Salmon Arm football player Noah Vanniewenhuizen scored a recent invitation to participate in the Canadian Football Chat (CFC) Selection Camp in February.
In Grade 11 at Salmon Arm Secondary, and a member of the Golds Senior Boys鈥� football team, Vanniewenhuizen will attend the camp in Vancouver on Feb. 1. There he鈥檒l compete against top high school players from across Canada to be one of 75 athletes selected to play in the CFC Prospect Game in May that will be aired on TSN.
Having played for Team BC earlier this year, the young football star is excited about this latest opportunity.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud that all the work I鈥檝e put in these last few years is coming to light,鈥� he said in a media release from School District 83, adding he鈥檇 like to play for the provincial team again as well. 鈥淚 hope to prove you don鈥檛 need to come from large cities to become a great athlete.鈥�
Instead Vanniewenhuizen credits coaching with athletes, including himself, for getting where they are and achieving what they have.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have succeeded without the guidance of all the coaching staff, who have taught me about grit, being an overall good person and leader, and have expanded by football skills,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e instilled confidence in my play which has elevated my skill level.鈥�
Primarily a running back, middle linebacker and kick returner, Vanniewenhuizen is described as a 鈥渧ery coachable player with a love of football, physicality, a competitive nature, a desire to improve and mental toughness.鈥�
鈥淣oah is a very talented football player who has a bright future ahead of him in the sport,鈥� coach Colin Woodhurst said in the release. 鈥淣oah is relied on as the lead back in our run-heavy attack, and he brings physicality to the defence at the middle linebacker position. Defences struggle to bring Noah down in the open field due to his strength and elusiveness, and he makes receivers and running backs account for him on the field due to his tenacious tackling.鈥�
Some of Vanniewenhuizen鈥檚 season achievements include a 65-yard run against Vernon Secondary School 鈥� the top-ranked team in the province 鈥� and an 11-tackle performance against Sardis AAA in Chilliwack. The Grade 11 student also has multiple touchdowns this year.
