Shrine game thoughts and the friendships

By Chris Shaban
EAGLE TIMES SPORTS EDITOR
On Saturday, eleven football players will be stepping on the field, one last time for some of them.

Stevens: Colby Shepard and Lucas Smith

Bellows Falls: Jake Moore, Jamison Nystrom, Caden Haskell and Dillon Perry

Newport: Karter Pollari and Tyler Gobin

Fall Mountain: Danny Farnham

Windsor: Maison Fortin and Logan Worrell

“When I was selected for the 70th annual Shrine Football Game I was with my lifelong friends and teammates who were also selected, Jake Moore and Caden Haskell. They found out before I did and both knew they made it. They told me to check my email so, I refreshed and there was the invitation” said Jamison Nystrom.

This scribe has had the honor of covering these players for a while and what a tremendous pleasure it has been. At first the interviews went something like, yes, no, and always ended up with a thank you.

As years went by, the players opened up a bit and it was hard to make them stop talking. “Are you going to camp?” asked Logan Worrell when he was headed to Rutland or the ever outspoken Maison Fortin” It’s all about my teammates” was his canned response but eventually he opened up and we had some great conversations. These friendships didn’t stop when football season ended. Nystrom was always getting hurt whenever I covered a basketball game of his. Bloodied and bruised, his parents actually thought I was his bad luck charm.

One basketball game at Windsor, Fortin’s little sister was playing during halftime for a recreation league game when I found out that Maison was the coach for Saturday morning basketball. “It’s one of my favorite thing I do, I want everyone to get better and have fun, I’ll do anything to make that happen” he told me.

When Karter Pollari was injured, he was always a gentleman along the sidelines and helped me out spotting players and play calling and he promised to protect me from being trampled.

Colby Shepard was a fella that you just wanted to be around. He loved his teammates and schools. Even though Colby was a Cardinal, he wrestled for Newport and the pride he showed when he got an orange and black letterman’s jacket was clear. “What an honor to get letters from two different school and the friends I have at both will last me forever” he said at a wrestling match this winter.

Jake Moore has to be one of the smartest kids I have talked with, his answers seem like he studies for it and his buddy Caden Haskell looked you right in the eye when I interviewed him. The handshakes after were solid.

This cannot end with just the players and the great memories, they all had some incredible coaches as well. I dare anyone to find a better group of people that have always taken the time to answer questions or respond to emails, even when they are on vacation in Ann Arbor, thanks coach Bob Lockerby.

I hate to admit this but I was Josh Duford’s tee-ball coach a few years back and he hasn’t changed a bit. The positive attitude and the way he loves sports began many years ago. Orion Binney treated everyone like family and his welcoming handshake at every game really made you feel like you belonged.

If there is a more focused coach than John Proper, show me.

Having graduated from Windsor, the connections there run deep. Greg Balch is probably the coach I pester the most and yet he still tells me to call whenever I have a question. Jim Perry is my stat guy for not only football but what he gives me in basketball is just amazing.

I was in the dugout during the final out of a Windsor’s baseball championship game a few years back thanks to Jamie Richardson, he said “come in and join us and out friendship has grown since then.

This week Jamie is the defensive coordinator for the Vermont team and he has agreed to let us know what it’s like to be in camp for this game surrounded with the best football players Vermont has.

Congratulations to everyone from our area involved with this game and have fun.