Football brotherhood thrives at Westlane
In two short years of competing together, Stamford and Westlane players have become a true brotherhood united to play Tier 1 senior football wearing Westlane colours in the Niagara Region High School Athletic Association.
Those bonds were emphasized by Chase Bowden’s speech to his teammates following Westlane’s 42-22 loss to A.N. Myer in the championship game last week.
The 12B student from Stamford choked back tears as he struggled to address his Westlane and Stamford teammates.
“Let it out. Let it out,” urged a teammate, as Bowden fought to keep his emotions in check.
“I wouldn’t want to play football with any other guys than you guys,” he said. “You guys showed so much heart and I’ve never seen so many guys want it so bad bro. What we have done is so unbelievable and I am so proud of every one of you.”
Struggling with numbers, Westlane and Stamford united their football programs in 2017 and there were a few growing pains.
“Last year, there was a lot of tension because it was who are these guys standing there?” Bowden said, in an interview at the start of this season. “We used to be a rivalry, but they were very welcoming and halfway through the season we came together.
“We are going to continue to grow.”
Westlane head coach Babony also remembers those early times.
“Some of the kids from Stamford didn’t want to put the (Westlane) uniform on and vice versa obviously, but these guys have meshed really well,” he said. “And the word has gotten out so we have healthy numbers at senior and junior now.
“I think we can give the league a competitive look now.”
Westlane lost 19-14 to Greater Fort Erie in the semifinals last year, but this year the Spartans went 4-1 in regular season play and defeated Greater Fort Erie 25-15 in the semifinals. The team’s goal at the start of the season was to reach the final and it was mission accomplished.
Babony said the balance between Stamford and Westlane players was an important part of the squad’s success.
“We have 15 from Stamford and 17 from Westlane and they really jelled,” he said. “The kids from Stamford bring a nice hard edge to our team. Discipline-wise, I think we are improving and I think it’s a great mix.”
Having a healthy junior program has been an important component of the senior team’s success.
“We always preach repetition and that’s how you get better,” Babony said. “You can’t just throw in Grade 9s and 10s. I learned that six or seven years ago and us having steady junior coaches who are teachers inside of the building, the kids are going to learn in junior and be ready for senior.”
Babony and former Stamford head coach Brad Martin have been the perfect complement for each other.
“We have both taken leadership roles and we’re not getting in each other’s way,” Babony said. “I run the O (offence) and he runs the D (defence) and we are second-level (university) players coaching kids so they are going to learn a lot from us if they stay here.”
Martin had no concerns the coaching partnership wouldn’t succeed.
“All the years coaching against Jason, I had a lot of respect for him because he played university ball, we got along very well and we have the same kind of sense of humour,” he said. “He cares about the kids, he coaches the right way and he honours and respects the integrity of the game.”
Martin is loving the Westlane/Stamford combination.
“This is only our second year together and the kids get along excellent,” he said. “From a coaching standpoint, we get to work with different kids so it keeps us kind of fresh too.
“It’s a wonderful experience and our administration and superintendent were behind us 100 per cent and they have been so helpful.”
The next challenge for Westlane is to build on the success of the past two seasons.
“It’s going to take a little bit of scouring the hallways in the schools, but we are going to reload nicely from here on out,” Babony said.
To help that reload, the schools run off-season weight training and conditioning programs.
“It is very important,” Babony said. “These kids don’t truly reach their potential until they hit the weight room and gain physical strength.”
Westlane and Stamford weren’t the only schools to combine forces in football. E.L. Crossley and Eastdale players have suited up for Centennial and when the Holy Cross program took a hiatus this year, six Raiders joined the St. Francis Phoenix team.
