2015 CIS Football Player To Watch: Lewis Ward, Ottawa Gee-Gees

Source: Jennifer Elliott, Ottawa Sports Info / Photo credit Richard A. Whittaker

Name: Lewis Ward
University: Ottawa
Hometown: Kingston, ON
Position: Kicker
Academic program: Social Sciences
Height: 5-7
Weight: 1172

When Lewis Ward drilled his career-long field goal 43 yards through the uprights at Gee-Gees Field in late October, Ottawa trailed McMaster 9-3. He would kick three more that day, helping the home side turn the game around and take a 38-18 win to secure a playoff berth. In just his second season, Ward had etched his name into the impressive history of Gee-Gees kickers; he is the only one to ever record five field goals in a game twice in one season. Opening up the 2015 campaign, Ward is out to prove he is among the nation's elite.

Growing up, if you had asked Lewis Ward what he wanted to be he may well have said be a professional football player. But they don't know much about the CFL in Schafthousen, Switzerland or Leamington Spa, England, and Ward was a soccer goalkeeper.

Ward and his family moved to Kingston, Ont., when the talented athlete was mid-way through grade eight. "The only school sport that was going on when I arrived was basketball," he explains. "The friends that I hung out with when I got to Kingston played OPP football which is a league that helps kids develop football skills before going into high school. I did well and that helped me move into high school football."

For Ward, soccer continued to be a passion until he broke his left leg playing high school rugby the summer before university. That was when, despite having made a competitive OYSL club team, the young goalkeeper/point guard/fly half/receiver/kicker focussed his attention on football.

"I think playing a lot of different sports built me in a way that I can say I am pretty athletic and so when situations come up on the field, I can adjust and do what I need to do. But after I broke my leg everything else other than football took a back seat."

Ward stuck to the sidelines during his first year of University, helping with team film while his leg healed. During this time, he got to know his new coach David Miller-Johnston, and his predecessor who holds the Gee-Gees kicking records, Matt Falvo. "Being there to experience how things work helped a lot and I got to learn from him and coach DMJ."

Over the next two seasons Ward has recorded steady improvement. "I'm very determined to be better every year. After my first year, going into last year I wanted to be above 80 per cent and I reached that." Indeed, Ward went 18-21 to rank fourth in the nation in field goal percentage. "This year I want to be above 90 per cent and be one of the top three kickers in the country."

"I'm at the point now where I feel like within 42-43 yards, I own that space. That's my space and I should hit those easy." Ward credits Miller-Johnston for building the mental side of kicking as well. "He's helped me a lot with confidence. He's always trying to push the limits – if we have a long field goal opportunity he will push Coach Barresi to get me out there, which is definitely a confidence builder for me."

With the Gee-Gees on the rise, Ward hopes that his football story is just beginning.

"The next couple of years is where you get noticed and have a chance to go to the next level. People notice everything you do – whether it's on the field, off the field, practicing, on the campus, or in the change room. You can't afford little mistakes. It's two big years to make sure that I perform at my best."