The Westlock Thunderbirds football team put the finishing touches on a successful season with an awards banquet at the Westlock Inn last Thursday night.
But while individual awards were given to a handful of players who demonstrated outstanding commitment to their roles, the focus of the evening was predominantly the success the team and the entire club achieved by working together.
“The awards are nice, and they’re special, but they’re nowhere near the core of what we’re trying to do here,” head coach Jon Kramer told the assembled crowd. “We have the opportunity to come together as a group and be part of something that’s bigger than us as individuals.”
He recounted the success of the season this year, which was the best showing the Thunderbirds have every posted. Westlock ended the regular season with a 4-2 record, and made it through the playoffs all the way to the championship game.
“You guys ought to be extremely proud of what you accomplished this year,” Kramer said. “I feel we’ve turned a corner in this program.”
He also emphasized the importance of the discipline, teamwork and consistent effort many of the players put forth to develop the overall strategies that gave the T-Birds the edge in so many games.
Club president Curtis Snell highlighted many of the off-field accomplishments the club has seen over the past several years, but not before offering congratulations on the hard-fought championship match.
“We made it into the final, and we were very close,” he said. “The guys didn’t leave anything out there; they played hard right up to the buzzer.”
In the past five years, Snell said the consistent improvement on the field has been mirrored by consistent improvement off the field.
On top of developing a “very healthy” bank account, the club has made significant developments to the Thunderbirds’ field behind Westlock Elementary School.
The tower and concession is the most visible example of this, but he also noted the club has worked with the town to have access to water on site, giving the opportunity to irrigate the field for part of the 2013 season.
Snell also pointed to the success of the Friday Night Lights games — one in 2012 and two in 2013. Those events have helped to raise the profile of the club within the community.
He said what was most important, though, was the culture of the club that has developed over the years — something that comes from the players, the bench, the club’s directors and from the community at large.
“The Thunderbirds are a class act, and we’ve heard this from other teams as well,” he said.
Half a dozen awards were distributed to players who rose a head above the rest in their respective areas: Laine Koshurba was named Most Valuable Player, Brett Snell was named Best Defensive Player, Jon Truckey was named Best Offensive Player, Kash McCotter got the Heart & Soul award, Joel Borris earned the Bone Crusher award, Nick Schwarz was named Rookie of the Year and Zach Kiselyk was given the Leadership award.
In closing, Kramer once again emphasized that while the awards are important, the team’s success has come as the result of thousands of small contributions from every player that all add up — both on and off the field.
“You are now part of something bigger than yourselves. You’re T-Birds for life after playing this season,” he said. “This thing of ours is about more than just football, and I think you all understand that. Take it to heart.”
