When he learned he had a shot at earning a spot on a Bantam all-star football team representing all of southern Alberta, Bryce Wachtler broke out his snow blower and cleared a space behind his home to practise kicking and punting.
Although he received a few looks of confusion from neighbours, Bryce, 15, was happy to have the chance to get some preparation time on turf since he hadn't played a football game since November.
“I was taking this seriously,” he said. “It was a mud pit back there.”
A three-year veteran of the Olds Bulldogs Bantam team, Bryce was selected by his coach, Brad Bednarek, to try out for Football Alberta's South Senior Bantam All-Star Team.
On the weekend of April 13 and 14, he and three other players from the Bulldogs travelled to Calgary for tryouts in “snowing and blowing” conditions at McMahon Stadium.
“It made the field a little bit slipperier and holding the ball was a little bit harder too,” he said, although he added he was used to playing in those conditions. “Last season was pretty cold.”
When the weekend was over, Bryce was one of 40 players—out of 140 hopefuls— selected for the all-star team, where he'll play as a running back.
“Being part of that 40 was probably the greatest chance ever. Being able to play with all those other kids who are from summer clubs or midget teams, it was an honour to make that team,” he said.
Aside from his practice sessions in the snow-free oasis behind his home, Bryce has spent the past few weeks training hard at the gym and kicking the pigskin at the Olds High School fields when the weather allows.
He said he had an “excellent” season with the Bulldogs last year— which began after he attended a “Top Gun” football camp in Virginia helmed by NFL and university-level coaches— as the team only had two regular season losses.
He credits his leadership skills on the field with the Bulldogs as the reason Bednarek put his name forward for the all-star team tryouts.
“In my eyes, I think I'm a good leader in leading my team to winning the games and also helping them,” he said. “If they're feeling down, I like to boost their confidence up and get them pumped up and excited and ready to hit kids.”
He added Bednarek also helped forge him into the player he is by pushing him harder each practice and game.
Bednarek said Bryce has “great hands” for football and a “size-speed combination” that gives him an advantage on the field.
“I've played college and I've played a little bit in the pros and Bryce is one of the most naturally athletic kids I've ever had the privilege to coach,” he said. “He's bigger than most of the kids his size but it's also his speed.”
If he focuses on football alone once he starts playing ball next year in high school, Bednarek added, he has the potential to go far in his career.
Bryce is now training for the fifth Bantam Bowl showdown between the south and north all-star teams in Edmonton on May 20.
He said he isn't doing anything special to prepare for the game mentally as he likes to live in the moment once he takes to the field.
“When I step on the field, I put my helmet on, put my mouthguard,” he said. “Everything that happened behind me and what's going to happen ahead of me, I'm just going to leave it out of my head and make sure I keep my feet moving.”
As for his future, Bryce dreams of playing university-level football and, just maybe, a career in the professional leagues.
