More than 100 strong, the Sudbury Jr Spartans take to the James Jerome Sports Complex turf field.

Proudly representing the local franchise in OSFL (Ontario Summer Football League) action, the U16 and U18 squads boast plenty of common ground.

Blessed with coaching staffs who interact regularly, there is a cleared sense of a shared vision that permeates right across the organization.

Still, in as much as these teams mark very different stages in the football evolution of the local talent, one can see the differentiators. Information is layered as the gridiron teens navigate the various steps of development.

A short discussion with both of the main men in charge, head coaches Alex Vendramin (U18) and Dan Yoisten (U16), underscores the reality of athletes who might span a gap of six years or more in age.

“The U18 systems are a little bit more complex,” noted Vendramin, the Lo-Ellen high-school coach now in his third summer with the elder of the Jr Spartans crews. “There are more intricacies, the playbook is maybe a little bit bigger – but they (U16 coaching staff) prepare the guys very, very well.”

For as much as the teams are completely separate entities, the end goals align in lock-step, both in their interest to produce competitive OSFL entries, but also on a more individual scale, creating a framework that gives those prospects who aspire to play beyond high-school all of the tools they would need to succeed.

“We know a lot of what the U16 team does in terms of their systems so it’s a little easier for us to relate to the kids,” said Vendramin. In fact, 2025 likely signals even more of a cross-awareness as Dan Yoisten makes the move to U16 head coach after working more on the defensive side of the ball with the U18 lads the past two years.

“It is different than being a defensive coordinator or just a defensive coach,” stated Yoisten, chatting about the leap to the top end of the coaching hierarchy this spring. “But I’ve been around the game for maybe 23 seasons. And then in my work background, I’ve had a lot of supervisory experience – so it’s simply transferring that over to football.”

Assistant coaches J.J. McKnight, Kyle Preseau and Tate James all bring experience with this age group to the mix, providing critical insight and value as the U16 Jr Spartans are pressed tight against the clock, preparing for their season opening game on May 17th on the road versus the North Bay Bulldogs.

“Mother Nature didn’t help us any,” suggested Yoisten. “We lost a week on the field which never helps. But we’ve had our first real week of practice and they’re starting to come together.”

In terms of similarities, both head coaches are excited at the pure athleticism of some of their top-end talent, notably on offense. Vendramin can unleash weapons galore in the form of Steven Sola, Quin Mazzuchin, Braeden Beggs, Dylan and Byron Nelson along with defensive stalwarts Nathan Nadeau, Nikki Sola and Colton Savage and imposing linemen Braxton Clarke and Kiki Olufowobi.

Meanwhile, Yoisten is reaping the benefits of the rarity of competing high-end quarterbacks in Evan Demarchi and Kade Campbell, along with a pair of bulldozer running backs in Levi Blouin and Bennett Timmers.

“We’re in a really good position at quarterback,” said Yoisten. “Both guys have game experience, both played last year, so it will be whoever is having the better day, the better practices. It’s going to be a dogfight.”

1A and 1B, as Yoisten is prone to suggest, with both Demarchi and Campbell likely to occupy both rungs on the ladder at various times. Their ability to freelance is likely to be key early in the season as the U16 gang strive for a level of consistency in their reps.

“We’ve had our first real week of practice and they’re starting to come together,” said Yoisten. “They’re young and we’re still trying to learn some of the talent that we have out there. We have some amazing athletes, but we’re still trying to learn how to use them.”

“We have a lot of returning players on defense, so that’s going to be easier,” Yoisten added. “Offenses are always a little more complicated. We’re putting some good athletes into position and they just have to practice, practice and practice.”

By contrast, Vendramin and and staff* are able to hit the ground running – certainly far more than the younger age bracket. “We have some of those top end guys that are likely to drive the team,” he opined, his troops getting ready to face the Scarborough Thunder, also on May 17th, also on the road.

*Joining Alex Vendramin on the U18 coaching staff are: Shane Hutchinson, Cooper Fontaine, Matthew Mott, Jared Loyer, Mika Koskela, Simon Cope and Nick Beech.

The foundation that has been built with a good number of players who are now entering year three with the Sudbury U18 entry has even allowed for a bit of a tweak in how the staff are approaching their workouts at James Jerome.

“We changed a little bit the way that we structured practices so far this year,” outlined Vendramin. “There’s a lot more focus on high tempo and repetition. We only have two hour sessions and we’re trying to make the most of it.”

Where the U16 folks have no choice but to work on the basics of the playbook, the U18’ers can move it along to some specific situational exercises.

“Things like two minute drills, red zone reps; we want it to be second nature for the guys so they’re not feeling a ton of pressure just because we have practiced it so much already,” said Vendramin.

Whether one is talking U16 or U18 football, the head coach of the four-time city high-school champs sees the summer experience as a clear ascension for these talented teens. “High school is a lot more fundamental based,” said Vendramin. “Defensively, you are looking to teach tackling at the high-school level.”

“At OSFL, these kids habe a lot of those fundamentals coming in. We aim to provide more techniques, more skiils to increase their tool box. That’s what you can do with those players because that base is already set.”

And laying out those steps of the progression for those that want to move on is something the Sudbury Jr Spartans have done very well, from one step to the next.