聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 At 16-years-old, Jarred Valentine, son of Steve and April Valentine, has earned an exciting opportunity to compete in San Antonio, Texas. Jarred鈥檚 hard work and perseverance has led to him being chosen for the 麻豆视频east Selects 16U Football Team which is based in Moose Jaw.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The young man, a multi-sport athlete playing hockey and competing in golf as well, began playing in Grade 6 out of Estevan. When that league ended, Jarred had developed a great passion for the game and a new opportunity to play arose with the Moosomin Generals.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淗e played with the Estevan Steelers for two years and when that team folded, we found out there was a league in Moosomin,鈥� April explained. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been there ever since. It鈥檚 a really great program that they鈥檝e built up there.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jarred added, 鈥淲e鈥檝e made it to the finals the last two years.鈥� (This included the opportunity to host the league final in 2017 as well.)
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With the Moosomin Generals, Jarred earned the opportunity to play on the All-Star Team of the Rural 麻豆视频 Manitoba Football League. They competed against North Manitoba in Winnipeg last year in May.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Over the past few years, Jarred is thankful for the support of his family and friends, as well as his coaches, which includes Dexter Mondor and Jason Schenn with the Generals.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With the Generals, Jarred plays as a fullback, but after try-outs for the Selects team were held in Moose Jaw, Nov. 18-19, he was asked back the first weekend in December for the coaching staff to see him in a different position.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 decide what position really fit him best,鈥� April explained. 鈥淭hey decided that a D-Lineman was a better fit and offered him a place on the team. We were told as we were leaving to expect a call within the week as they had others retrying out as well, but that same night he received the call saying he was on the team.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With football becoming ever more popular, Saskatchewan is sending a 12U, 14U, and 16U team, while Manitoba is sending an 18U team to San Antonio, Texas this February for the week long round robin tournament.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jarred is particularly excited for the opportunity in Texas as the football program in the United States is very strong.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to just the level of football,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty hard hitting.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Which when his favourite part of the sport is the hard hitting contact, Jarred will do well and rise to the challenge.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e鈥檙e very proud of him,鈥� April stated on behalf of herself and Steve. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big opportunity. Playing through the Sask Selects teams opens up potential offers to schooling in the future. If someone notices you they follow you. There are always scouts out during their regular season as well.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful of being able to work towards schooling with football,鈥� Jarred added.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This opportunity with the Selects offers another level of competition as well as an extra opportunity to be seen by scouts for his future. It is the sixth year that the Selects have organized teams to attend the tournament and elite football in Saskatchewan has seen a dramatic rise over the years in skills and abilities.
