Team Ontario deja vu for Sexton
It will be Team Ontario Part 2 this summer for Niagara Falls teen Rielly Sexton.
In January, the Grade 11 student at Saint Paul Catholic High School was chosen for a Team Ontario squad that played Team USA in an International Bowl game Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound linebacker recently learned he would again represent his province at the 2019 Football Canada Cup July 5-13 at Queen’s University’s Richardson Stadium in Kingston.
Sexton and his teammates will compete against defending champion Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia. According to organizers, the event acts as a showcase for the top players in Canada, is the main recruiting event for USports programs and is an evaluation tool for the junior national team.
Sexton, a member of Saint Paul’s Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association senior championship squad, attended one of four tryout camps across Canada and from there he was invited to the final three-day selection camp in Guelph, which included a game.
Two weeks later, he was informed by email that he had made the team.
“I am excited because a lot of players tried out and I was one of the players that was picked,” he said.
He feels he has a number of attributes that helped him land a roster spot.
“I think it’s my ability to read the game, my knowledge of the game and my physical abilities.”
He can’t wait for the national championship.
“I’m looking forward to getting more experience in the game, growing as a player and a person and making new friends.”
He’s excited to learn from different coaches and players. His goal is to play university football and through his experiences he has already met a fair number of university coaches.
“They tell me to keep getting better and faster,” he said.
Sexton loved his stint in January with a different version of Team Ontario.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “I got to play on a field that NFL players get to play on. It was a giant stadium and it was amazing.”
Sexton isn’t playing Niagara Spears football this summer and is focusing on working.
He will be busy though training for Team Ontario.
“I go to the gym almost every single day, I got to the school weight room and I go to Crossfit.”
Saint Paul coach Mark Antonelli agrees with Sexton’s decision to take a summer off from travel football.
“He will remain healthy and be able to continue his diligent workout schedule,” he said. “He will also gain valuable exposure at the Canada Cup and get insight from some impressive coaching by high-end positional USports players and coaches.”
Antonelli feels Sexton has become a good player because he listens and is able to absorb instruction during practice, film sessions and during the game. He also describes him as coachable and a hard worker.
“Being in Grade 11, he had to adjust to the speed of the senior game on the fly as a SAM linebacker,” he said. “As the season progressed, he was able to improve his read and react abilities.”
That allowed Sexton to use his angles to become a better run stopper and pass defender.
Antonelli feels Sexton’s biggest advantage is his dedication in the weight room and classroom, and his focus on nutrition.
“He could be the strongest person in our school and he has made leaps and gains in that respect.”
Antonelli credits assistant coach Paolo Siriannai with helping to get Sexton to the next level in terms of fitness and strength.
Sexton started playing football about 10 years ago in the Niagara minor system with the Niagara Falls Stampeders. He moved on to play travel ball with the Niagara Generals and the Niagara Spears. Last summer, he was on the Spears Tier 1 junior varsity squad.
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