record, the Renegades dominated their opponents, scoring 14 goals for, compared to six goals against, before the final game.
Bigger, 17, scored two goals in the final game and five goals in the four-game tournament, tying for the scoring lead.
“That was the highlight of my season,” said Bigger, who also plays soccer in Innisfail for the high school.
Bigger has been playing soccer for 12 years, starting when he was five years old in Mels, Switzerland, as well as being on the ski race team for eight years until he was 13.
“I had been a good ski racer in Switzerland, and we lived five minutes from the ski hill so I was always skiing or playing soccer,” said Bigger. “It came to a point before we moved to Innisfail that I had to choose and I chose soccer. Ski racing was very expensive, somewhere around $10,000 per year. Soccer is cheaper too.”
His family moved to Innisfail three years ago when his father got a job in the area after visiting Canada several times.
“Simon is a leader on the Innisfail senior high soccer team, just as he was on the Red Deer Renegades,” said Narsh Ramrattan, Innisfail Jr/Sr High vice-principal.. He not only plays soccer, but he is on the badminton and volleyball teams as well.”
Ramrattan added Bigger is an exemplary team member, often coming to his coaches to discuss what is working and what is not. “His contributions to our school and sports programs are appreciated by his teachers and coaches,” he said.
While he is not a North American Soccer League fan, he watches European, German and British games when he can, noting FC Barcelona is his favourite team.
“I enjoy playing soccer, both indoor and outdoor,” said Bigger. “As a matter of fact, I have already tried out for an outdoor team. When I ski raced, I had no life. With soccer I am able to manage school, athletics, and friendships. Now I do.”
