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April 6, 2008

Semi-pro tryout draws pack of Wolves

More than 100 show their skills

BY DENNIS CHASE

KALKASKA -- Daniel Skibbe called it a good start.

About 120 players showed up Saturday at the Kalkaska Kaliseum to try out for the Traverse City Wolves semi-pro football team.

The Wolves will not start play in the North American Football League until 2009, but team officials are already looking to assemble a roster.

"This just proves the belief I had in this community -- that this is a great community for football," said Skibbe, the team owner. "I wouldn't say I feel vindicated (by the response), but I do feel rewarded."

Players were put through a series of drills to test their speed, agility and strength.

"It's just like the NFL combine, except we don't have the Wonderlic test," Skibbe said.

The tryout drew a number of former high school players from the Grand Traverse region.

"This has been my dream -- to put on a uniform again, to put on a helmet again," said 31-year-old Josh Smith, who played defensive back for the Traverse City Trojans in 1995. "I live right next to Thirlby (Field). How great would it be to play under those lights again?"

Don Labadie, 34, played quarterback and safety for Glen Lake in the early 1990s. He's a solid 6-foot-2, 265-pound linebacker candidate now.

"I was looking at giving it another shot," said Labadie, an accountant. "I thought about going down to play in Grand Rapids. It wasn't a couple months later I heard about this team starting up.

"I've got the competitive juices flowing again. Now that my body's matured, I'd like to see what I can do out there."

Roger Veliquette, who coached six years in Denmark and two years at Fort Hayes State University, directed the tryout. He'll be the team's head coach.

"This (turnout) is a nice surprise," he said. "For a brand new start-up team, I think this bodes well."

Veliquette, a 1990 Elk Rapids graduate, said the tryout drew a "mix" of talent.

"There's a little bit of a disparity, but that's alright," Veliquette said. "There are definitely some guys here who can make things happen."

Skibbe said players will be evaluated and contacted in the next three to four weeks. Nine cameras were set up in the arena to aid in the evaluation process.

"Quite a few guys caught (Veliquette's) eye," Skibbe said. "I'll give them credit. They busted their butts. We asked that they give us everything they had. We told them, 'You're here for a try out to play football. We don't want you giving us a half-hearted effort.' "

Players must be a minimum 18 years of age to play in the league, which has 112 teams nationwide, Skibbe said. Traverse City will play in a five-team division with other Midwest squads.

"Anybody playing at this level is doing it because they love football," Veliquette said. "They're not going to get famous doing this. If you're here it's because you genuinely love the sport."

Skibbe said the Wolves will carry 50 players on their roster. He said another tryout will probably be held in the summer.

"We'll work in 2008 just like we're playing," he said. "We'll practice just like every other team."

Skibbe said the league has contacted him about holding an exhibition game later in the season.

Skibbe said "the plan" is to play at Thirlby Field, although that's not official. The league season starts in June.

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