Andreea Resmerita – Leader Staff
Thunderbirds end the football season with a loss but plenty of lessons learned and a stronger roster for next year despite uncertainty about which league they will belong to.
The club played its final Wheatland Football League play-off game in Cold Lake against the Royals Oct. 25, where it lost 49-13, leaving the Thunderbirds in sixth place.
“It was probably the worst weather we played in. It rained sideways for the first half of the game, and then sleeted and snowed for the second half. It was pretty memorable. On one hand it was a bit disappointing because you’re just so limited in what you can and can’t do,” said coach Jon Kramer.
Kramer explained the Royals ran the ball the entire game. With little passing on their side, there was little the Thunderbirds could do in that situation and that left the players frustrated at times.
“I think everybody is super proud of all we accomplished. We came in this year as probably the youngest that we’ve ever been,” said Kramer about the 27-player roster, only nine of whom had played football before.
Coaching this year meant that everybody went back to basics like putting on the equipment and learning what the positions are.
The Thunderbirds grew steadily from the very basics to winning a big football game last week in the play-offs against Wainwright. They defeated the Commandos 39-6, a team whose only league victory had been early in the season against the Westlock club, 44-12.
“We’re really proud of where the boys are and the way we grew together as a team,” added Kramer.
As a coach, Kramer wanted to teach the team that they have to build on skills and experience and not focus on quick results – they knew going into the season that it would be a tough one, so resilience was key to make it through and maintain energy levels but continue learning.
Looking to the next season, there’s some uncertainty about which league the Thunderbirds will be playing in, and that won’t get settled until February or March 2020.
Regardless, Kramer is confident in the team, since most will be returning to the sport, no longer rookies.
In the meantime, they get their weekends off again, but look forward to an awards night Nov. 15 to celebrate this year’s results.
