The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs football team recognized the hard work and dedication its players put in this past season at the club’s annual awards banquet at the school last Tuesday.
“As a team it wasn’t the most terribly successful season we’re ever had, but individually we showed that we can improve and grow as an organization.” said Elecs quarterback Andrew Kehler, who captured the Most Valuable Player award and the Special Teams Player of the Year award. “We’re just a young program and we need to get more people out and attend practice all the time is all it is. Then we’ll be a very successful team.”
The Elecs went 1-6 during the 2016 Moose Jaw High School Football League (MJHSFL) season, with their sole win a 42-28 defeat of the Moose Jaw Vanier Collegiate Institute Vikings at Woodlawn Field on Sept. 24. The victory was the team’s first win in three years and the first time a majority of the team’s graduating captains, including Colten Reed, Josh Sinclair, Kehler, Cameron Rioux, Keaten Tarnes, Donny Mortenson and Troy Leptich, got a chance to truly celebrate after a game.
“We got to finish with a win,” said Rioux, who switched between defensive back and slotback during the season. “The past years we haven’t won too many games and for it to be my final year on the team to have one it feels pretty good.”
Rioux shared in three team recognitions winning the Defensive Player of the Year award with Reed, the Ironman award (dedication to football over the years) with Leptich and the Who Are We/Bryan Illerbrun award (strong spirit and passion for the game) with Sinclair and Reed. He also captured the Players Choice award that is voted on by his peers.
“This season I put myself out a lot more than other seasons,” he said. “I pushed myself to be a lot better than I usually am. I made myself more of a leader and every opportunity I’d have on the field I’d take.”
The Elecs dedication to improving as a team and as football players was also recognized by the league as four members of the squad received accolades for their individual accomplishments. The MJHSFL honoured Kehler for leading the league in passing yardage with 1,600 yards on 97 completions, Mortenson as the top receiver for hauling in 37 receptions for 729 yards, Rioux for pacing the league with five interceptions and 173 yards returned as a defensive back and Reed as the Elecs defensive MVP.
Mortenson also captured the Elecs Offensive Player of the Year award, while Erik Gusikoski won the team’s Rookie of the Year award. Leptich picked up the club’s final award winning Lineman of the Year.
“Just to be recognized as being a good player on the field is great to me,” said Leptich, who played offensive tackle and defensive nose guard and end. “As long as I was recognized without even getting an award I’d be fine with it.”
Leptich said football first became a part of his life in the Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football atom program eight years ago and he couldn’t ask for a better season to finish off this chapter of his gridiron career.
“The senior players were always there,” he said. “They never wanted a practice to end. We never wanted to leave. Even off the field we’d talk in the hallways or talk in class about football. It was just great.”
