Drafted to D1 football

Many athletes can only thank their coaches for giving them the skills they need to achieve a win. But for Lawrence Nicholas, who was recruited by the Cégep Garneau Division 1 Élans football team this month, his brother Samuel Nicholas has made all the difference.

“He’s the best big brother I could ever ask for. He’s a great mentor,” said Lawrence. “Without him, I don’t know if I would be in this position, because he’s taught me a lot.”

For Lawrence, who first fell in love with football at age seven, the draft with the Élans in Quebec City feels surreal.

“My dream is accomplished: I get to play football at the Division 1 level,” said Lawrence. “When I decided to commit to the team I was in disbelief for a couple weeks. I still am.”

Samuel took great care to monitor his brother’s athletic success during his last year at high school.

Lawrence received many calls checking in on whether he had worked out at the gym, to make sure he was keeping up with his schoolwork in the International Baccalaureate program, and if he was eating and sleeping well.

“I was always on his tail,” said Samuel.

“I understand for some people, constantly getting those messages seeing if you just did the essentials, it can get a bit tiring, but at the end of the day, it’s my big brother. He just wants the best for me,” said Lawrence. “Some people might find it annoying, but personally, I don’t find it all that annoying.”

Last summer, Lawrence honed his football skills while being coached by his brother.

“I would be doing warmups with him, where he would be teaching me how to fix my stance, how to punch better, how to do a step better,” said Lawrence. “I got to develop some more and become a better football player.”

And Lawrence is learning from top talent.

Last year, Samuel won the Bol D’Or, the championship title of the Reseau du sport étudiant du Quebec’s CEGEP Division 1 football season, while playing for the Notre-Dame-de-Foy Campus football team.

Samuel established a path of success in football, and he considers it part of his responsibility to help guide his younger brother down the same road.

“I’m just showing him, paving him the way, and he’s going to do the rest of the work,” said Samuel. “Clearly he did, because he reached the same level of football calibre that I’m currently playing.”

Both Samuel and Lawrence said the dedication and support from their parents has gotten them to where they want to be.

“My parents and my brothers, those are my biggest supporters. My dad (Eugene Nicholas) and my mom always make sure that I have everything I need,” said Lawrence. “They’re the one of the biggest blessings I have in my life.”

Along with school, Lawrence said football is his life.

“To be able to get this opportunity to go play football at this calibre and at this level, it means everything to me,” he said. “I wouldn’t give it up for the world.”

Lawrence has received a workout plan, nutrition plan, and playbook for his team. Soon he will start training with the team and on August 1, the football season begins.

And he’s already dived right in.

“I’m already starting to learn their plays. I’m hitting the gym with what they’re giving me. I’m eating exactly what they’re giving me on the nutrition plan,” said Lawrence.

For the future, Lawrence hopes to play professionally and is also considering a career in engineering or law.

“I’m excited for the upcoming season,” said Lawrence.

And his big brother Samuel will continue to cheer and coach him onto greater heights.

“I hope everything goes smoothly and goes amazingly well for my brother,” said Samuel. “I just wish him all the best and all the care in the world, and that he makes it further than I do.”

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Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter