Rebels QB nails rookie of the year

After an exciting season with the Victoria Rebels, Yannick Rickli has been honoured with the title rookie of the year in the B.C. Football Conference.

A panel of coaches and league personnel from the BCFC honoured the starting quarterback after he racked up 1,815 yards and threw 22 touchdowns.

“He’s a natural, he’s talented and he works hard,” said Rebels head coach Paul Orazietti. “As a rookie he’s surpassed all of our expectations.”

While the Rebels are thrilled to have the BCFC rookie of the year on its roster, Rickli himself is humble about the whole thing.

“This is my first year and it’s really cool (to be honoured), but at the end of the day it’s a matter of the team doing well. This is just a personal accomplishment on the side,” Rickli said. “I am just glad to be playing.”

Rickli, 20, enjoyed his first season with the Rebels and said he is unsure of what the future may hold for next season.

“I have to keep my options open. My ultimate goal is to play for a university. I want to get my foot in the door and move closer to home,” said Rickli, who is from Brampton, Ont.

While some football players grew up tossing a pigskin around, Rickli never donned a football jersey until he was in Grade 11. Before that he had spent his childhood and teen years playing baseball.

“It’s amazing ( how talented he is at the game). He was a high-level baseball pitcher before and he’s transferred that to football,” Orazietti said. “He gets great velocity with every ball he throws.”

Several other Rebels were honoured by the BCFC and given 2009 season all-star status. Those players include Kurt Tonowski, a fullback and offensive lineman, running back Sam Adu, slotback Tyson Takasaki, defensive end Jake Farley, linebacker Wade Buckley and defensive back Richard Daniel.

“It says a lot about the job we did recruiting this year. It’s great for us and it’s great for them,” Orazietti said. “One guy from each position was recognized and that’s pretty rare.”

The Rebels season is now over after a loss in the playoff semi-finals against the South Surrey Big Kahuna Rams. It was a close game, with a 52-46 final score.

The Rebels finished the regular season in third place.

“Overall we had four or five of the best receivers in the league. We also had a pretty strong running game with Sam Adu,” Orazietti said.

This was the Rebels first season using Bear Mountain Stadium at City Centre Park as its home turf.

“The fan support out here (in Langford) was fantastic,” Orazietti said. “The move from downtown (Victoria) to the West Shore was 100 per cent positive.”

sports@goldstreamgazette.com

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