The evolution of Anseeuw

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This article was published 27/09/2023 (1060 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s Tuesday evening at St. Paul’s High School and the Crusaders stand along the sideline ready to sprint the width of the football field, part of their preparation for a visit to Portage la Prairie where they’ll face the Trojans on Thursday afternoon.

A whistle blows. The group moves in unison and quarterback Cole Anseeuw, donning a bright yellow jersey, quickly emerges from the pack of white sweaters. He reaches the opposite sideline first, outpacing even the receivers and defensive backs who are usually the fleetest of foot.

It’s that competitive engine that compelled Crusaders’ quarterback coach Shane Munson to name Anseeuw the team’s starting pivot in 2022.

Perhaps more importantly, the 16-year-old’s unwavering effort is a microcosm of the leader he’s become under Munson’s tutelage in the two seasons they’ve worked together.

And a huge reason why he’s one of the premier QBs in the Winnipeg High School Football League this season.

“Leadership, competitiveness, intelligence. Those are the three things I saw right away in him,” Munson said, earlier this week.

It’s also the criteria for a successful quarterback, according to Munson, who knows his way around a pocket. He’s one of the most prolific quarterbacks in University of Manitoba Bisons history.

Munson, who donned the black and gold from 1999-2003, led the Bisons to the national championship in 2001 and still holds the program records for career passing touchdowns (62) and completions (507), while his career passing yards record (7,474) stood for nearly two decades before Des Catellier surpassed the mark in ‘22.

Munson coached the quarterbacks at St. Paul’s from 2004 to 2009 — mentoring players such as Nicholas Cobb and Theo Deezar — before stepping away to raise his daughter. After 12 years away, he returned to the Crusaders’ coaching staff in 2022 when a position battle between Anseeuw and Michael Petroulakis was brewing.

Petroulakis, who had played organized football for years, held a significant advantage on paper. Anseeuw had just one month of flag football under his belt.

“He was pretty raw,” Munson said of Anseeuw. “If you’ve never played tackle football, how are you going to react when you get hit? That’s the big thing, right?”

Anseeuw, listed at 6-2, 180 pounds, was most comfortable on the ice, playing defence for the Winnipeg Monarchs and the Winnipeg Wild. He was convinced by his friends to join the football squad last season and, naturally, chose the most important position on the field.

Would his smarts and athleticism translate to the gridiron?

“Going into it, in a way, I had nothing to lose because I played hockey,” said Anseeuw. “I was like, ‘Hey, if this doesn’t work out, I can always just go back.’ But once things starting rolling and we had a good team and we won our first game and I played pretty well, I kind of had a standard.”

Indeed, any concern around the inexperienced quarterback was quickly put to rest, as Anseeuw went on to toss for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the Crusaders to a 7-1 record and the WHSFL’s AAA division crown.

Anseeuw was later named to Team Manitoba’s U18 team and later recruited by the Bisons. He officially committed earlier this month and will attend U of M in the fall of 2024.

“He put in the extra work,” Munson said. “I think he just followed the process. He came in, he knew his role: first things first, we had a great defence, don’t turn it over.

“But then he’s evolved, now he’s the leader on the team, he’s the guy making the plays, he’s making the big touchdowns and it hasn’t gone to his head. He’s still very humble and a really good teammate, always upping his guys, encouraging them.”

Anseeuw humbly gave much of the credit for his success to coaches, Munson in particular.

“Football aside, I would say Shane’s just a great person and he’s taught me how to be a leader,” Anseeuw said. “You don’t want to put too much emotion into it, you just want to help players where they need it.

“You don’t need to be screaming at guys, you just subtly help them and give pointers to them, and they also give pointers to me, and building a relationship with the players so that when it comes time for a game, you just know we’re both on the same page and we’re almost all thinking alike.”

Anseeuw conceded he had no idea who Munson was upon meeting him last season, saying it took a conversation with Bisons’ head coach Brian Dobie to assure him that he was in good hands.

“I mentioned it to him and he kind of brushed it off like it was nothing, being humble, but, obviously, he was a great football player,” Anseeuw said. “I met him, he’s a great person, I love everything about him. He’s calm, cool, collected and teaches me great things.”

Anseeuw was a project for Munson at first, but the teen’s talent, willingness to work and intelligence made his development in football — and their relationship — a smooth transition.

“Last year, he was kind of nervous, raw, didn’t really take on that leadership role,” Munson said.

“Now, to see him blossom, and he has all the attributes that you look for in a quarterback: arm strength, pocket presence, mobility and then a couple of the intangibles like competitiveness.”

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

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