Kingston Freedman on his SAMFA All Star Appearance
June 27th, 2021 saw Lethbridge’s UofL Community Stadium play host to the Southern Alberta Minor Football Association (SAMFA) Bantam All Star Game. Grade 8 and 9 aged players representing all of the teams in the SAMFA league gathered on 2 All-Star teams to kick off the 2021 minor football season. Kingston Freedman played on All Star Grey, and took some time out of his Sunday morning to share his thoughts on the game with us.
Kingston is a 13-year old quarterback who normally plays with the Lethbridge Jr. Cougars. He found out a few weeks ago that he’d been selected for the All Star game from his dad. He tells us that on hearing the news he was selected, “I was really happy, it was the best of Southern Alberta all playing together. Towards the game I was nervous, but also excited to show the ability I have. “ Preparing for any sporting events has been a challenge for many athletes over the last year, and it had been a long time since SAMFA managed to hold a real game. We asked Kingston how he prepared himself for his All Star debut. “I tried to be as healthy as I could and drink as much water ahead as I could of time and throughout the day. You make sure you have lots of energy and protein, pack all your equipment and double check it. You do all that, and you’re good to go.”
“I was really happy, it was the best of Southern Alberta all playing together”
In the All Star game, Kingston helped his All Star Grey team to a final score of 42-7 against the opposing Teal Squad. Kingston played Wide Receiver on offense, and iron-manned through the 34 degree heat as halfback on defense as well. On his own performance, Kingston reflects, “It was good. It was a tough game to start because it was hot. In the second half we definitely pulled away. I got 2 interceptions and a touchdown, so those would be the highlights from that game.”
Our Lethbridge Sports team can attest that the heat was intense to be playing in, at times even affecting the performance of our own LS equipment which had to be cooled periodically to keep it functioning. We asked Kingston if he or his team struggled with the heat. “I was sweating a lot and the first half there wasn’t any ice packs, it was all warm water so it was hard to stay focused.” Kingston shares with us. “After we cooled down in the 2nd half in the UofL lobby, it was nice to be back on the field and have ice packs. It was just a nice hot day to be playing though, I don’t think the heat really impacted the game or the outcome.”
Kingston is currently going to Father Leonard van Tighem here in Lethbridge, and is looking forward to moving up to CCH next year. Although COVID has impacted lots of team sports, Kingston was a multiple sport player with a spot on his school’s basketball team and he played extra-curricular soccer and football. He assures us that, “I definitely like football the most.” Kingston’s whole family have been involved in football and he credits his dad for getting him interested in the sport. “I’d see my dad watching and see his trophies and jerseys. I wanted to try when I was the age. My first year I loved it and I continued to play it.” Kingston’s father, Jonas Freedman, is a leader with the SAMFA organization and is instrumental in organizing the SAMFA league and teams each year. Kingston attests to how much time his father invests in making the sport available both to himself and all of the other players in the league.
As we wrap up, Kingston tells us about his cousin Cole, who he credits with being his biggest athletic influence. “I always looked up to him as a kid. I tried to play football with him and he would teach me stuff in football and basketball and really helped me learn the games.”
“I always looked up to him as a kid.”
Kingston heads to his final year at Father Leonard van Tighem this fall, and we look forward to following him and the rest of the Lethbridge Jr. Cougars season as it gets rolling in August.
Our photo gallery from the game can be found here: https://www.mppphotography.ca/p743612416