Uguak hopes to win title before heading to NCAA
High school star leads Harry Ainley into provincial championship game Saturday
Little brothers often like to emulate big brothers and that was always the case for Lwal Uguak.
When Uguak was in Grade 10, his older brother Aher was the star athlete at Harry Ainlay High School.
Many students looked up to him, and Lwal couldn’t help but look up to his brother, too.
He saw Aher earn a basketball scholarship to the University of New Mexico and now the younger Uguak is in that same position as he chases his NCAA dreams — but on the football gridiron instead.
Uguak has an opportunity Saturday to finish his high school football career a provincial champion.
The 17-year-old defensive end has been instrumental in helping Harry Ainlay to a perfect 7-0 regular season and the Titans will play in their first provincial title since 2011 on Saturday in Lacombe against the two-time defending champion and top-ranked St. Francis Browns.
“Ever since we lost the provincial quarter-final last year, we made a pact to get back and finish the deal, especially with the seniors we have who are very talented. We have a lot of great leaders and we have the same mindset heading into this year that we’re going to get it done,” said Uguak, who has offers from both Fresno State and the University of Connecticut. “They have a real good offensive line. I love the challenge they bring. As a team, we’re in the right state of mind right now. No matter how aggressive they are, we’re going to match it. No matter what they throw at us, we’re going to match it.”
Uguak has a big decision to make in the coming months regarding his schooling, but his entire focus now is on helping the Titans win the provincial title.
If you watched a Titans game the last few seasons, you couldn’t help but notice Uguak. He is simply dominant on the defensive line.
“Lwal is a natural born leader,” Titans assistant head coach Tyler Greenslade said. “From the moment we’ve had him since Grade 10, you can tell he’s passionate about the sport of football and he’s such a great teammate. “When I talk to different coaches and scouts, he has the different intangibles that not all kids have. He’s been a real gift to our program.”
Canadian kids getting NCAA football scholarships isn’t as rare as it used to be, but for the last 10 years Uguak has put on his shoulder pads and helmet with the intention of playing football at the highest level he could.
Born to South Sudanese parents who fled their war-torn country to Canada a year before he was born, he knows the value in making the most of an opportunity.
“My parents came to Canada as refugees from South Sudan and when they came here, they wanted our family to have a fresh start,” Uguak said. “They wanted to leave that part of their life in the past so we can move forward in our lives and we don’t have to go through what they went through.”
Uguak has five brothers and a sister, and seeing his older brother’s success on the basketball court inspired him to aim high, too.
“My brother really set the foundation in our family,” Uguak said. “My mom couldn’t put it into words when I got my first offer. She had tears of joy. When I called her, there was silence. It was a sigh of relief to see another one of her sons do big things and get a scholarship.”
Uguak and his teammates have been waiting for this moment the past few years, and they want nothing more than to finish the job against St. Francis. The coaching staff knows it will be their strongest test of the year — but they’re ready for the challenge.
“They’re the class of Alberta high school football right now,” Greenslade said. “It’s a measuring stick game for us. They have all the experience, but we have to approach this game with a quiet confidence.”
When I talk to different coaches and scouts, he has the different intangibles that not all kids have.