Sardis secondary’s Zach Wolter is going coast to coast for the next step in his football career.
The soon-to-be graduated linebacker is going to New Brunswick this fall, committing to Mt. Allison University. The campus is based in Sackville, NB., which is perfect for a guy who loves getting after the quarterback.
“It’s great because getting quarterback sacks is my favourite part of football,” he said.
Mt. Allison’s Mounties are a powerhouse program coming off an impressive season in the Atlantic University Sports (AUS) Conference. Guided by head coach Peter Fraser, the team went 5-1 in regular season play before losing 23-5 to the Bishop’s Gaiters in an AUS semi-final.
“The defence was No. 2 in the entire country based on points-against per game,” Wolter noted. “Obviously they have a really good team right now and they’re trying to win a lot of games. For me, the goal is to work hard and compete and put myself in position to play as much as possible on game days.”
At six-foot-three, Wolter has good size for a next-level linebacker. He’s solid against the run and loves rushing the passer.
RELATED: Sardis Falcons football program emerges from COVID pandemic stronger than ever
RELATED: Travis Richley named MVP as Sardis Falcons hand out football awards
“They like my versatility to do a lot of things and be a three-down player,” Wolter said. “I’m going to be trying to make an impact as soon as possible, whether it’s special teams or on defence. Their philosophy is to play to the strengths of their players, and put guys in their best roles. If it’s a passing down they’ll have guys who are good in coverage and rushing the passer. If it’s a run down, they’ll have guys on the field who are good against the run.
“The other thing is they have a smaller roster. Some schools have 110-120 players where Mt. Allison has about 80.”
A smart kid with big academic dreams, Wolter is diving into biochemistry studies, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree.
“Hopefully if everything goes well I’ll be able to apply for medical school after that, because I want to become a doctor,” he said.
Sukh Parmar, head coach at Sardis secondary, has no doubt Wolter will succeed, calling the teenager “coachable” and “a student of the game.”
“When we started the season we placed significant importance on our players being student-athletes,” Parmar said. “We asked the players to be diligent in class attendance, be engaged and do their very best. Zach is an excellent example of being a student athlete.”
Parmar added there are likely to be other Sardis Falcons committing to next level programs in the near future.
“We have several players who are still in the recruitment process,” he said. “In generael, high school football, with its large rosters, creates numerous opportunities for players to obtain academic and football scholarships. We are very happy to see kids use football as a platform to obtain a post-secondary education.”
Wolter’s final season at Sardis saw the team win the Pacific AAA Conference and lose a tight game to the eventual provincial champion G.W. Graham Grizzlies in the playoffs. He’s happy he was a part of that and excited for what’s to come.
“That was as good as I could ask for, having a lot of fun with one last run with my teammates,” he said. “Now I’m excited about moving across the country, seeing the east coast and experiencing different culture.”