Kellen Forrest could have easily spent his football off-season away from the game.
Instead he chose to play three other sports and begin an enhanced training regiment to help him prepare for next season.
The Grade 11 Cochrane High School student and running back is also focusing on his upcoming role with the U-18 Team Alberta at the Football Canada National Championship Tournament in Lethbridge from July 9-16.
“It will be an amazing experience and I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I think I will be able to learn a lot from it, as the level of competition will be higher than I’ve ever had.”
In addition to playing football in the fall, Forrest was part of both the Cobras’ 3A provincial track and field championship and its boys’ soccer Rocky View Sports Association-winning teams two weeks ago, as well as the boys’ varsity basketball 3A provincial winning-team in March.
But he said keeping busy and playing the multiple sports has helped him with his overall fitness level and will be beneficial for his football strength and conditioning. He’s also involved in a core-training program five days a week that he’ll continue until the July tournament.
His Cochrane Cobras’ football team fell short of its goals by not making provincials last fall, but Forrest said the team will be ready for the new season in September.
“We didn’t end the way we wanted to,” he said. “This upcoming tournament will help me see the competition and level I need to play at next year and our team will be strong. Our whole offensive line is back, as well as a lot of weapons on both offence and defence.
“I really want the Cobras to bring home a provincial championship.”
His plans after Grade 12 haven’t been defined yet, but Forrest said he would ideally like to continue playing football. He has been looking at post-secondary options in Eastern Canada, as there would be increased exposure to the sport with the largest number of CIS schools.
But he said he would also look into staying closer to home at either the University of Calgary or the University of Edmonton, if the right opportunity arose.
“That’s my goal right now, so next year is one for decisions and hopefully I’ll get some offers to play at the next level,” Forrest said.
“Coming from a smaller school like Cochrane, this Lethbridge tournament will give scouts a chance to see me. I think they’ll see how hard I work, that I’m a good runner, and my good vision on the field. I think that’s my biggest attribute.”
