As they head to teams and universities throughout Canada and the U.S., graduating student-athletes from Holy Rosary High School in Lloydminster carry with them their Raiders’ roots and values.
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“Holy Rosary has been a huge part of helping me become who I am, with my work ethic, with how I am, how I act and what I do on a daily basis,” said Jace Zidar, bound for his freshman season with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.
“It’s all kind of tied into Holy and all the sports we play and getting to meet all the guys that I’ve played with throughout the years.”
Zidar and six other Holy Rosary seniors were recognized during a June 12 signing ceremony at the school. They’re graduating to the next level in their respective sports and continuing their education in the process.
Those other Raiders who have declared their post-secondary plans are Emerson Matthews (University of Buffalo, NCAA Division 1 volleyball), Shae Steinley (Lakeland College, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference volleyball), Nick Hill (University of Toronto, U Sports football), Cash Parkin (Drayton
Valley Thunder, Alberta Junior Hockey League) and Canadian Junior Football League recruits Davin Bajema (Calgary Colts) and Ethan Grannum (Edmonton Huskies).
It’s a diverse group of athletes that shares one distinct similarity — a Holy Rosary foundation.
‘BIG PART OF MY LIFE’
Zidar was accepted into the U of S last September on the same day he applied and toured the campus. Before he even left Saskatoon, he was notified within five hours of his acceptance.
What’s more, the U of S awarded Zidar a $30,000 entrance scholarship in March, further enabling him to study biomedical science and play football with the Huskies.
“It’s a pretty big deal for me, because sports have been a big part of my life, and so has school,” he said. “So, being able to do both at a high level and continuing it on from high school is a super big opportunity. I’m super happy to be doing it.”
In joining the Huskies, Zidar becomes teammates with starting quarterback Anton Amundrud, a collegiate veteran who played his high school football with the Lloydminster Comprehensive Barons.
Zidar was a defensive end with the Raiders, but he expects to play a new position with the U of S.
“The Huskies have offered me a spot as a linebacker, so I’m switching up positions for U Sports,” he said. “I’m excited for it.”
Zidar is enthused about learning from the likes of U of S linebacker Seth Hundeby, who this spring became a draft choice of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“It’ll be cool to be able to work with him and get better.”
Zidar leaves for Saskatoon in about a month. His first mandatory practice with the Huskies is Aug. 7.
He plans to live in the dorms with three of his teammates.
“We’ve got a little four-bedroom apartment on campus. It’s a good setup.”
INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS ON VOLLEYBALL PATH
Typical of the multi-tasking athletes from Holy Rosary, volleyball star
Matthews was on her way to writing a final exam later Thursday as the school celebrated students signing on for sports at the next level.
Just three days later, the University of Buffalo commit left for Team Canada U19 tryouts, with 18 players vying for 12 roster berths.
The national team is expected to be chosen later this week, setting the stage for Canada’s representation in the Pan American Cup in Ontario and the world championship at Croatia.
Matthews, who doesn’t turn 18 until October, was part of the Canadian U19 team for last year’s worlds. She also spent four months in the national excellence program last fall in Vancouver.
Her older siblings, Ella and Norah, cleared a volleyball path for Matthews. Ella played during her school years. Norah remains involved today while playing at the Canadian university level.
“I just wanted to try it out, and it turned out to be something that I loved a lot,” Emerson Matthews said with a smile. “I miss it every single day that I don’t play. It’s really nice to have something that I love to play so much.
“I’m an outside hitter, so I pass a lot and I get a lot of balls set to me, which is nice.”
For the past three years, Matthews has played club volleyball in Saskatoon, so her Holy Rosary athletics mostly accounted for her sporting involvement in Lloydminster.
“I think playing school sports has really developed me into more of a competitive player, as well as someone who can take on a leadership role and just be committed to what I do,” she said. “Especially when I played kind of different volleyball between the school and club seasons.”
Matthews was in Grade 11 in 2023 when she visited the University of Buffalo campus and was sold on the NCAA school almost from the outset.
“After I went on the visit, a couple of weeks later, I got an offer for a full scholarship, and just a couple of months later I accepted it, because that’s where I wanted to go,” said Matthews, who estimated the deal is worth about $50,000 US per year.
“The girls were awesome. I really liked the culture and the environment was amazing. I really loved the coaches. They were all super engaged with the team when they were playing — I got to watch them play.
“The campus was amazing. It was really big. It wasn’t confusing, which was the best part about it. I’ve kind of got to figure that out on my own when I get there.”
Older sister Norah Matthews sensed in the early going that Emerson was gung-ho about the University of Buffalo.
“Right when she got back (from a campus visit), she was telling me all about it,” Norah said. “I just knew she was going to go there, because she just sounded so excited.
“It’s really impressive. It’s really exciting for her.”
Norah and other family members shared in Emerson’s excitement last week at Holy Rosary’s ceremonial signing day. Norah, meanwhile, is transferring to Mount Royal University in Calgary from the University of Saskatchewan.
“It’s really cool to have us both play volleyball, and to see her go and travel and do something pretty impressive is really great,” Norah said of Emerson. “Volleyball definitely keeps us connected. It’s a cool thing that we all do.”
Norah, a 2024 Holy Rosary graduate, sought a change in charting her move to Mount Royal from the U of S.
“Just wanted to play somewhere new — just something different — and I wanted to stay in Canada,” she said. “Calgary keeps me close enough to home and near my brother, because he goes to high school in Calgary.”
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