Hilltops gain new appreciation for being together

Rylan Kleiter hauls in a pass at Hilltops practice.

Saskatoon Hilltops veteran safety Brant Morrow is pumped his studies at the University of Saskatchewan haven’t been his one life consuming thing.

For the last three weeks, Morrow has been able to head to Ron Atchison Field and practice with the Hilltops. The Hilltops have practiced every Tuesday through Thursday for the last three weeks and will continue to get together on those nights for the next three weeks.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, CJFL cancelled its entire 2020 campaign back on Aug. 6. Had the Hilltops on been practising, Morrow’s life would have been consumed with online classes at the U of S.

“For me, I woke up at 7 a.m. this morning, and I studied all day,” said Morrow after a practice this week. “That can’t be too good for the mental health sitting in one spot.

Brant Morrow goes into coverage during a Hilltops practice.

“Getting out here and seeing your friends running around, it is activity and socializing. They are the two best things for your mental health. It is the best part of my day.”

The venerable Hilltops are the CJFL’s most storied program. In their modern history since the club was reformed in 1947, the Hilltops have won 22 CJFL titles which included winning three different league championship trophies in the Leader-Post Trophy, the Armadale Cup and the Canadian Bowl.

The Hilltops have won nine of the last 10 CJFL championships and the last six CJFL titles in a row.

Over that time, the moniker “Hilltop family” has reached new heights in describing how close everyone associated with the historic team is.

Rylan Kleiter makes a catch at Hilltops practice.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there was a big fear the “Hilltop family” wouldn’t be able to get together this year. The practices have allowed the players, coaches and staff to get an extra jump in their step.

“It has been a tonne of fun,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, who is the all-time wins leader in Canadian amateur football in the post-secondary ranks. “It is good to get around my buddies, my coaches, the guys, we work so hard together.

“It is good to get around these young athletes. They’re excited. It was fun to see everyone compete.

“The juices were flying, so that was good.”

Over the first two weeks, the Hilltops veterans practised in their own sessions on Tuesdays and Thursday. The club’s newcomers hit the field in sessions on Wednesdays and Thursday.

Brant Morrow makes a read during a Hilltops practice.

This past week, everyone took part in the same sessions from Tuesday to Thursday.

With all the changes that have come due to the COVID-19 pandemic, veteran Hilltops receiver/kicker Rylan Kleiter said everyone with the club has developed a new appreciation just to be able to get together for practice.

“It is kind of a welcoming feeling knowing that everybody is here again,” said Kleiter, who has played four seasons with the team. “Honestly, I’m just excited to see everybody again.

“It has been awesome to have everyone out here even just as a mental release to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. Just getting the chance to see everybody out here again is a pretty sweet opportunity.”

Rylan Kleiter secures a catch last season for the Hilltops.

Of course, there are noticeable differences. Players are arriving at Ron Atchison fully dressed in all their equipment as the dressing rooms at the Hilltops clubhouse aren’t being used, which is a standard procedure at sports facilities during the pandemic.

Hilltops directors are on hand before practice to do temperature checks. There are frequent breaks to sanitize and get water.

The team runs through a lot of individual position drills before doing walk throughs of some of the offensive and defensive schemes the team runs.

Kleiter said arriving to practice already dressed in equipment brings back memories of playing minor football in the Kinsmen Football League.

“It is definitely different than what we are used to without the locker room camaraderie and all the other stuff outside of the football field,” said Kleiter, who is continuing to skill his high level curling team in men’s competition after winning four straight provincial junior titles. “We’re enjoying it just being out here.”

Brant Morrow celebrates a big play with the Hilltops in 2019.

Morrow said he misses the bonding time in dressing room.

“That is one of the best parts is the camaraderie in that locker room,” said Morrow, who has played three full seasons with the Hilltops. “I’m missing that a lot.

“Before practice, we get to talk a bit.”

Morrow enjoys getting locked in and focusing in on football, when he is on the field. He said you can tell the returning veterans have putting in good working during the off-season, because everyone looks in shape and are stronger and faster on the field.

When he sees the improvement in his teammates, Morrow wishes there could have been a season this year. Still, he all you can do is do the best with what has been dealt your way and prepare of 2021.

HC Tom Sargeant mans the Hilltops sidelines last season.

The Hilltops practices have helped perk up Morrow.

“It is good just getting back together with your friends and competing and getting better for next year,” said Morrow. “It takes your mind off of whatever is going on in your life.

“It is still our escape from life. We get come out here and have fun for a couple of hours and get better at football. Hopefully at some point, we can get some contact in this year.”

Sargeant said he believes the practices have helped the players, coaches and staffers on the mental health front, because it gets them all doing something they are used to doing. While Sargeant is normally upbeat and energetic, the sideline boss said the practice sessions have been a big help to him as well.

The Hilltops look forward to getting back to moments like this.

“I think it is huge, and that is one of the reasons we wanted to come together,” said Sargeant. “I think absence makes the heart grow fonder.

“It was really nice to see when we came together again just that spirit and that attitude and the care and love for each other. This has been good for everybody. We’re enjoying what it has brought us.

“It has just been a tonne of fun. It is good to get back on the old Hilltops field again. It makes me feel good.”

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