A football factory already known as the Canadian high school with the most graduates to play professionally in the CFL, Vancouver College will set another record this year when it sends eight Fighting Irish to four different universities across Canada.
Quarterback Hunter Thompson will join the Gee-Gees at the University of Ottawa and the Dinos will welcome receiver Rashaun Simonise at the University of Calgary.
Running back Liam Mahara, defensive end Anthony Balce, offensive linesman Paul Glambinskas and Keegan Yang, a fullback at VC who will play inside linebacker next year, have committed to the University of B.C. Thunderbirds.
Outside the CIS (Canadian Interuniveristy Sport), but still in Canada, tight end Andrew Pauls and offensive linesman James Brunton will join the Clan at Simon Fraser University, a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division II.
Six graduates from the class of 2012 went to play at six different CIS football programs in five different provinces. The schools pedigree is unmatched across Canada, a fact acknowledged by the CFL two years ago when a writer described Vancouver College as a football factory and cited the 125 football players who played in the CIS and 47 more who played south in the U.S.
I immediately when I came here, I wanted to join a program, any athletic program, and I always wanted to play football, said Keegan Yang, who played rugby in Toronto but picked up the pigskin for the first time in Grade 11 at Vancouver College.
When I first walked in, he added, you see the field, you see the high performance centre and you just get the feeling that this school is very physical. Its about sport and athletics and its also about academics.
Yang said the transition from rugby to football came naturally and that he could even play the gridiron game without a helmet a comment that prompted jeers from the seven other jocks around him (Im too soft for that, someone joked) in the science classroom of Andrea Prout-Bernett, a respected team manager and spouse of head football coach Todd Bernett.
Wearing the purple and gold for Vancouver College means joining a fraternity, building bonds that last well beyond high school. In December, the Fighting Irish lost the B.C. championship to the Mt. Douglas Rams, but B.C. Place was filled with 4,000 spectators, most of them Vancouver College alumni, students and supporters.
That bond is something thats hard to come in between, said Simonise.
Balce, who was named this seasons most inspirational player, said the athletes understand their responsibility as role models.
The younger kids, they see that we try in class as well. Thats a really big part of leaving an impression here, he said. A lot of us are going [to university] to play, but they know that we earned it through being a good student and being a good player.
When he travels with the University of Calgary Dinos to play the Thunderbirds at UBC on August 31, Simonise will return to Vancouver and face at least four former teammates plus even more VC alumni.
Its going to be a competition, but afterwards its going to be fine and were all going to laugh about it, he said. Were always going to go hard. Were always going to try and hit each other, to win.
Theres an advantage to knowing how your competitor plays, thinking you know how he sees the field. Simonise goaded his teammates: You cant stop it.
Mahara joked, Just cut him in half big, tall, skinny guy, just cut him in half, right in the middle. Just sever him.
The laughter died down and Pauls said, Youre always in that competition phase. Whenever I see someone I know, I always what to beat them and they always want to beat me. You play to your best abilities. You dont want to hurt the person, but you want to beat them. If that means getting physical, getting up in his face a little bit, then well see what happens.
Yang said, The camaraderie is nice, regardless of where we go.
Wearing their purple jerseys over white dress shirts, ties and pleated trousers, the athletes described the football program run by Bernett as a university-type atmosphere. The coach, whose drive in the weight room motivates the players, is one of the primary reasons for their team and individual success, they say.
That atmosphere? They answer all at once: Intense, structured, fast-paced, disciplined. If youre dogging it, hell let you know. It makes everyone equal you dont want to be that person. It gives you motivation to prove yourself.
VC pivot Robinson added, [Bernett] has shown me how to work hard, work hard every day, compete at practice and push hard on the field of play when its game day.
He likes to build the brotherhood, which really brings the team together, said Glambinskas. His comment drew a ribbing and someone joked, Aww, what a cutie, and, thats so English Lit!
The o-line tackle smiled and continued, Its the way he bring us all together, which helps put the team together. We all play as one. You put all your effort into him because he puts all his effort into you.
Will Glambinskas miss playing football at Vancouver College? Yes, he said. But Im happy where Im going.
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