Reinhart Receives the Wildman

When linebacker Job Reinhart was playing minor football in the Guelph Minor Football Association, he dreamed of playing for the Guelph Gryphons one day. When he made the team five years ago, he’d walk by the portraits of Ted Wildman Memorial Award winners and hope that some day his photo would join them. “I always used to walk through the hallways and look at them and look up to those guys,” Reinhart said. “I used to think that it would be crazy to be one of them one day.”

Now he is a Wildman winner.

“It means so much that words can't even explain it,” he said. “I've looked up to Gryphon football my whole life and now everything I've worked for, it means a lot to be recognized.” The Wildman is the feature award of the annual Wildman Awards dinner and takes into account both the player’s on-field and off-field presence. “It definitely means a lot to be recognized for character both on and off the field,” Reinhart said. “I really appreciate that.”

For Reinhart, the worst part about being a Wildman winner is having to make a speech. At the awards banquet, he had to make two as he was also the winner of the team’s Donald Forster Trophy as the team’s most valuable player. “Public speaking's never been my strong point, that's for sure,” he said. Reinhart wrapped up his Gryphon football career last fall in his fifth and final season of eligibility, leaving him with plenty of fond memories. “On the field there were so many great times with my teammates and my coaches,” he said. “Just the competition and just the overall atmosphere that everyone gets in, buying into the same goal and trying their hardest. It's something special and doesn't happen in everyday life. It only happens in competitive sports and it's just great to be a part of.”

There’s plenty of memories from off-field activities, too.

“There are great memories. So many times out for meals together, going out on the town together and hanging out with each other. Just awesome friendships that will last forever.”

Reinhart came to the Gryphons after being a quarterback with the Guelph CVI Green Gaels in high school football. It didn’t take him long to decide he should switch to the defensive side of the ball. “I saw my future probably wasn't too good as a quarterback so I made a big risk switching over. I think it was the right call because my attributes are more defensive.” Reinhart had originally figured on joining the Gryphons straight out of Grade 12, but changed his mind after attending the team’s training camp in 2014. He went back to GCVI, but league rules prevented him from playing high school football that fall, even if he switched to defense. While that was disappointing at first, it turned out being a good thing. “That was a crazy time, but not being able to play football was the best thing that could happen for me because it allowed me to wrestle. It allowed me to find my other passion in wrestling and pursue football as well. I'm really glad that happened and it just allowed me to have a great university career.”

Reinhart is a two-sport athlete at the University of Guelph as he’s also a varsity wrestler. The Wildman dinner was the same day as the Western Open, but Reinhart didn’t have to miss the football awards. “Luckily, I didn't have to wrestle this meet so it's not too big a deal.” He did win his weight class at the Guelph Open a week before the football awards. Reinhart only had to win one bout at that meet as his class was short on opponents. “It sucks waiting around all day because you expect to have more. There's usually more guys to wrestle, but it was still a good time. It's just sad that there was only one guy to go against.” In a way it was like training all week for a single football game.

“It's very comparable, except that one game lasts longer than one match.” The week after the dinner, Reinhart was the silver medalist in his weight class at the OUA wrestling championship meet at the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre. That placing gave him a berth in the U Sports championship meet hosted by Brock University in St. Catharines later this month.

A two-year captain on the football team, Reinhart tried to lead by example. “You always uphold the great standards to show everyone what the best way to win should look like.”

Reinhart credits older brothers Will and Jake for helping him become the player he is today. “Both my brothers are great influences on my football playing days. They always push me hard, as well as my parents. They've always been a great influence.” Jake is the long-snapper for the Toronto Argonauts, a position Job had with the Gryphons. The two could often be found practicing snaps together at the Gryphon Soccer Complex.

“He's a great partner to practice long-snapping with, that's for sure.” Job was selected by the Calgary Stampeders in the seventh round of the CFL draft last year. He attended their training camp last year and played in a pre-season game before returning to the Gryphons. He signed with the Stampeders in December. “I'm going back to Calgary in the spring,” he said.

Receiver Kade Belyk was named the winner of the Stu Lang Offensive Player of the Year Award while defensive back Dotun Aketepe won the Tom Dimitroff Defensive Player of the Year Award, defensive lineman Alain Cimankinda captured the Tom Mooney Lineman of the Year Award and returner Clark Barnes claimed the Special Teams Player of the Year Award. Offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey was the winner of the Kyle Walters Trophy, linebacker Alex Jafs won The Pflug Family Community Service Award, defensive lineman Greg Corfield won the Richard P. Kohler Perseverance Award, linebacker Justin Lauzon won the Rookie of the Year Award and Taylor Floris won the Support Staff of the year award. The team also honoured its fifth- and fourth-year players at the dinner. Other fifth-year players were receiver Kade Belyk, fullback Lukas Brennan, linebacker Josh Cassista, defensive linemen Greg Corfield and Daniel Fascione, defensive back Akeem Knowles, quarterback Theo Landers and offensive lineman Spencer Swan. Fourth-year players were receiver Abdraman Abdel-Rahim, defensive back Dotun Aketepe, linebacker A.J. Allen, defensive back Graham Brodie, defensive lineman Alain Cimankinda, quarterback Dante Djan, receivers Jayden Kelly and Nicholas Mirijello, offensive lineman Ben Petrie, defensive backs Patrick Pierre and Jason Richards, running back Harry Robinson, defensive back Darius Samuels, receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Jordan Terrio and offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey.

The Gryphons also recognized Claudio Silvestri of Hamilton’s St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School as winner of the Riddell High School Coach of the Year Award in Honour of Jeff Hale.

Written by: Rob Massey