The Calgary Stampeders took home the championship, but Virden’s Brandon Martens was also a winner on Grey Cup weekend.
The son of Patrick and Kyla Martens participated in the Canadian Football League’s championship weekend festivities as a member of the All-Canadian TITAN team, part of the Nissan Kickoff Project.
Among other activities, the Virden Collegiate Institute student athlete received a trip to the Edmonton event, played in an all-star game, and watched the CFL title tilt live.
“The experience was amazing! Being able to go out and practice and play with coaches and players from across Canada was truly an amazing experience,” Martens said. “Then being able to go and watch the Grey Cup was a surreal feeling.”
The Nissan Kickoff Project recognized 70 high school football players – male and female – who had accomplishments on and off the field. TITAN stands for Tough, Innovative, Tenacious, Ambitious and Notable.
Martens greatly enjoyed his experience and was quick to credit others for the role they played in it and the achievements that allowed him to earn the honour.
“All of what I have been able to do is largely due to all the coaches and mentors I have had along the way and my parents,” he said.
Martens and his fellow TITAN All-Canadians played in an all-star contest the day before the Grey Cup. Although Martens usually played both ways in nine-man action for the VCI Golden Bears, he was utilized as an outside linebacker in the game.
“The most enjoyable moment was being able to go out there and be able to play in another 12-man game, as well as being able to go out and make friends while doing so,” Martens said.
The game provided a great deal of competition.
“The calibre was the next level of playing as not only was it 12-man, it was also 70 of the best players across Canada making it that much more competitive and fun to play in,” Martens said.
The next day the high school gridders got to watch the CFL’s best battle for a championship.
“Watching the Grey Cup live was a crazy experience! Being able to watch two of the best teams leave it all on the line was an amazing experience,” Martens said. “I didn't care too much who won, but I was hoping the Redblacks would have pulled off the win over the Stampeders.”
The Nissan Kickoff Project also provided other exciting experiences for the high school standouts on the weekend, Martens explained.
“We did lots of other stuff like being part of the Grey Cup parade, which was really cool to be a part of, as well as the Nissan street festival and being able to walk down to the Commonwealth field.”
A Grade 12 student, Martens freely gives of his time to help his team, his school, and youth. He is the VCI Student Council president and Philanthropy Fund president. Martens has hosted a conditioning camp for VCI players and would-be players in the summer.
This fall he was the Rural Manitoba Football League’s Most Outstanding Player – Defence. Martens had team highs of 45 tackles and 50 assists. He also recorded five sacks and had a defensive touchdown. Martens helped out the Golden Bears on the other side of the ball as well. He was second in the league with 937 rushing yards with eight touchdowns. Martens also had a receiving touchdown.
