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UNITY - The UCHS Warriors football team held their 24th annual banquet on Nov. 25, welcoming the players and their families to celebrate another year of Warriors football.  Coaches Kyle Clark, Robert Cey, and Graeme Geini organized the evening and, for the first time, extended a welcome to the Junior Warriors football team. The evening included a highlight reel from the season, celebrating the team’s successes and putting the best plays on display.

Each player was asked to fill out a form for the seven awards, along with the coaches making their choices for each award. This year, Rowan May won the Rookie of the Year award. He helped the team everywhere, primarily being the kickoff kicker. He also served as the backup quarterback, scoring four touchdowns, along with playing a bit of linebacker, making four tackles throughout the season. May was an exception for this year’s voting, as he had broken his arm before the 2023 season.

Dawson Grant won Offensive Player of the Year, using his speed, strength, and stamina to score 11 total touchdowns, making the switch to offence in his Grade 11 year. Along with offence, he also played defence and special teams, playing as an outside linebacker and a return specialist. His speed contributed to his success, playing exceptionally in these positions as well.

Ethan Bertoia was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year, making 63 tackles, along with adding an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Bertoia was also an exceptional leader on the defensive line, making sure everybody knew what they were supposed to do on every play.

Most Valuable Player was awarded to quarterback Noah Gumpinger, who had 28 touchdowns, along with being the team’s convert kicker, only missing four kicks on the whole season. Gumpinger also scored the only field goal attempted by the team, making a total of two in his career as a Warrior.

Lineman of the Year was received by Rylan Fauth, an award recognizing both offensive and defensive linemen. Fauth, who played both offensive and defensive line, used his speed and strength to play at a high level on both sides of the ball. He scored a total of four touchdowns, one of these being a pick-6 in a game against the Biggar Blazers. Fauth also collected two sacks and 11 tackles during the season.

Most Improved was given to Reid Ducherer, an offensive lineman. Ducherer showed hard work every week, and it showed. Ducherer became a constant starter on the line, making amazing blocks on opposing defenders, along with playing some defense, making three tackles.

The Heart and Soul award was given to senior Mateo Rutley. The Heart and Soul award is given to a Grade 11 or 12 player who exemplifies leadership, hard work and dedication to football. Rutley was always a leader on the team, rallying everyone together during tough games, along with playing his heart out during games.

There are nine players graduating this spring, those being Rutley, Bertoia, Gumpinger, Rhett Berki, Keiran Wildeman, Zen Halter, Dawson Rusk, Jagr Lewin, and Brandt Gilbert. Each of these seniors were recognized and signed a plaque, which hangs in the clubhouse as a reminder of the players graduated from the football program.

There was also a special dedication made this year at the awards banquet. A bench, which was donated by the Rewerts family, was made to the team as well in memory of their son Aiden. Aiden was a Warrior football player, and tragically passed away in 2023. This bench is to be placed permanently on the Warriors sideline, to memorialize the two seasons Rewerts spent with the team as a linebacker.