With a team full of new coaches and fresh rookies, the John Paul II Crusaders football team took to the field for the first time in the school's 25 year history Sept. 2.
The season began with a question mark and simple goals to learn and progress as the season went on.
Those goals became reality, as the team scored their first touchdown Sept. 16 in Unity, tied their first game Sept. 30 at Beaver Lions Stadium in North Battleford against Unity and won their first game Oct. 6 in North Battleford against Meadow Lake.
Staying with Crusaders' firsts, the team held its first award banquet Tuesday and the first award winners and team graduates were honoured.
John Paul II graduated eight players from their inaugural roster and as head coach Bruce Yockey said at the banquet, "these players will always be part of the first team. Anytime they walk back into John Paul II they will be able to see their names signed on the football from our first win and see themselves in the first team picture."
Down the road, when the Crusaders are chasing league and provincial championships, these eight players along with the coaching staff, booster club, parents and sponsors that were instrumental in the first season will always have something to remember. They will be proud of John Paul II athletics and the beginning of the football program.
Graduating after one season will be defensive back Joey Derosier, fullback Devon Sylvester, tight end Jordan Lilly, linebacker Ben Esquirol, defensive back Jon Lafreniere, running back Garrison McLaren, defensive lineman Rylee Mackenzie and Mekwan Morin.
The first ever winner of the top offensive lineman award was Dylan Haaland. Dylan is a Grade 11 player, who also won the most dedicated award Tuesday night.
The top defensive lineman award was presented to Rylee Mackenzie.
The rookie of the year, among a roster of 38 rookies, was Grade 9 linebacker Logan Nachtegaele. Nachtegaele was a starter and will continue to be a cornerstone of the defence in the coming years.
The most improved player was defensive back Luc Piche.
The top defensive player was a captain on the defence and the hardest hitter on the team in Grade 11, linebacker Dane Iverson.
The Crusaders' top offensive player award went to quarterback Nathan Eckel.
The Crusader Award for an unsung hero, who leads by example and is committed to the team, was presented to Ben Esquirol.
Finally, the team MVP was presented to receiver/kicker/punter/kick returner Calvin Perepeljuk.
Along with the awards the team also thanked a number of people involved who made the first season possible from the school board to the equipment manager, statistician and scorekeeper. Melissa Fuhr started the booster club John Paul II has also established a provincially competitive cheer team. All the players and coaching also have blue and gold team jackets, which were sponsored by the Fransoos.
Perhaps the most important group in the first season was the coaching staff including Yockey, Vic Stynsky, Dallen Schwab, Carlo Hansen, Jean Fauchon, Tom Jesney, Tom Hawboldt, Gary Boachler, James Nachtegaele and Shaun Loeppky.
Yockey says the coaches have met with many of the players expecting to play next season and they have a discussed ways to plan and prepare for next year, as John Paul II looks to move the idea of a new team to a new football program and develop success in the 9-man league.
The team is also seeking sponsors for their nine team awards, and throughout the winter the team's clubhouse/locker room should be completed and ready for spring camp.
