End of season gala for Whitecourt CATS Football featured awards and special guest MorgenRunge

By Serena Lapointe
On December 4, players, coaching staff, volunteers, parents and supporters of Whitecourt
CATS Football came together at the Seniors Circle for the club’s end-of-season celebration. The
event included special guests, Morgen Runge and past long-time coach Kevin Babiuk.
Current head coach Stephen Tapp said the event was about celebrating the wins, reflecting on
lessons learned, and building excitement for next season. “It was a learning year. We have a lot
of young players on the team who got lots of valuable experience, and I look forward to next
year,” he said.
After sharing a meal, attendees prepared for the evening’s program, starting with recognitions
and appreciation for the hard-working and supportive coaching staff, Stephen Tapp, Aiden
Hough and Linden Graham, as well as team manager and president Rendean Kudelka.
Following the well-deserved thanks, Morgen Runge took to the podium to address the audience.
Having just won a Grey Cup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the past-CAT was happy to
share his journey, one that could very well be a path for some of the players in the room.
He credited Coach Babiuk for guiding him, as a hockey kid in 2013/2014, who didn’t know
anything about football, into a strong player with a future in the sport. “I learned many lessons
about what it takes to succeed and play well in this game. Our team mantra was never quit. No
matter the score. No matter the circumstances. Down or distance, pain or ache, Whitecourt
CATS never quit.”
Runge said perseverance is a trait that he hopes the team holds as a standard well after their
journey with the CATS ends. “It will serve you in all aspects of your life. When times are tough,
being able to grit your teeth and draw a line in the sand, and say, I will stand my ground, is
something that will carry you throughout life,” said Runge.
He also spoke of making mistakes and said that ones he made with his schooling while playing
for the University of Alberta Golden Bears could’ve easily derailed any hopes he had of playing
in the CFL. By not focusing on school, he ended up benched for 2022. He could practice with
the team but couldn’t compete.
Worse still, 2023 was his draft year, and since he hadn’t played the year before, he had no film

to show who he was as a player. “For reasons unknown to me, the Saskatchewan Roughriders
took an interest in me, despite not having played that season and ended up inviting me out to
the 2023 training camp,” said Runge.
But it wouldn’t be easy. Runge was cut that first year. He was also cut the next year, in 2024.
This year’s camp, his third try with the Roughriders, would prove to be it, and he was finally
called up to the big show. After twelve years without a top-of-the-league title, the Saskatchewan
Roughriders fought all the way to the Grey Cup, where Runge and his teammates took home
the win. The past-CAT was now a Grey Cup winner.

“The clock hit zero, and I was looking around, and I was like, oh my gosh, we did it. I’ve played
in a lot of those big games throughout my career in high school here, playing that last game
against the St. Joes Celtics and every other step along the journey, where we would get to
some of those final games and lose. So, it was completely surreal that we got to the Grey Cup,
the clock hit zero, and it wasn’t that awful feeling of better luck next year. It was, guys, we did it.
To hoist the cup over my head was unbelievable. My family was there too, and to be able to
share that with them in Winnipeg was just the best feeling ever,” recalled Runge.
He told the CATS to trust the process because sometimes things take wild turns. “Stick to that
never quit attitude. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are, if you have a dream and you
stick to it, you can make it happen. It’s not going to be easy, but if you stick to it, you’ll be
surprised at what you can do,” said Runge.
Coach Tapp said having Runge share his experience with the team was a big boost for them.
“It’s amazing. He started with the CATS, and in his first year in the CFL, to come away with a
Grey Cup playing with the Riders is truly amazing. I think he’s a role model for these guys.
There are probably a few who are thinking that’s possible for them. I see them putting in the
work, and potentially they can get there too,” he said.
For Runge, seeing the program still active in the community is heartwarming. “There are a lot of
players going out and having success. I see a lot of big bodies out there. Some of them are
better body types than when I played for Whitecourt, so that’s really refreshing. Even just seeing
the numbers out here tonight. I would really love to see the Whitecourt CATS able to play
twelve-man football again. It looks like they may get to that next year. It’s awesome to come

back and see that everything is still chugging along,” he said.
As for himself, having the success he did this year with the Roughriders, Runge said he doesn’t
take anything for granted. “There are a lot of guys that play a long time in the CFL, and things
don’t shake out the right way, and they don’t get opportunities to play in that big last game of the
year. Being able to come back to the community where my football journey started and be able
to share that with the team, where it all started for me, and see the excitement, is something
really special,” smiled Runge.
This year’s CATS award winners were Nate Thomas #45, who received the Coaches Award.
“(He) would repeatedly be on the field during practice, encouraging his teammates to finish
drills. After practice, he would make sure all the gear was picked up and put where it needed to
be. He’s always asking how he can be better, with that pursuit of excellence and being a leader
and an example for the players,” said Coach Tapp.
Logan Czemeres #27 was presented with the Most Valuable Player and the Offensive
Back/Receiver awards. “He never gave up. We had a couple of cold games in High Prairie, and
a lot of players were asking for warm-up jackets and said they were freezing. This player would
walk around them, saying it was California. He would say it was so hot. He was doing that to
bring the spirits up. He would say, yes, we’re down, but let’s get back out there and run the
score up,” said Coach Hough.

This year’s Rookie of the Year is Robert Power #86, Offensive Lineman of the Year is Dakoda
Hallowes #60, Defensive Lineman/Linebacker of the year is Caleb Crory #35, and Defensive
Back of the Year is Luke Harlow #18. All players received a certificate highlighting what they
brought to the team, which included the Big Bear Award given to Isaac Morin, the Can’t Wait To
Play Award presented to Jaxon Thomas, the Football Is Life Award given to Joey Ricalton and
the Mr. Hands Award given to Robert Power.