HS football athletes moving on to the next level

By JAMES TUBB on April 9, 2022.

Six local high school football players are moving to the next level this upcoming season.

Crescent Heights Vikings Colby Schneider is joining the Regina Thunder of the Canadian Junior Football League. He says he’s excited for the opportunity and the culture they have there.

“I’m just trying to bring good energy, bring a mindset of we’re there to win, not do anything else but win,” Schneider said. “You have to have a good culture, which is one of the reasons I went there, because they have good culture, they have good guys. It’s going to be a heck of a time, we’ll have a good team.”

Vikings head coach Sean Davis said with a wide smile that Schneider is a player who has earned playing at the next level.

“He came to us as an undersized player from the Parkside Pythons, but he always had that grit and determination that is very hard to coach,” Davis said. “He was an absolute pleasure to coach and he earned every piece of it. Never missed a study hall, never missed a workout. Now he’s experiencing the fruit of his labour and we always tell kids that hard work pays off, and in this case it did and it’s good to see.”

Davis says his team will cite Schneider in the future as a person Vikings players can look at for motivation.

Hat High Hawks head coach Quinn Skelton said the same thing about his five athletes moving on next season. He says he encourages them to find their best fit.

“If Calgary wants you and you have an aunt you can live with, go to Calgary … go where they want you,” Skelton said.

Aayden Callan committed to Queens University in Kingston, while Carter Fisher is also joining the Thunder. Will Donohue is heading to Chilliwack and Logan Wells and Dylan Callan have multiple options in the CJFL.

Aayden Callan says he’s really proud to make it to the USPort level and credits former teammates for supporting him along the way.

“I’ve had a lot of help from the group of guys I’ve grown up playing football with, going on the field when there’s off-seasons and the group of coaches that I had to help develop my skills, and I’m just happy to do something to show for it,” he said.

Skelton says this is an exciting time of year seeing former players reach the next level, mentioning Aayden Callan as a “real bright spot.”

“We have not had a player go to Queens in all my years, and Queens is such a great university, great football program that I’m excited for him going there,” Skelton said. “The other boys, I’m not surprised one bit.”

Donohue says it means a lot to him that Chilliwack wanted him.

“It means a lot, I didn’t start focusing 110 per cent on football until these last two seasons so being able to proceed playing it at the next level, especially now that I am able to look at it and take it seriously, it’s a big opportunity for me,” Donohue said.

Wells says it is nice to have choices of where he could play, whether it’s Regina or Calgary. Dylan Callan, Aayden’s brother, is excited to continue chasing the dream.

“Super excited, it’s been a dream of mine since I was young just to play any pro or just get past high school football,” he said.