Four local football players were part of the Manitoba Selects football program which took part in the Winter Showcase, Dec. 27 to 29 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Lars Gudbjartson, Owen Tyschinski, Sully Fox and William Miner put their football skills to the test, hoping to impress American college and university scouts.

Fox said the four players were invited by the Selects head coach Frank Devine to attend tryout camps every Saturday in Winnipeg.

“It was a pretty cool experience going to Minnesota this past weekend,” he said.

Fox said it was pretty cool to make the Selects program.

“It felt great. It was a good experience. I was really glad to be out there in my Grade 11 year, just to get lots of experience playing football and try to come back to help the team here at home,” he said. “I think more people should get into it, because it’s an open tryout. You just have to go there, work hard. If you make it, they want you there.”

Miner said the showcase consisted of individual skills, where players were expected to show the coaches what they could do.

“And you basically tried to show off what you could do. It’s not a team thing, hence the name showcase. You want to show off,” he said.

Fox added they had a couple of practices the first day and attended the facility where the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild practice, where a combine was held for players attended the football camp.

On the third day, he added, players visited the Minnesota Vikings stadium, which was a new experience for the young players.

Fox and Miner hope the experience will help them in their football careers.

Fox noted Joseph Lopez played on the Selects last year and received a couple of offers from different schools.

“So we’re kind of hoping for the same for both of us,” he added.