A Drumheller native is heading up the SAIT Trojans women’s volleyball team this season.
    In May, Art O’Dwyer was appointed coach of the Trojans for the 2011-2012 season.
    “I am really enthusiastic and have a lot of energy to create a positive atmosphere for the Trojan team,” says O’Dwyer. “It is all about passion.”
    He says the team is a good fit.
    “The program at SAIT is on the upswing and has a lot of potential,” explains O’Dwyer. “I feel I can coach at this next level and I am a perfect fit.”
    Born and raised in Drumheller, he went to study and play at the University of Calgary, and was a member of the team from 1977 to 1981, and for the 1986-87 season. In 1979, he spent a year on the Canadian National Junior Team.
    He is a NCCP Level 3 certified volleyball coach, and since 1984 has coached boys and girls club and high school volleyball teams in Calgary. He was assistant coach of the University of Calgary Dinos men’s volleyball team in 1985-86 and 2005-06.
    Most recently, he coached the Canuck Club U18 girls' team. This will be his first season coaching at a post secondary level.
    “I have worked with different teams and types of athletes,” comments O’Dwyer. “I have worked hard on motivating female athletes. It is very rewarding and they tend to respond well to team goals.”
    The season began last week for the Trojans with a home and away series with Medicine Hat College. This weekend they face Lethbridge College.

    Drumheller’s reputation for being a football town is starting to grow, and this fall, players from all over the area will be descending on the town to showcase their skills.
    Ron Laprise, the Alberta scouting director for All Star Football, who has begun coaching with the Drumheller Titans, is organizing the regional combine starting on December 2.
    Combines are a forum for football players to participate in a camp in hopes of being noticed by post-secondary institutions. It is an opportunity for players to be scouted for university and college teams in Canada and the United States.
    “We identify the Canadian kids who have the ability to go on,” said Laprise
    “All the kids from Brooks, Taber, Raymond…those parts of Alberta are always going to come here to Drumheller.”
    He explains the top 100 players in Alberta, including players selected from the Drumheller combine, will go to the Alberta combine held at the Collicutt Centre in Red Deer.
    Laprise has volunteered for All Star Football, run by Ron Dias, for about 11 years.  He explains it has become the premier organization for scouting and delivering players to the college level.
    “Every coach in the United States and Canada will go through Ron Dias,” said Laprise. “We have to make sure we are referring the proper kids, academics are huge.”
    He said he is adding the coaches from the Titans to run the combine.
    “This coaching staff is tremendous and has great talent. I couldn’t ask for a better situation,” said Laprise.
    The coaches will be joined by other coaches from other programs in the area.
    Laprise said they were hoping to have the first of what is expected to be an annual combine at the Badlands Community Facility, however it was not completed in time. They hope to hold future events at the facility.
    Laprise said the combine would help build the reputation for the valley and for the Drumheller Titans program.
    More information on All Star Football can be found at www.allcanadiangridiron.info.