Taber bantam Rebels player one stop away from making U16 Western Challenge roster

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Taber Times

By Garrett Simmons
For Taber Times

An all-star football player for the Taber bantam Rebels is hoping to take his talents to Winnipeg this summer.

Harmon Pierson, who was honoured as the Southern Alberta Minor Football Association SAMFA Most Outstanding Offensive Player and was also named the SAMFA All-Star Game Most Outstanding Offensive Back, is one step away from being named to the U16 Western Challenge roster as a member of Team Alberta.

He is among nine running backs who will be attending a final tryout camp June 14-15. From that camp, the top 40 players will get ready to head to Winnipeg from June 29-July 6, where Team Alberta will take on teams from British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Pierson’s journey began on April 26, when Shouldice Park hosted a two-day camp, where approximately 150-160 hopefuls from the south gathered.

“After that tryout they cut us down to 80 players and split us into two teams,” said Peirson, who added the next camp was May 16-19. “We had three days of two-a-day practices and then on Monday the 19th we played against one of the two north teams.”

After the games, another 100 players were released, which brought the number down to 66.

At the final selection camp in Red Deer, coaches will select the top 40 players to represent Alberta in Winnipeg.

Throughout the process, Pierson added the competition has been fierce.

“I felt like it was a big step up,” he said. “I really didn’t know what to expect and I went in pretty nervous. Once I got into the tryout, I realized that I was still able to stand out in my position and that built my confidence a lot.”

The bantam Rebels standout felt even more comfortable after he represented Taber as a league all-star.

“I also felt more confident after playing in the SAMFA All-Star game,” said Person. “I feel like my speed is top two for the running back position and my shiftiness and quickness would have me at top two as well. The thing that seemed to set me apart from anyone else was my strength and my ability to block and knock the big linebackers down.”

He is hoping those skills translate into a spot on Team Alberta.

“I feel like I have a good shot at making the top 40 but it is a bit harder coming from a relatively unknown school,” said Pierson, who added a lot of the Alberta coaches already knew some of the players from the bigger cities and the surrounding areas. “I feel like I need to prove myself more with being an unknown player. I feel like I was able to stand out pretty well and was the starting running back for my game in Red Deer.”

So far, the tryout process has given Pierson some perspective on how much talent is out there across the province.

“There are a lot of great players and every one of them are dedicated players,” he said. “There is a different mentality when all players are there to perform to the very top of their ability and everyone is competing for a spot on the team.”

Pierson’s preparation for Team Alberta, and the upcoming high school season, has included a high level of training, which has included weightlifting, something he got more serious about two years ago.

“I was blessed with good genetics and have always been the fast guy in school and always strong, right from the time I was a little kid,” he said. “I train six times a week for about two hours a day. My dad used to lift and I am lucky that we have a lot of good equipment and I am able to lift at home and still have commercial equipment.”

His weightlifting regiment has paid dividends, as the Taber product is seeking an opportunity to make an official attempt at an internationally-sanctioned event to set the world bench press record for his age group and weight class.

“I entered Summer Games for powerlifting last year at age 14 and won the category for 14-18 year olds,” said Pierson. “I have been pushing myself pretty hard.”

And with a few weeks to go before the June 14-15 camp, Pierson is going to keep the pedal to the metal.

“The coaches didn’t really tell us anything to work on between now and the next camp but I’m going to keep up my weight training and doing some plyometrics,” he said. “I’m always working on my explosiveness, speed, quickness and trying to maximize my performance.”

All in all, Pierson added the Football Alberta camps have been a great experience.

“The coaches were great and very knowledgeable,” he said. “I feel like I improved a lot by attending these tryouts. I’ve made so many great friends with the players.”

Pierson mentioned he would not have been able to get to this point without the support of so many along the way.

“I have to thank my dad for all his support and for doing everything that he can to make sure that I have every opportunity to succeed. I also want to thank Taber Rebels Football and especially all the coaches who have volunteered so much of their own time to make it possible for guys like me to play. There really is no other sport like football.”