Westlock Thunderbirds linebacker Royce Hadley was recognized as Most Valuable Defensive Player for Tier 2 of the Wheatland Football League on Dec. 23 as part of an assembly recognizing many R.F. Staples students.
“It was a pretty amazing feeling because it was in front of the school,” he said. “I really felt proud of the Westlock football program — I’m proud that our football team has players on it that can win awards like that.”
The 2011 season marked Hadley’s third and final season with the T-Birds, although he said he hopes to continue playing football well into the future and said his next step is to try out for a junior team in Edmonton.
“I look up to guys like Simeon Rottier. I’m from the same area as him in Dapp and if he made it that far, I think I can keep trying to make it that far too,” he said.
Rottier grew up in Westlock and plays in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as an offensive lineman.
Hadley was previously awarded as the team’s best defensive player at the annual awards ceremony on Nov. 22 by defensive coach Shayne Frith-Smith.
“He did everything the coaches asked of him and not only is he the best defensive player of our year, I strongly feel he was the best defensive player of our tier,” Frith-Smith said.
Hadley was up against tough competition in the tier, although Frith-Smith said it was obvious why he should take the award after meeting with the other coaches.
It was a four-way tie in the voting process, because each coach voted for his player to take home the award. This tie was broken, however, when the Vermilion Vortex coaching staff switched their vote.
“The coach told me flat out that they had to game plan around Royce, so that’s why he did win it,” he said.
“He was totally blown away that he was defensive player of the year for the league. I heard one of his teachers say that he said it was the best day of his life so that was just incredible.”
The 2011 season was a record year for the T-Birds organization. The team hosted its first-ever playoff game since starting as an organization six years ago. This was also the second year the T-Birds were able to boast having the WFL defensive player of the year on the squad.
“I think it’s great for the program,” Frith-Smith said. “I think it shows that our program is headed in the right direction and we have some incredible kids on our team.”
Not only was 2011 a record season for the club, but also the players.
“I feel like a lot of us grew,” Hadley said. “I think I had a chance to show a lot of the players what the game is like and everyone kind of got involved in the games. It was a good experience for everyone.”
He said throughout his time with the organization, he went from knowing nothing to becoming the most valuable defensive player as a result of the coaching staff.
“(Frith-Smith) essentially taught me how to tackle when I started and he taught me everything,” he said, adding every kid in the area should give football a chance.
“Everyone should try football — it’s the best team sport I’ve ever played,” he said. “Put your heart into it and try your hardest every play. That’s what the coaches teach you is to push yourself to do your best.”
