Three football players from the Yorkton Gridders are headed to Texas. Members of two different Saskatchewan Selects teams, Royce Rathgeber and Jordanna Watrych are on the 12U team, while Jaxon Boyda will be part of the 16U team. Both teams will be headed to San Antonio, Texas to take part in the International Pigskin Classic Football tournament, starting Feb. 22.
“It’s a big deal, it means that what you’ve been doing here in your hometown has been working. All the hard work you put into the sport is going to pay off,” said Watrych.
Boyda said that for him, he’s excited to see the level of competition happening in Texas. He said he’s interested to see the speed and physical play that other teams are doing.
The younger players agree, and they’re excited to see the level of play other teams are at. Rathgeber said that for him, he wants to bring back to the home team what other teams are doing to improve their game.
“You might be better, but you shouldn’t just be coming back to act all high and mighty like you’re better than everybody else, but help everybody to get to that level,” Watrych added.
Rathgeber said that he feels lucky that he has the chance to play at this high level, and that he’s looking forward to the experience of playing on the team and making great memories along the way.
Watrych said one of the perks of being selected for the Saskatchewan Selects team is the experience they get as young players. She noted that they get to play with some elite players and coaches, and that’s a great way to prepare and learn.
The advantage to playing with the Sask Selects team, Boyda explained, is that it makes his game better, and he wants to get faster and stronger, and practice harder. He also notes that it could help him get noticed as he plans for football after his high school career is over.
“Selects has definitely helped me a lot in my game of football, even when I bring it back to the high school. It has definitely helped me a lot for the high school team and for getting noticed out in for colleges.”
The selection process is a pretty extensive process the players said, with Watrych saying she noticed that the coaches were taking a ton of notes as they watched them play.
“It’s really kind of nerve wracking, worrying if you’re going to make it or not,” added Rathgeber.
Boyda said it’s not easy to make the team, and he’s proud of his accomplishment.
“I feel pretty proud of myself for making the team and being selected. I feel pretty good that I got picked and I never got cut or put on the practice roster.”
Watrych and Rathgeber travelled to Texas in 2019, and were part of the first Canadian 10U team to take the trophy at the tournament. The players said they were proud to be part of the team that set that milestone.
“Nobody can take that away from you,” said Rathgeber.
“Not a lot of people can say they were the first 10U team to go down to Texas, not even just from Saskatchewan, and beat them all,” added Watrych.
Now in an older age category, they hope for a repeat, and to again be the first Canadian team in their category to win.
“Especially two years in a row, it would be pretty nice,” said Watrych.
After the Selects, it will be back to focus on the regular season. Boyda predicts a strong team, but said they’re going to have to hit the practice field hard, and the classroom hard too, to replicate their success.
“Our team is going to be a very successful team next year if we just keep in that work and put in the work all the time next year.”
Watrych said they want to repeat being at the top of the division for girls’ football, though she said there were many graduating players, and predicts an interesting season.
Rathgeber said their goal is to win games. He admits that the past season in his age category was a bit rocky, so he’s hoping for a stronger season this year with more wins.
