Lethbridge Jr. Bantam Cougars. (Lethbridge Minor Football Association)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge & Claresholm women receive Football Alberta coaching awards

May 16, 2020 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Two football coaches from Southern Alberta have been recognized by the provincial association.

Football Alberta has given out 11 awards to coaches, officials, and volunteers working with youth football teams.

Veronica Oczkowsi was named the Novice Coach of the Year for her work with the Lethbridge Jr. Bantam Cougars.

She instructed their quarterbacks in 2019 with those players averaging 177 passing yards per game with a 54 per cent completion average and 2.2 touchdowns.

The Cougars led the Southern Alberta Minor Football Association in passing yardage and their QB was named Rookie of the Year in Division B.

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“All of this was done while Veronica was still operating as the starting QB of the Lethbridge Steel of the WWFL,” reads a media release from Football Alberta. “Very impressive and the marks of a great future for Veronica Oczkowski, the winner of the 2019 Novice Coach of the Year.”

The High School Tier IV Coach of the Year Award was given to Kelly Starling of Claresholm.

Working with the Willow Creek Cobras as the offensive coordinator, they finished the season with a 47-0 win over the St. Paul Lions in the Alberta Bowl.

In 2019, the Cobras had an average of 50 points a game during a seven-game winning streak that culminated in their third Provincial Tier IV Championship.

Starling has been with the team in a variety of roles dating back to 2005.

Originally, there was going to be an in-person banquet to celebrate the award winners, but that has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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