It was more than they ever anticipated at the beginning of the season, but their semifinals loss in the Wheatland Football League playoffs was tough to swallow for the Westlock Thunderbirds football club.
After securing a playoff berth and a quarterfinal win over the Wainwright Commandos, the T-Birds’ season came to an abrupt end on Saturday, Oct. 24 when the team fell 59-6 to the St. Paul Lions.
The 2015 season marked the 10th anniversary of the club and the goal was just to stay competitive.
“If you asked any of the players, or any of the coaches about how they would feel about making the semifinals the answer is that we would have been really excited about it,” said coach Jon Kramer.
“Once you get there and get a taste for a little bit more success, or to move on the championship final, that’s where the disappointment comes in.”
The team more than lived up to its own expectations during the regular season and in the playoffs.
“With the crew that we had and all the guys that we graduated last year, the guys just really worked to get to the top of their game and got a great result,” Kramer said.
Looking back on the campaign Kramer said the foundation was laid last November at awards night.
“We had out biggest group of grads ever, we had 12,” Kramer said.
“When our team saw those guys up there and knew they wouldn’t be back, it really set the tone for offseason training and guys realizing if those guys are gone, their roles are free to step up into.
“It was a great motivator.”
Kramer said it was when the season kicked off and the team began realizing its own potential that the talk of making playoffs first emerged.
“That’s when we started to really set goals,” Kramer said. “We realized we could make it to the championship final.”
With 14 players set to graduate this year, Kramer said it’s once again up to the incoming seniors to lead.
“We don’t know what the future will hold, we could have a tough year, or we could find more success. You don’t know that,” he said.
“It’s allowed us to get to a point where the culture has been established now. I think regardless of whether we win or lose a whole lot of games, the guys have that toughness.”
Over the decade of Thunderbirds football Kramer said he’s seen the program grow and players fall in love with the game.
“I think guys have made football a year-round priority and a year-round culture that has really started filtering down to the younger guys that will benefit from it,” he said.
“Just the people that have put effort into the program, it has been really good.
“I think we’re set up for another decade to come.”
While the 2016 season may be more than six months away, the club will soon begin preparation for it and are looking for new coaches.
“A lot of the coaches we’ve had are players that come back for a couple years … and then they’re off some place else chasing something else,” Kramer said.
“We could use help on the coaching side.”
Football knowledge or coaching experience aren’t necessary, however dedication is, Kramer said.
“We can send you to clinics, we can help you learn to coach football, just people with the time and energy.”
Anyone interested can contact Kramer at 780-283-0107.
