Buckeyes have playbook for success

Twelve players from 2019 championship football squad moving to higher level

By: Sheldon Birnie Posted: 8:38 AM CDT Monday, Mar. 29, 2021

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This article was published 29/03/2021 (1722 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While this year hasn’t been a banner year for sports in Manitoba, Miles Macdonell Collegiate is finding reason to celebrate its student athletes nonetheless.

In 2019, the Miles Mac Buckeyes football team won the Winnipeg High School Football League’s CTV Bowl, bringing home its first football banner since 2005. With a large part of its core intact, the Bucks were looking to repeat in 2020.

Of course, that didn’t happen, as the 2020 WHSFL was cancelled, owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

But from that 2019 championship squad, 12 players will be taking their game to the next level.

“Our best sign of success is athletes who continue on in the sport,” said Daniel Washnuk, head coach of the Miles Mac football program since 2010. “The most tangible level of that is playing next level. The more we can get them ready for that level, more success will come with that.”

Eight players from this year’s graduating class have either had offers to continue playing football at the collegiate or junior level.

Defensive back Owen Cassie has accepted a scholarship to the University of Toronto to play for the Varsity Blues.

“He was an incredible athlete for us, a gifted receiver but played little of that for us, because of his defensive ability,” Washnuk said. “He’s also very academically inclined.”

Offensive lineman Carson Chamberlain-Brass has accepted an offer to play for McPherson College, which competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics program, in Kansas.

“He’s very charismatic, very motivated to pursue what he wants, and that translates to the field as well,” Washnuk said. “Even if he’s not outperforming the person across from him, he can out-will them.”

Zach Chiarotto has committed to the Saint Mary’s University Huskies.

“Pound for pound, he’s probably the strongest kid I’ve ever seen, Washnuk said of the 205 pound linebacker. “That’s a testament to his work in the gym, but also his nutrition as well.”

Defensive lineman Seth McDonald will suit up for the University of Manitoba Bisons next year.

“He’s a difference maker,” Washnuk said. “This is something he can do, that he’s gifted at.”

Linebacker Evan Rollwagen also received an offer to play for the Varsity Blues at U of T, but he opted to join the military instead.

“He was one of the leaders on the team,” Washnuk said. “Even battling through injury (in 2019) he was still a statistical leader.”

Quarterback Matt Graham, defensive back Anthony Johnson, and defensive end Ulrich Mbakop all intend to play with the Winnipeg Rifles in the Canadian Junior Football League come fall.

Additionally, from the 2020 grad class, running back Mykola Kruk, receiver Miciah Stone and offensive lineman Damien Thomas have committed to play with the Winnipeg Rifles, while receiver Nathan Udoh has committed to play football with the University of Manitoba Bisons.

“We’ll see who makes the most of their opportunities, but that’s a big number of players with a chance to move on,” Washnuk said.

Three members of the Buckeyes current coaching staff are former players: Ben Lazaruk, Torian Kitt, and Josh Huggan. The success that the championship squad has enjoyed off the field comes as no surprise to Washnuk.

“The biggest thing is how well the kids came together,” he said. “They bought in, they wanted to play for each other. It wasn’t that they wanted to prove everyone else wrong, they wanted to prove each other right.”

While this year hasn’t been a banner year for sports in Manitoba, Miles Macdonell Collegiate is finding reason to celebrate its student athletes nonetheless.

Supplied photo
A dozen players from the Miles Macdonell Buckeyes championship team from 2019 have the opportunity to keep playing football at either the collegiate or junior level next year. — Supplied photo A dozen players from the Miles Macdonell Buckeyes championship team from 2019 have the opportunity to keep playing football at either the collegiate or junior level next year.