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August 14, 2009
Gladiators honour their own
By BRUCE HEIDMAN, THE SUDBURY STAR
 Andrew Kirkwood's season didn't begin the way he had hoped.
The Sudbury Gladiators starting quarterback when camp broke in the late spring struggled at times in the first couple of games, and even lost his starting position for a time. However, with determination, dedication and an unwavering commitment to the team, he earned his spot back and and became in a key cog in what was an outstanding season for the local gridiron crew.
Kirkwood's effort was recognized by the team Friday night at the Gladiators' award banquet at the Caruso Club when he was named the first-ever recipient of the Gladiator Award.
"It's an honour to win it," said Kirkwood, a 20-year-old Cambrian College student who finished the season with 53 completions and six touchdown passes. " It's special to me to be thought of like that and get this kind of accolade."
Kirkwood said he never lost sight of helping the team any way he could, even when it wasn't going well for him.
"It was tough at times," said, Kirkwood, who was in his final season with the team. "I hadn't been through anything like that in quite a while, so it was hard. But I kept working hard because I knew if I did that good things would happen. I stuck with it and eventually things worked out.
"There were days I didn't feel like going to practice, but I made a commitment to the team and I wanted to keep that commitment."
Gladiators head coach Brent Richer said Kirkwood was a "cinch" for the award.
"This was a choice by the coaches and he won it hands down," Richer said. "He never missed a practice all year, the only one who made all 15 weeks. He started for us and had a rough start to the season but he came back and the effort he gave us was tremendous. He never said a negative word, was always smiling on the sideline and was in the huddles and did everything he could. He was always positive, and for a head coach in his first season, I was pretty lucky to have him."
Brent Edwardson was the big winner of the day, earning team MVP and defensive MVP honours.
"I'm happy to get the awards," the 20-year-old linebacker said. "It's always good to be recognized. I put a lot of effort in throughout the whole year and I don't need an award, but it's nice."
Edwardson was singled out not just for the bone-jarring hits he laid on the opposition, but for the leadership he brought to the field every day.
"I did it because football would be less fun without that," he said. "I really focus on getting the energy out of people, and by working so hard myself I want to inspire the other players to work a little harder or get a little more excited about practice or get more excited about the team. That's why I love football."
Edwardson hung up his cleats after this season, but said he won't stray far.
"I'm overjoyed I got to fit another year in and I would love to be a coach and come back next year," he said. "What I'll miss most is the guys, everybody. That's what I'll miss the most about football."
Richer called Edwardson the "heart and soul" of the 2009 Gladiators.
"You wish I had a bunch of players just like him," Richer said. "He was so easy. It was like having a coach in the huddle. I knew that whatever we wanted to accomplish in practice he was translating it to the players on the field and keeping everyone focused. He was a great kid to have and he would do everything that would be best for the team."
Richer said the evening was a perfect tip of the cap to the team for their efforts during a long and successful season. The Gladiators finished third in the league with a 6-4 record.
"We just wanted an opportunity to say thank you to the guys," he said. "It's also another excuse to get together. After being together for 15 weeks, you think you want to get rid of them for a while, but you get used to them. But really, their achievements were great and we wanted to make sure they were noticed."
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And the winners are ...
The following were the winners at the Sudbury Gladiators' award banquet on Friday night:
Team MVP -- Brent Edwardson
Defensive MVP -- Brent Edwardson
Edwardson and Mitch Portelance
Offensive MVP -- Mike Drabit
Special teams player of the year -- Marco Armiento
Lineman of the year -- Colton Bonnah
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