One of the biggest football events in the province is making its way to Yorkton for the first time in its history.
Yorkton is hosting the Viterra Senior Bowl on May 25-27. Football Saskatchewan organizes the event. The sporting spectacular invites over 170 high school-level football players to compete in six-, nine-, and 12-man games.
Viterra pits the best players from northern and southern Saskatchewan against each other. The event is typically held in Regina (south) or Saskatoon (north), alternating each year. Viterra was scheduled to occur in Regina this year, but according to Roby Sharpe, a teacher and coach at Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) who spoke with Football Saskatchewan, an overabundance of events in Regina required the organizers to look elsewhere.
Sharpe and others lobbied for Yorkton, highlighting the top-notch football field and facility at YRHS, along with the town鈥檚 multiple hotels. Football Saskatchewan liked what they saw and settled on Yorkton.
鈥淔irst time ever, the all-star game is here,鈥� Sharpe said.
Few people are more thrilled about Viterra than Jason Boyda. The YRHS football coach will be the head coach for the entire south team. For someone who played Viterra as a student years ago, it鈥檚 a big deal for the event to come to town.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to showcase our awesome community,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty exciting.
鈥淚t says a lot about how we鈥檙e doing football in Yorkton.鈥�
The south team tryouts will be held in Regina on Apr. 21. Dozens of teams will send their best players to capture a spot on this elite squad.
Once the teams are assembled, coaches will have a month to make them gel as a unit.
鈥淭he most difficult part is getting everybody to speak the same [football] language,鈥� Boyda said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 go, go, go.鈥�
Boyda says this collection of top-level players gives Yorkton crowds a chance to see the future of Saskatchewan football.
鈥淎 lot of players [in Viterra] go on to Junior football,鈥� he said. 鈥淣umerous players have had CFL careers.鈥�
Boyda is excited to meet the vast array of sports lovers from across the province.
鈥淚 value the relationships and connections made in Viterra,鈥� he said.
Players will arrive in Yorkton May 25-26. The main day of games will be held on May 27.
