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Lifelong friends reunited with Sun

Beck Fullerton and Ryan Ewashko played youth football together for five years in Winnipeg
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Ryan Ewashko (left) and Beck Fullerton are reunited with the Okanagan Sun after playing football together growing up in Winnipeg. -Image credit: Warren Henderson/Capital News

For Beck Fullerton and Ryan Ewashko, football is the tie that binds.

Since first playing community football together in Winnipeg well over a decade ago, the two have remained the closest of pals.

鈥淲e just became best friends over the game, just the love of the game,鈥 said Fullerton, 21. 鈥淎ll we do is play Madden (NFL video game), talk about football and work out. It鈥檚 been a football specific relationship for such a long time.鈥

Not surprisingly, football has helped reunite the two defensive backs, who both took to the field last weekend at the Okanagan Sun鈥檚 2017 spring camp.

A BC Football Conference all-star last year and a key leader on defense, Fullerton is heading into his fifth and final season with the Sun.

Ewashko attended the Sun鈥檚 spring camp three years ago but a job opportunity pushed him to put his football career on hold.

Now, in his final year of junior football eligibility, Ewashko is excited about the prospects of returning to 琉璃神社 and playing football again with his closest friend.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so nice to come back, a great atmosphere, I think it鈥檚 the best place in Canada to be, and I love the Sun family,鈥 said Ewashko, who trains with Fullerton during the off-season. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be with (Beck) again for his last year here, and my last chance to play, too.鈥

鈥淚鈥檓 trying to learn from Beck, picking his brain as much as I can,鈥 he added. 鈥淗e鈥檚 an amazing player and knows the game so well.鈥

Despite Ewashko being at arm鈥檚 length from football for a couple of seasons, Fullerton is confident his friend has all the tools to adapt.

鈥淗e has the skill, the brain, we鈥檝e just got to put it together,鈥 Fullerton said of Ewashko, a league all-star in his last season of high school football in Winnipeg. 鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 played football for a couple of years but it doesn鈥檛 show out there.

鈥淗e was making a lot of plays (at spring camp) and doing really well for himself.鈥

Fullerton believes his game will also benefit from Ewashko鈥檚 presence, input and support.

鈥淭he chemistry is always there, I know I can trust him, I know he understands what he needs to do,鈥 Fullerton said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have that little bit of extra support from your best friend, just pushing you day-in and day-out.鈥

As for Fullerton鈥檚 role this season, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound defensive back knows he鈥檒l be relied on by the coaching staff, both on and off the field.

鈥淚 definitely feel like I鈥檓 in a different role that requires a lot more responsibility, I鈥檝e met with coaches about it, they鈥檝e helped me along and shown me the ropes,鈥 Fullerton said. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 taking it in stride, I鈥檓 just doing my best to keep everyone fired up, high energy and just happy鈥f you鈥檙e happy on the field, you鈥檙e making plays and it鈥檚 good for everyone.鈥

If all goes as planned, Ewashsko will join Fullerton on the club鈥檚 opening night roster when the Sun hosts the Westshore Rebels on Saturday, July 29 at the Apple Bowl.





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