'Something in the tap water' at Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, which counts 3 Grey Cup champs among alumni

If the saying "champions aren't born, they're made"is true, one might want to look at what's happening atWinnipeg's Collge Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, which welcomed some of its distinguished past athletes back for a fundraiser this week.

The high school now counts among its alumni four current Canadian Football League players, three of whom are wearing a Grey Cup ring.

All four players once played for the same Huskies football team, winning the AA championship in 2008.

"It's crazy when you think about it. I dunno, maybe it's something in the tap water that we drink in the hallways," joked Anthony Coombs, wide receiver for the 2017 Grey Cup-winning Toronto Argonautsand class of 2010 at Sturgeon Heights.

"It's good to see all your classmates, and former classmates go on and do great things," he said.

Fellow alumni Kienan Lafrance now a Saskatchewan Roughrider and 2016 Grey Cup winner with his former team, the Ottawa Redblacksgraduated Class of 2009 as a Husky.

Twin brothersJustin and Jordan Herdman, who play for Toronto and B.C. respectively, are also former Huskies, following just a few years behind Lafrance and Coombs. Justin was also part of this season's Grey Cup-winningArgos team.

The Winnipeg High School Football League says there are 18 athletes who formerly played inthe league currently withCFLteams, including three with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

"[Sturgeon Heights] was probably my first organized sports experience, where you have travelling with a team and everything, and it really shaped who I am as a person and as an athlete too," said Coombs.

He and Lafrance were at the Collegiate Wednesday to play in a basketball game with students as part of an annual fundraiser the school hosts called "Pros vs.Joes."

The week-long event sees professional athletes take on students, or "regularJoes," in a series of sporting and entertainment events over the lunch hours that raise money for Christmas hampers for up to 50 families.

Coombs participated in the event as a "Joe" back in his high school days, and has returned the past few years to give back.

"A big part of my identity is being a professional athlete and if it wasn't for this school, and the people at this school, I wouldn't be where I am today," he said.

Lafrance has also taken part in the event for several years and remembers his days as a "Joe," and playing against some former Blue Bomber greats.

"I was playing against guys likeDoug Brown for example, I thinkObby Khanwas out here.It's cool to be able to grow with something that's a good aspect for the city."

The Grey Cup winners couldn't quite put their finger on why the school has been so successful in churning out CFL players, but their former football coach, Brett Watt, says the players drove their own success.

"[The school] just has a great bunch of kids and a great bunch of players that came in and they [were] hard workers, good dedicated football players, and it was a lot of fun to coach and see them move on," he said.

Watt still teaches math at the school but no longer coaches football. He said havinghis former players go on to the CFL has been a great motivator for his current students.

"It gives them a hope and an understanding that if those two can do it, anybody can do it," he said of Coombs and Lafrance.

"As a coach you always want to see your football players become [not just] better students of the game, but good ambassadors of the schooland they are great people."

Players 'tremendous role models' for students

Current Huskies playerBrock Gutowski has a full scholarship to the University of Manitoba, where he will play on the Bison's offensive line.

"They're tremendous role models to me and they really drive me to get to where I want to be in the CFL," said Gutowski, who is currently in Grade 12.

"It makes me feel that maybe one day I can bring a Grey Cup back to Sturgeon Heights."

Gutowski said it's more than just a coincidence his school's alumni are so successful, and it isn't the water.

"It's the Husky pride you have to have the heart to get to be where you wanna be in life, and you can totally see it through these guys."