Five members of the 1990 University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Huskie football team from Lake Lenore will be inducted into the Humboldt and District Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Although the Lake Lenore High School never had a tackle football team, five graduates from the school played or worked with the U of S Huskie football team in 1990 and won the Vanier Cup.
It all started with Perry Mamer, who graduated in 1975 and played five years of Huskie football, later being drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1980. His younger brother, Greg Mamer, and friend Rod Lessmeister, followed in his footsteps, joining the Huskie team in 1984.
Two years later, Rob Revering made it onto the team followed by Scott Lessmeister in 1990. That year there were four players from Lake Lenore on the Huskie team.
The Lake Lenore connection didn't end there. Susan Mamer, Greg Mamer's sister, was attending the U of S, taking Kinesiology. She joined the team as a trainer.
Rod Lessmeister, nicknamed "Hippo" for his large size, excelled at many sports including baseball, hockey, soccer, volleyball and basketball. Due to his large size, being quick on his feet and having an aggressive nature, he was a force to be reckoned with, no matter what sport he was playing. He also coached high school football at Evan Hardy and Mount Royal and currently coaches Kinsmen football in Warman.
Greg Mamer, or "Humpy" as he was known, also had size on his side and a tremendous amount of raw athleticism. His size, strength and speed made him a standout baseball player. He was also a star on the soccer pitch as well as the basketball and volleyball court.
Rob Revering, who was better known back then as "Bobby," did not have the size to play on the line, but his speed, stamina, tenacity and his athletic ability gave him the opportunity to be on the Huskie line-up in a skill position as a wide receiver. Revering excelled at all school sports in Lake Lenore, including track and field, soccer, volleyball and basketball. Revering was a pure athlete with a great work ethic.
Scott Lessmeister was large with good agility for his size. He was a good hockey goalie and also played baseball and dabbled in other school sports including soccer, volleyball and basketball.
Sue Mamer was a also good athlete. She excelled in basketball and soccer. She was dedicated and hardworking, giving 100 per cent to everything she set her mind to.
The team played an amazing season in 1990, going on to play in the Vanier Cup in Toronto.
They beat UBC Thunderbirds 24 - 9 in the Hardy Trophy, also known as the Canada West Championship, the Bishops Gators 41-13 in the Churchill Bowl and the St. Mary's Huskies 24-21 in the Vanier Cup. Their 1990 regular season record was six wins and two losses.
Not only were the local students part of the winning team, Rod Lessmeister and Greg Mamer were named Canada West All Stars in 1990.
The inductees will be honoured at a Humboldt and District Sports Hall of Fame banquet on November 10.
