Four members of the Cochrane Bears were in the hunt recently for spots on the Calgary Mavericks under-18-year-old (U18) boys rugby team.
Scrum-half Rylen Waugh, centre Austin Dixon, and flankers Brennan Bourchier and Craig de la Mare (all Bow Valley High students) were the only four players to try out from Cochrane and each one came back with a spot on the Mavericks roster (a southern Alberta development program hatched to identify elite men’s players).
The team trains in Calgary but plays against teams from Edmonton, a southern Alberta select team of players chosen from Lethbridge, Fort Macleod, and Medicine Hat, as well as ones from Red Deer and Saskatchewan.
The ultimate goal for Mavs players is a ticket to play on Team Alberta and tryouts with the Junior Wolf Pack team, comprised of top players from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Anthony Battistone, who is an assistant coach for the Mavericks as well as being the Bears co-head coach and player for the Bow Valley Grizzlies, knows each of these players inside and out, and believes each can make an impact in his own unique way.
“They’ve all been playing men’s rugby and been coming to practices,” Battistone explained. “Brennan’s really impressed everyone with his ability as a flanker. He’s a great person in the lineup, so is Craig. Neither is too flashy, but they don’t miss tackles and make great runs. They’re fantastic leaders.”
Bourchier, who has only played rugby for two years, has stepped up his game this past season in the hopes of furthering his rugby career and making the Mavs on his first attempt is a step in the right direction. The Grade 12 student is as known for his ferocious leadership skills on the field as he is for his epic beard off it.
“I’m pretty pumped,” Bourchier said of making the cut. “I didn’t try out for any club teams last year and was just playing at school. This year I’ve been pushing myself. This is the sport I’m best at and the one I’m meant to be playing.”
Waugh (who just finished Grade 11) is one of the top players in the province for his age group – a Western Canada player who consistently delivers crucial tries at crucial times as well as clutch plays – and his coach makes no bones about his being named to the squad.
“As a scrum-half, Rylen is second to none when it comes to his position,” Battistone said. “He always does very well.”
“This is my third year making the Mavs,” Waugh explained. “It’s a pretty big honour being recognized as one of the top players in Calgary. We have a very solid group of guys from town, and it’s great for Cochrane to be recognized for a sport like this that isn’t as major as hockey.
“(All of us) have to step up our game to play here and we’ve done quite well representing ourselves.”
The most surprising member of the pack to make the Mavs however, was Dixon – a tough, powerful gazelle on the field that can accelerate from zero to 100 in the blink of an eye – who after having a dreadful first day at tryouts, regrouped and came out to show his stuff, knocking the socks off the coaching staff.
“Austin’s first practice didn’t go well, and he was almost a cross-off, but then he surprised everyone,” Battistone said. “He’s only been playing since March and he’s made strides and keen to learn.”
“My first day was kind of crappy,” Dixon concurred. “I was a little low on confidence seeing a bunch of Team Alberta guys, but the next practice I came in with a better state of mind and showed my skills. I can bring this team a strong work ethic and show them I’m dedicated and ready to go.
“I don’t have the experience, but I’m ready to give my all.”
