Add Cole Preston to the list of Sudbury football talent moving on – though if this story has the feel of an episode of “Last Chance U”, it should come as no surprise.
A two-time SDSSAA all-star with the Lasalle Lancers and mainstay with the Sudbury Jr Spartans U16/U18 teams for the past three summers, Preston enrolled in Sports Administration this past winter at Laurentian University, essentially casting aside a sport that he has long loved.
“I didn’t think I had a future in football; I didn’t really see any opportunities,” said the 19 year-old who just recently committed to the Guelph Gryphons of the OUA for the fall of 2026.
Thankfully, younger brother Maddox was still pursuing the dream.
With the younger sibling setting his sights on a Big Man Camp for linemen being run by University of Toronto line coach Ross Asaro, Cole decided to tag along.
“It was like a last ditch effort to get into post-secondary football,” he said.
And it worked.
Preston would catch the eyes of Guelph recruiters largely on the back of a highly positive approach in camp. “There was an aspect of strength, speed, all of that stuff,” he said. “But the big picture was coachability. That was the main thing they highlighted there.”
If nothing else, Preston would emerge from the camp as a better defensive lineman.
“They taught us to have a back-up plan, especially when rushing. You have to have that initial move, but you have to have your back-up move. That was where I shined the most. I had never thought of having a back-up move. If the first thing didn’t happen, I would go straight to a bull-rush.”
Cole Preston was not the only Sudbury football talent being recognized recently.
No less than 16 young women from the area, a large majority of whom have suited up with the Sudbury Spartans, attended the Team Ontario women’s tackle football tryout camps in Kingston, the largest delegation from any program in the province.
While finalized rosters are still being compiled for both the U16 and U18 squads, it bears noting that quarterback turned defensive end Gia Rocca was named U18 Defensive MVP from the weekend sessions hosted in Kingston.
Apparently, Sudbury and Cumberland house the two largest female tackle football centres in Ontario.
"I think we are a testament that you can start a program from scratch and have success early on," noted Spartans' coach and lead organizer Gord Goddard.
The Sudbury U19 Spartans girls are set to open league play on Saturday May 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at the James Jerome Sports Complex, with the North Bay Bulldogs providing the opposition.
