Peterborough is relatively new to the football community, but the Wolverines organization has already established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the Ontario Football Conference. (OFC)
The program was founded in the fall of 2010 by Jerry Peters and Ken Butcher. The Wolverines began play in 2011 with only a Bantam team. A Junior Varsity team was established in 2012, and in 2013, the first Varsity team in Wolverine history took the field.
The Wolverines called Kenner Collegiate Institute home for the first three years of the program before moving to the artificial turf field at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, their current home, in 2014.
Although only in its 6th season of operation as of the beginning of 2016, the program has enjoyed a high degree of success in its early years. The Bantam team has won three OFC Ramsay Conference titles (2011, 2013, 2014) and their JV program has taken home two titles (2013, 2015). One of the reasons for the success of the program is lifetime Wolverine Defensive End Joe Bencze, who is now starring for the McMaster Marauders of Ontario University Athletics. (OUA)
Despite the fact the Varsity squad has yet to capture the season-ending hardware, the 2016 team is currently 5-0 heading into a bye week, and look to be well on their way to capturing that first Ramsay Conference trophy.
Another reason for the success of the Wolverines is their stability on the sideline. Together, Ken Butcher or John Parkes have been the bench boss for each of the five championship teams. Butcher has won the title on three occasions, (2011 Bantam, 2013 and 2015 Junior Varsity), while Parkes led the 2013 and 2014 Bantam teams to championship glory.
Parkes says there are a couple of main reasons why the program is flourishing.
“[We are successful because] a lot of very hard working people all want to see football grow in Peterborough,” he said. “The positive connections that have formed between the Wolverines and high school football in the area is helping the program get stronger every season.”
The current Varsity headman also says he enjoys being involved with a program in its developing stages, and that “it will be great to see where the program is in 10 years.”
Football is officially on the football landscape in Peterborough, largely because of the success of the Wolverines, but there is still a lot of room for growth, according to Parkes.
“The Wolverines have helped raise the profile of football in Peterborough and the Kawarthas,” he stated. “Football is a growing sport in this area and this is something to be proud of in a time where other areas are seeing roster numbers go down.”
Parkes also points out that, while the program is in a great spot, the development of the coaching staff from year-to-year, in a game that is constantly changing and evolving, will be the key to maintaining the current state of the program.
“We are on a great path at this point, but coaching education is always a must,” he expressed. “We can only get stronger as a program if we invest in our coaches education. This is the easiest way to help keep the players on the right learning track.”
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