Figures key to SRSS football advancement inducted to program’s hall of fame

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/12/2022 (1117 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some of the people critical to moving Steinbach Regional Secondary School’s (SRSS) football program to the top division in the province were honoured during the team’s annual banquet Nov. 8.

Players Patrick Maendel and Austin Buhler were inducted into the program’s hall of fame, alongside coach Don Cooper to make up the class of 2022.

Maendel couldn’t make it to the ceremony, but program coordinator Jamie Peters was quick to heap praise on the running back, who helped lead the Sabres in back to back division two championship game appearances in 2014 and 2015.

“(Maendel) was crucial in building the program after it moved from division three to division two,” Peters said.

Maendel played three years for the SRSS team, racking up over 1,500 yards on the ground with 23 total touchdowns. He was named to the division all-star team in 2014.

“(Maendel) was a force on the field,” Peters said.

“He was a great ball carrier, a great blocker and he was dynamic in the pass game. He was a Swiss Army Knife and played multiple positions.”

Maendel has also helped coach the Sabres since graduating.

While Maendel’s 2014 and 2015 squads came up one game short, the 2016 version of the Sabres was finally able to take home the banner, in large part due to Buhler’s efforts.

Picking up right where Maendel left off, Buhler dominated the 2016 playoffs, scoring the Sabres only touchdown in a 8-7 semi-final victory against St. Paul’s. Steinbach was trailing 7-2 late in the fourth quarter, but the team dialed up a fake punt to keep a drive alive, before Buhler converted for the team’s only major score of the game.

In the final against Kelvin, Buhler put on an offensive showcase, running for 240 yards on 33 carries, including a game clinching touchdown as the Sabres defeated Kelvin 16-0. For good measure, Buhler, also the teams punter, added in two singles with his leg and was named the game’s most valuable player.

“I vividly remember in that championship game where coach (Stephan) Fedus put (Buhler) in the wildcat, and just snapped the ball to Austin and ran it over and over and over and over and over again,” Peters said.

“He ran through everyone on that Kelvin roster… It was exceptional game and effort, and I’m sure his body was hurting for a few days after.”

It wasn’t just post-season heroics that put Buhler into the hall, as his senior season featured nearly 1,500 yards in a single season on the ground, as he lead the league in rushing yards and earned a spot on the division all-star team.

“(Buhler) was a quiet student and a quiet player, but he let his game on the field do all his talking for him,” Peters said, noting he lined up at quarterback, running back and receiver throughout his time at the .

“He was a natural athlete who could play a variety of positions, and make big plays happen.”

After receiving the mini-helmet adorned with his name and number given to SRSS football hall of fame members, Buhler thanked Peters for establishing the program in the first place.

“In high school, I struggled a lot with mental health issues, and actually getting to school, but luckily I had football and this program to help me get through it,” Buhler said.

“This program gave me hope and a family to turn to when times got tough.”

Austin isn’t the first Buhler to make the SRSS hall of fame as his brother, Taylor Buhler, was inducted in 2017.

“(Taylor) was an inspiration to me to play as hard as I did, and to be better than him,” Austin said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The final member of the class of 2022 to be recognized was long-time special teams coach Don Cooper. Cooper started as a physical education teacher at SRSS in the 80s, and retired in 2020, coaching many different sports over his time at the school.

Peters credited him with helping from the very beginning of the program, especially as the team battled out two win-less seasons to start their journey.

“Cooper owned special teams,” Peters said, noting they never played a team that was better prepared on that side of the ball.

“He did the film work, he did the scout work, the skills, the drills. He always developed and prepared players.”

Cooper was the architect of the fake punt which set up Buhler’s winning touchdown in the 2016 division two semi-final game against St. Paul’s. Peters said the fact he had so many fake punts in his back pocket meant he was always on edge the other team would pull one on him.

“Special teams are one-third of the game on game day, but rarely do they ever get one-third of the practice reps or time,” Peters said.

“Coach Cooper is missed with our units, but now I know at least he can sleep at night, and not be worried about someone fake punting him.”

Sabres football hall of fame members are honoured in the hallways of the program’s dressing room. Members must be five years removed from their playing days for the Sabres to be considered for the hall.