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HURONIA STALLIONS
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On Aug. 13, Mansel Haughton was excited to finally be signing with McMaster University after a ceremony had been delayed since March because of COVID-19.
Being an offensive lineman takes a special kind of person. For 6-foot-2, 265-pound Mansel Haughton out of Joan of Arc in Barrie, he fully buys into his line and the faith that the man next to you will do his job just as you do yours. The success of the line depends on it.
“I focus on my personal assignment and making sure I do the things I have to. I try not to think about what other players are doing because I can not control that,” he says.
The best part about being an offensive lineman, in Haughton’s opinion, is the physicality and the fact that regardless of who gets the ball, you always have work to do.
His teammates would say they appreciate the fact that Haughton is very physical and you can see the passion of the sport in the way he plays the game. This passion earned him Lineman of the Year with the Huronia Stallions in 2017 and 2019 along with being ranked No 2 offensive player by Simcoe County Football (SCF) for Simcoe County Athletic Association SCAA 2019 season.
Excited to play at the next level with McMaster as a Marauder, Haughton would like to focus on Social Sciences, but he’s open to many options. In order to get here, he trains as much as possible during the lockdown.
“Skipping is something my coach had recommended to me and I feel it is a great footwork exercise,” he explained about his training regime. He adds: “Speed, feet, and hand placement is something I think a linemen can improve no matter what level you play at, I work every day to improve all three of these things. I also work to become stronger and quicker and an overall better athlete”.
Being a multi-sport athlete and taking part in all kinds of physical activity with his friends, is what you’ll find him doing when not training. He also enjoys racing the family sailboat with his dad during the summer months.
“My parents Andy and Shelley have supported me on and off the field in every aspect of my life, I wouldn’t be anywhere without them,” he says.
Mentioning people who have taught him the game of football and helped him grow as a player, Coach Martino di Sabatino and Coach Hale with the Huronia Stallions, deserve special thanks as they have helped Haughton grow personally.
“I would like to give special thanks to Coach Martino from the Stallions for not just the help he has given me personally but what he does for every Stallion player," said Haughton.
"Coach Hale of the Stallions organization I also have to give my respect to. When I first started playing, he believed in me and helped to push me along my football journey.”
Haughton played his final year of high school football with Joan of Arc and thanks the wonderful school, coaches and team who welcomed and supported him.
Haughton, simply stated, loves to win.
“I just want to do everything I can in every situation to put my team in a position where we are going to win games. I always try to bring a good attitude and make sure we are all playing our best ball regardless of the score," said Haughton.
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