University of Calgary Dinos linebacker Micah Teitz has been named to the 2015 CIS Football All-Canadian Second Team.
The former Springbank Community High School Phoenix player is in his second year at U of C, and has been turning heads since his high school career.
“I’ve been coaching at Springbank for around a dozen years, and he’s probably the best player I’ve ever coached,” said Tony Lucas, Teitz’s former coach and current Phoenix head coach. “He was always a hard worker, and a lot of fun to be around.”
Has Lucas ever had a former player achieve something like Teitz?
“No, never,” Lucas said. “I’ve had other players go to university or play for the Calgary Colts, but never something like this.
“With Micah though, it’s not surprising.”
Teitz is just one of a record number (11) Dinos players to be named as CIS All-Canadians this year. The 6’2, 210 lb geography major proved himself to be an indispensable member of Dinos, as they reached the 79th Hardy Cup this season, losing 36-24 to UBC Thunderbirds.
“Micah has had an excellent year for us,” said Dinos head coach Wayne Harris. “In only his second year, he’s established himself as one of the top linebackers in Canada West and across the nation.
“To achieve Second Team All-Canadian recognition this early in his CIS career is an amazing achievement.”
What kind of player is Teitz?
“Micah is an athletic linebacker who is able to track down ball carriers and has greatly improved his ability to cover the pass,” Harris said. “His speed and range is one of his greatest assets, and he is able to match the physical play of his opponents.”
“I’m pretty excited,” Teitz related. “It’s been a great year for me.
“A lot of credit goes to coach Harris and the rest of the coaching staff for helping me to reach this level and up my game.”
How have things changed for his junior year to this one?
“I haven’t been thinking about what I’m going to do on the field as much as I did before,” Teitz said. “I just react now, which has begun to get easier for me as I’ve been getting more game action.”
Does Teitz think his time at Springbank helped him to reach the level he is at now?
“Rocky View isn’t as strong as the other Calgary leagues, but playing for Springbank definitely helped me,” he reflected. “I always had good seasons with them, and getting playing time always helped to keep my confidence up.”
Where does Teitz plan to go from here?
“I just want to keep progressing, and get better with my reading of the game” he said. “I would to keep making the All-Canadian teams for the next couple of years.”
He hasn’t decided what he plans to do after university, but is keeping his options open.
“It’s too early to talk about (the future),” he said. “I haven’t thought a lot about it, but I haven’t ruled out giving it my best shot to make it as a professional.”
Don’t bet against him.
