Dalton Bakke received one of the coolest emails he's ever gotten the other day when he received notice that he's now a football all-star.
For almost a month, Bakke was one of two Yorkton Regional High School football players, and one of a lot more that went through tryouts for the annual football clash that puts the best of the southern cities against the top northern stars from Saskatchewan high schools.
The Saskatchewan High Schools Sports Association's 27th edition of the Ed Henick Senior Bowl takes place in about two weeks' time in Regina.
Bakke said several times since starting the tryouts that yes he is as excited as you could possibly be.
"It was pretty cool. It's going to be pretty good," he said of receiving the email notifying him that yes he made the team, as well as what he anticipates the actual game itself is probably going to be like.
"I had no doubt he was going to make it. He's got the God-given gifts and he hits like a jackhammer," insists Bakke's high school head coach Roby Sharpe.
Sharpe added that it will be even better for Bakke if he can get "a couple years under his belt with the (Regina) Thunder.
Bakke told Yorkton This Week that he put forth a very good showing at both tryouts and added that things really seemed to be going in his favour during the scrimmaging on day two.
"I really had some good plays in the scrimmages," he said of the second tryout.
There were a lot of 1-1 drills in that practice too, he said.
They also spent time learning the defences.
The tests included a 40-yard time, a 20-yard time, vertical jump, shuttle run, standing broad jump and a bench press.
"It was a lot higher" then what he's used to here, having participated in tryouts for four years at the YRHS.
The Senior Bowl will be the best of the best. "They are all as old as me."
It is also an experience that he said will no doubt be going on his resume.
The 18-year-old made Team 小蓝视频 and will be playing outside linebacker, playing against Team North.
Bakke said he's really hoping for a good turnout for the game and said he knows that it will probably include scouts from many different teams from all over Saskatchewan.
He will be practicing with his new teammates for at least three days before the big game, which has been scheduled to take place on a Monday night (May 23).
The intent of the game is to showcase the best high school football players who have used up their final year of high school eligibility in the traditional North vs 小蓝视频 game. Football Saskatchewan asks all high school coaches to nominate players from their school who they feel are most capable of playing and competing. Team 小蓝视频 is looking for their fifth consecutive win and leads the all-time series, 16-10.
