A Storm is coming in from Raymond, AB and plans to run amuck at the University of Calgary next football season.
Dinos head coach Blake Nill announced Wednesday that all-star running back Storm Bartsoff from Raymond High School in Southern Alberta will play for the Dinos next year. Bartsoff will complement the all-star backfield of Matt Walter and Anthony Woodson. The Dinos will go from a double threat to a triple threat. The U of C worked hard to bring Bartsoff to Calgary as he was being recruited by several NCAA Division 1 schools.
“You have to go out and showcase yourself to the top talent,” stated Nill. “If you are going to win, you have to get the top recruits. When I first came here in 2006 it would have been tough to convince a kid like him to come here. Now it’s a little easier, not every kid still looks at Calgary as a lock, but it’s getting closer.”
The five-foot-11, 220 pounds Bartsoff is a gifted running back; he is as versatile as he is proficient at running and receiving the football.
“He’ll fit in, he’ll be running the football for us right away,” said Nill. “We have two other great backs but there are plenty of times to run the ball in the game. I just want this kid playing for the U of C for the next five years and running the ball like I have seen him run the ball before.”
Bartsoff has already put together an impressive resume, playing on the Southern Alberta U-17 team at the Canada Cup earning MVP honours. When asked why he chose Calgary instead of the United States, Bartsoff answered casually and sincerely.
“It’s closer to home and coach Nill has been great,” he said. “I feel comfortable coming here and there’s a bunch of guys from Raymond. I just feel comfortable in Calgary.”
Bartsoff will attend the U of C as a science major in the fall of 2009.