The Saskatchewan Roughriders didn't stray too far from home with their final pick of the 2025 CFL Draft.
Drafted 69th overall out of the University of Saskatchewan in Tuesday's draft, Herschel area native Daniel Wiebe took a big step towards a lifelong goal. Wiebe grew up on a farm, starting his football career while being a student at Rosetown Central High School, before ending high school in Saskatoon where he studied and played for Holy Cross.
As a member of the Rosetown Royals, Wiebe played both 6-aside and 9-aside football under head coach Mitch Wintonyk, who was certainly following along with the possibility of his former player being drafted.
"It was exciting. As coaches we had been talking over the last couple weeks about how exciting it would be to have a kid who came through our program be drafted to the CFL... Everyone was really excited for Daniel."
Wintonyk would have loved to have a player like Wiebe his whole high school career, but never got the chance with Wiebe's family moving to the city for Grade 11. He played with the Royals from Grades 7-10, before suiting up for Holy Cross in Grade 11, unfortunately having his senior season wiped out due to COVID. After high school Wiebe went straight to the University of Saskatchewan where he played 34 games in four seasons, scoring 15 touchdowns and collecting over 1800 receiving yards from his wideout spot.
Wintonyk and Wiebe still connect over the occasional text to talk football. The newest Roughriders draft pick certainly respects where he came from, shouting out Rosetown Central High School during the CFL Draft Combine and also on social media following the draft.
While it's impossible to predict where someone will go at such a young age, Wintonyk had a front row seat to Wiebe's initial development where he impressed on, and off the field. Just from watching him as a gym teacher Wintonyk knew Wiebe had a chance to make it big.
"From probably Grade 8 he started getting in our weight room pretty consistently, I would say probably four or five times a week. He's a very disciplined kid." said Wintonyk "I taught him Phys. Ed and he would be in the weight room while other kids are not as engaged, kind of goofing around, (Daniel) had his own program he was doing. Just very committed to what his goals were, from an early age."
Wintonyk gave credit to Wiebe for being a tremendous overall athlete, calling him quite the hockey player as a young kid too. While Wiebe's dedicated nature could have taken him anywhere, all signs pointed to him wanting a home on the gridiron.
"Just chose the football route." finished Wintonyk.
Wiebe will be part of the first crop of players at Roughriders training camp beginning next week. Rookie camp runs May 7-9, and then on May 11 the Roughriders open up main camp, all of the early season work taking place out of Griffiths Stadium, Wiebe's old stomping grounds with the Huskies.