Nanaimo hosted multiple members of the BC Lion’s football organization last week in relation to two local events: the 2nd Annual Andrew Harris Skills Camp and the 2012 Wally Buono Award for Canada’s top junior football player.
Former Vancouver Island Raider Andrew Harris offered his skills camp to local under-14 football players on Mar. 15–16, teaching the fundamentals of all positions to those attending. Harris also brought Lions quarterback Travis Lulay for the camp.
Following the camp, Harris was on hand to help present this year’s Wally Buono award to local quarterback Jordan Yantz, who became the Canadian Junior Football League’s (CJFL) all-time leading passer last season with the Raiders.
Yantz is the third Raider to have received the Wally Buono Award in its ten year existence, following in the footsteps of Harris and Michael Schaper. Ahead of the event, Buono complimented Yantz’s talent and his commitment to advancing his game.
“He’s a good young quarterback who works extremely hard to improve his skills,” Buono says. “Jordan is a fine young man whom we expect big things out of as he moves to the next phase of his football journey.”
Yantz was thrilled to have been selected for the award, and credits the Raiders organization and the league’s development process for his success at the junior level.
“I am absolutely honoured to be awarded the top junior player in Canada,” Yantz says. “The [British Columbia Football Conference], CJFL, and the VI Raiders have put me in the best position to succeed in my five years playing. There are a ton of other great junior football players around Canada, and I cannot thank the VI Raider organization enough for, I believe, making me the football player I am today.”
The next step in Yantz’s career will be with the University of Manitoba Bisons at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport level. Yantz is excited for the new chapter in his career and says, “I will let my play answer all the questions and guide me in the right direction as far as football goes.”
The Nanaimo Museum & Sports Hall of Fame is the permanent home of the Wally Buono Award Exhibit, despite being awarded to players all across Canada. The Museum General Manager Debbie Trueman was happy to learn another local player would be accepting the award.
“The museum is so pleased to have Wally Buono here to present this year’s award to our local star Jordan Yantz,” Trueman says. “We are thrilled to be part of this event and the home of the Wally Buono Award.”