Page 29 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 86

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #86 January 2020 29

Alexandre Labonte Named New Cornwall

Wildcats OFC Head Coach

By Casey Leger Following my university career, I Cornwall’s latest coach is taking
played pro football in Germany in over on the heels of a very successful
lengarry’s Alexandre Labonte is the German Football League (GFL) Wildcats season. They finished with
Gofficially the new head coach of for one season.” a 5-2-1 record, and they made it to the
the Cornwall Wildcats Varsity Ontario On the coaching side of the coin, Eastern Conference championship.
Football Conference team. “We play “I became a coach because it was the
Labonte’s pedigree is also impressive.
against other top programs across easiest way for me to learn the sport;
After playing for the first ever OVFL
Ontario, like Oshawa, Belleville, it gave me a perspective I wouldn’t
team in 2010, he started coaching in
Peterborough, and Toronto,” says 2011 as the Linebacker Coach and see as a player. Kirby [Camplin] gave
Wildcats president Kirby Camplin. me an opportunity to play for the
Special Team Coordinator. In 2016 he
“It’s the highest level of football university of Ottawa, and I wanted to
became the Defensive Coordinator.
available. A lot of kids are hoping to give back to him.”
“And now I’m the head coach,” he
get recruited for university football.” says. “I coached for Team Ontario as For Labonte, coaching is a
rewarding experience. “I love seeing
At 28 years old, Labonte is the the Linebacker Coach in 2016, and
fourth man to lead the franchise, I’ve coached linebackers for College the guys excel,” he says. “Guys put
in the effort and commit to football
which was awarded to Cornwall in Bourget from 2015-2016 and College and become better people because
2010. He’s following some pretty de Valleyfield from 2017-2018. I’m of it. Football is my therapy, and it
impressive coaches: Wayne Blakely, currently the Linebacker Coach for allows the younger guys to get away
Mitch Zappitelli, and President Photo Submitted the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.”
from everyday life when they are on
Camplin himself have all helmed the
College Bourget in Rigaud, QC, Labonte has strong ties locally. the field; it allows them to grow as
varsity Wildcats.
and that is where I started playing Having earned a bachelor’s degree athletes and students of the game and
Born and raised in Glengarry, football. I then went to CEGEP at in Business Administration, he to compete with the best athletes in
Labonte brings an impressive College de Valleyfield where I played currently runs the Fixed Operations Ontario.”
gridiron background to his coaching three seasons for the Noir et Or,” says division of the family’s business - The Varsity Wildcats team will
position, both as a player and as Labonte. “After that, I played four Roy’s Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC in kickoff the 2020 season with tryouts
a coach. “I went to high school at years at the University of Ottawa. Green Valley. in March.

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