Football is thriving in the Battlefords. No longer is football a two-month season at the North Battleford Comprehensive High School - it has come to the forefront for many players no matter their age or experience.
Jamie Sommerfeld is heading into his fifth season as head coach of the NBCHS senior Vikings football team and is extremely impressed and excited about where the football program is heading.
"In all the time I have been here, not only physically and mentally, but numbers wise as well, this has been the best camp and the kids keep coming back day after day," said Sommerfeld, after a spring camp session Wednesday at NBCHS.
NBCHS held an open spring camp and the turnout saw nearly 50 players on the field and the enthusiasm high. Not only was the number of players on the field impressive, but also the number of parents and fans watching along the sidelines was a surprising sight.
"Football is bombing here," said Sommerfeld. "When I decided to come out here with my wife, I wanted to really get the ball rolling. It is really good to have football in the city and it is good for everybody."
Along with the NBCHS Vikings, there is the newly developed Battlefords Minor Football program, which Sommerfeld assists Mike Humenny with, the Men's Tough Football League, the newly formed John Paul II football program and now there is talk of a men's amateur team to play in the Alberta league.
The Vikings also have alumni trying out for the Saskatoon Hilltops and a player listed with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Coach Humenny has also travelled with dozens of current players to camps across the province. The history and tradition is there once again and the excitement to wear the blue and white Vikings' uniform is as high as ever.
Viking Pride is the chant shouted out at the end of practices and it appears to be a true movement in the high school. The pride to play for a team that appears to be gaining more and more respect in a league filled with large Saskatoon schools is a new trend. No longer are the Vikings just participating at the high school football level, they are now competing and impressing as a complete football program.
"We are at the point where we were rebuilding and now I think we have come to the point where these kids can make a very good team," said the Vikings head coach.
The biggest contribution to the improved attitude is a culture change says Sommefeld.
"These kids are here to play football," said the head coach. "It used to be that way under the reigns of Don Hodgins and we are back there now. These kids love the game of football."
