Tiger on the gridiron
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OGDEN -- When the Ogden Tigers midget football team lines up against the Brigham City Black squad on Saturday at Ogden High School, there will be much on the line.
The Tigers are chasing a Wasatch Football League playoff spot, and a win would help them secure a good seeding.
It's the final game of the regular season, and the young 12- and 13-year-olds want to give their loyal fans a great show.
But this squad is already a success story.
Ocean Zirkel, a first-year member of the Tigers, has gained the respect and admiration of his peers as he overcome his disability to contribute to the team.
Zirkel, 13, suffers from arthrogryposis, a condition characterized by a lack of muscle tissue in his arms and legs.
But it hasn't slowed him down.
"He's a great part of this team," said coach Mark Allen, who got into coaching in the WFL, ironically, to coach his daughter Anna. "He never misses a practice. Ocean comes ready to go to work."
Anna Allen is also finishing up her WFL career when the season ends.
"When you realize how hard Ocean works, he really is an inspiration," coach Allen said.
Zirkel says he loves to tackle, and hopes to keep playing football.
"I like being aggressive," he said.
"When he was young, we were told he would never walk, and Ocean overcame that," his father, Shane Zirkel said on Wednesday night as the team finished up practice at Ogden's Monroe Park. "He's a great kid. He doesn't hold anything back. We're proud of him.
"We credit the coaches with helping him succeed. Come out to Ogden High at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and see," his proud dad said.
Ocean's teammates were equal in their praise, pointing to his tenacity and heart.
"From the moment his dad asked if he could on this team, he's been a part of us," Dave MacInnes, another coach said. "He has a ton of desire."
To see more of Ocean Zirkel's story, visit www.standard.net.
Standard-Examiner staff photographer Djamila Grossman contributed to this report.
Reader Comments
WAY TO GO! My daughter is 4 with AMC and into sports... I hope she can play something half as well as you!
If you are interested, there is a support group too...
amcsupport.org
You can meet others with arthrogryposis...
I was pleased with the treatment of this fine young man and his tenacity. I have a nephew with arthrogryposis, and I see Ocean as such a neat role model. Keep up the good work. Kudos to the coaches, parents, etc. He also looks like he's got some neat friends.