Players from this year’s Titans football team will have an opportunity to hone their skills as they fly down to Honolulu, Hawaii August 18 to 24.
There are 29 players and 16 parents confirmed to leave on the trip that will offer valuable experience to the tier-four team who hope to become third consecutive provincial champions next season.
“With the growth of the organization and the growth of football in our community, we wanted to offer something that went above and beyond the typical football experience or at least what it has traditionally been in Drumheller,” said Titans’ offensive coach, Jason Rasmussen in a personal interview.
He explained the trip will offer his players a rare level of competition that typically isn’t found in Canada, as well as an opportunity to increase overall morale and team bonding.
“We’re going to come back from Hawaii and hit the ground running,” said Rasmussen who has high hopes for the upcoming season despite losing some of his key players to graduation this year.
Drumheller Titans offensive coach Jason Rasmussen stands beside a handful of the players that will be leaving for their football trip to Honolulu, Hawaii this August 18 to 24. (l-r) Jason Rasmussen, Brett McLean, Mitchell Ostergard, Aden Enns, Gage Berdahl and Joey Samoleski.
The offensive line will ultimately be the determining factor of the team’s success next year as the majority of positions will need to be filled by new players.
“If we get some guys who come ready to play and step-up and elevate their game, not to sound arrogant, but we expect to be the team to beat,” said Rasmussen.
The trip will include several days of practice followed by a game against the St. Francis team from Honolulu.
The team will also pay a visit to Pearl Harbor, attend a luau, and have some time to spend lounging at the beach during their time in Hawaii.
Among the Titans players going on the trip is current Grade 11 student, Gage Berdahl who is excited for the upcoming excursion.
Berdahl says he looks forward to playing the opposition and having the opportunity to visit Hawaii as a tourist.
“It’s going to be a good trip,” said Berdahl.
Several fundraisers will be held by the Titans and donations will be accepted to help raise money for their trip.
The public is encouraged to assist in anyway they can for the fundraisers which will include a bottle drive, battery drive, raffle ticket sales, and the possibility of a drive-in movie night which is still under consideration.
The cost of a player’s ticket will be subsidized according to how much fundraising is done by that individual player.
“Fundraising is an ongoing challenge for a trip like this,” said Rasmussen.
“We’d like the guys to pay as little as possible to go on the trip.”
