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By Martin Cleary
When Quinn Vanneste was a young boy, he was rather active.
His mother Ann Marie tried to channel his energy into the right sport or activity, but nothing seemed to interest him.
But at age 10, Quinn’s uncle suggested he try tackle football, a sport requiring high energy, speed and teamwork.
Bingo. That was the answer to the million-dollar question.
Not only did football capture Quinn’s attention at that critical moment, but also it has developed into his passion on and off the field during the past seven years.
If his family and friends thought he was active when he was a youngster, Vanneste is equally busy this month as he heads into a new international athletic and academic experience and is in contention for a major global honour.
After finishing Grade 11 in June at All Saints High School in Kanata, Vanneste, 16, has enrolled at Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts for his 2025-26 academic and athletic pursuits. Tabor is a co-educational, independent college preparatory boarding and day school.
An honour-roll student at All Saints, Vanneste plans to spend two years at Tabor, reclassifying as a Grade 11 student and graduating Grade 12 in 2027. Playing under head coach Jeff Moore and his assistant coaches, he hopes to continue to develop his game as a defensive linebacker and attract more NCAA Division 1 university athletic scholarship offers.
Vanneste already has one scholarship offer from Syracuse University based on his performances at six football camps in 2024 throughout the United States and a 3-star ranking from @247Sports.
He also has received game-day invitations from Boston College and Rutgers University to experience their football programs and has made a few unofficial visits to universities on game-days for a closer view of life at the next level.
Off the field, Vanneste is in the running for the Youth Athlete of the Year, which is a worldwide contest spearheaded by NFL quarterback Russell Wilson of the New York Giants. He is currently in first place in his group and voting for the group finalists ends Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.
Youth ages 7 to 17 submitted applications detailing their athletic, academic and personal stories. Voting can be done at www.athleteoftheyear.org.
Voters need to have a Facebook account for a Free Daily Vote. But the public also can make a donation vote to support V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Why Not You Foundation to fight poverty through education initiatives.
The Youth Athlete of the Year winner will receive $25,000 (U.S.) and appear in a 3BRAND, three-page advertisement in Sports Illustrated magazine.
If Vanneste earns the Youth Athlete of the Year distinction, he knows exactly how he will invest his prize money.
Besides being a talented and accomplished two-sport athlete as a linebacker in football and a sprinter in high school track and field as well as an outstanding student, Vanneste has created his own charity – Give a Cleat, Grow a Champion – to help younger, less fortunate football players achieve their gridiron goals.
At the end of August, Vanneste presented his first pair of cleats to offensive lineman Charlie Hall, who plays with the Kanata Knights.
“Seeing his face light up made my day,” Vanneste said in a phone interview this week. “It’s not just about giving cleats, but it’s a community being together and giving something for the common good.
“If I win (the contest), I will use the money to start my charity. I’ll give cleats to those who can’t afford it. I once was in that position. It’s a goal for me to help. I’m lucky to play. It has been tough on my (single) mom, but she wanted me to play football.”
During his seven years in the Knights’ football organization, the humble Vanneste has made a name for himself in a quiet manner. He has been a part of two championship teams, including winning the Stephen Dean Varsity division title in 2024.
For his last three seasons (two bantam and one varsity), he was named Kanata’s top defensive player. In his nine-game varsity season last year, he registered 80 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack. He also used his speed for four kick return touchdowns.
He added to his skill development with the Knights by attending six American football camps for testing and assessment against the best high school players in the United States.
“I experienced what the college level is like and what they (coaches) are looking for at linebacker plus I was competing against U.S. players,” Vanneste explained.
Two years ago, Vanneste started the process of looking to play high school football in the United States, when Gridiron Academy owner and founder Victor Tedondo contacted Tabor Academy Seawolves head coach Jeff Moore. Tedondo operates a training venue for football players aiming to earn American university athletic scholarships. There are currently 15 Gridiron Academy players on NCAA Division 1 rosters for the 2025 season.
Vanneste is grateful for both Tedondo and Moore in the development of his football career.
“The biggest impact has been made by Victor. He has allowed me to strive to be the best I can be and teach me the aspects of football and life lessons,” Vanneste said. “Jeff Moore has taken a chance on me.”
The Tabor Seawolves will have a scrimmage on Saturday before playing their first Independent School League game on the road Sept. 13 against The Williston Northampton School. Their home opener is Sept. 20 against The Governor’s Academy.
“I hope to be able to get a lot of tackles, interceptions, forced fumbles, a lot of stats to allow this team to win a championship,” Vanneste said in advance of his first Seawolves regular season.
Vanneste hopes to follow the golden footsteps of Ottawa’s Hugo Djeumeni, who was a phenomenal running back and track sprinter for the Seawolves from 2023-25. Djeumeni is a freshman at Yale University and playing for the Bulldogs.
In his two years of American football with Tabor, Djeumeni accumulated an unimaginable 4,166 yards rushing on 414 carries, scored 67 touchdowns and numerous individual awards for the 15-3 Seawolves. As a track athlete, the six-foot, one-inch and 210-pound Djeumeni set a Grade 12 record at Tabor for the 100 metres, when he ran 10.89 seconds, which was one of the best times in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council.
When football season is completed in November, Vanneste will turn his training attention to track and field. As an All Saints student-athlete, Vanneste won three gold, two silver and one bronze medals at three National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association city high school championships.
On a cold, rainy day four months ago at the Ottawa high school track and field championships, he won the boys’ 100 metres in his first year as a senior in 11.49 seconds. The previous week at the West Conference finals, he ran 11.09 seconds in the heats and 11.11 seconds for third place in the final. His best time is 11.08 seconds this season. In 2024, he anchored the All Saints boys’ junior 4×100-metre relay team to a NCSSAA record, which had stood for 20 years.
As the Independent School League football season approaches, PRZ Preseason C/O 2027 All-New England Team Selection recognized Vanneste’s qualities and named him to its defensive team.
“Quinn is an exceptionally talented linebacker with significant promise,” Roger Silva wrote. “With a mother, who was a former track star at LSU, he undoubtedly benefits from her genetic speed, which he effectively weaves into his gameplay.”
Vanneste has speed, size and football instincts and knows how to diagnose each play at a fast speed.
“The game slows down for me. It looks like I’m faster. I know what’s going on,” he added.
“For me, football is my happy place. It allows me to play a sport I love and get my head away from things. It allows me to clear my head.”
The once active young boy has become an active young man in full control of his destination.
Martin Cleary has written about amateur sports for over 52 years. A past Canadian sportswriter of the year and Ottawa Sports Awards Lifetime Achievement in Sport Media honouree, Martin retired from full-time work at the Ottawa Citizen in 2012, but continued to write a bi-weekly “High Achievers” column for the Citizen/Sun.
When the pandemic struck, Martin created the High Achievers “Stay-Safe Edition” to provide some positive news during tough times, via his Twitter account at first and now here at OttawaSportsPages.ca.
Martin can be reached by e-mail at martincleary51@gmail.com and on Twitter @martincleary.
You are a remarkable young man Quinn! It’s wonderful that you are starting your own charity organization where a lot of unfortunate young boys will benefit starting out. You will make an awesome mentor!! Keep up the great work!!