Catholic Central Cougars look to improve with each game

By Lethbridge Herald on September 7, 2023.

Catholic Central Cougars’ Dylan Waite, in the air, and Brodie Bouchard battle for a ball during practice on Wednesday at Catholic Central High School.

By Justin Seward

The Catholic Central Cougars varsity football team are going into this year with the mindset of  improving upon the 2022 season.

“We always preach get one per cent better and so the goal is just improve daily but improve game by game as well,” said second-year head coach Jordan Dyck.

“We were lucky to have a jamboree up north a couple weeks ago and we feel like that’s prepared us coming into this game (Friday against Chinook). So as long as we come out better, we feel like we can be victorious Friday night.”

Dyck believes the team is a tougher than in 2022.

“We’re tough,” said Dyck.

“I think (if) we come out (and) we play our game; we’re going to surprise some teams.”

A difference in the off season was the coaches got more  players to work out and getting the players to come together as a team.

“These guys really had some ambition to get stronger in the off season,” said Dyck.

“But to also come together as a team. Football’s really more about unity and comradery  

than like a singular sport, right. Where it’s a team sport. So we tried to stay a team in the off season as much as we could.”

A couple of Cougars to watch this season are Noah Kinniburgh and Ben Amantea.

“Well they’re not only Grade 12s but this year we feel like we got some good leadership out of them and they’re well known around the province,” said Dyck.

“These guys, they’ve been playing football all summer with Football Alberta, making Football Alberta teams and playing in Canada Cup. So they’ve got some skill and they’ll be some guys  that I would definitely look forward to on Friday night.”

Kinniburgh said there’s definitely been an atmosphere change in this team.

“Our team has shifted (and) has grown a lot in the last two years from where we started when I was in Grade 10 to where we are now,” said Kinniburgh.

“I’m super pumped. Like the potential I see in these guys is just off the charts and I’m so pumped just to hit the field Friday and show everyone  what they’ve been sleeping on basically.”

Kinniburgh has just noticed a shift in the leadership.

“When I was in Grade 10 I had a bit of a lack of for leaders,” he said.

“So I knew when I was Grade 12, I want to be that guy that those younger guys can look up to, (and) be like if they ever need advice, if they ever just need a general role model, that’s what I set when I’m on the field. I just try to lead by example, just show them what’s up and show them how to be a great football player all around.”

The Cougars play cross-town rival Chinook Coyotes on Friday night (7 p.m.) at University of Lethbridge Community Sport Stadium to open up the  Tier II Southern Alberta High School Football League  season.

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