Second-year receiver Jordan Terrio downplays his performance in the preseason Summer Challenge at Antigonish, N.S.
“I just wanted to be consistent with no drops or anything like that so that was what I was focusing on and knowing the plays,” he said. “The plays were there to make and I made them. We had perfect throws by both quarterbacks, Theo (Landers) and James (Roberts). I was just there in the right spot.”
Terrio caught a total of three touchdown passes as the Gryphons won three of the four mini-games they played. They defeated the St. Francis Xavier X-Men twice and split with the Mount Allison Mounties and outscored their opponents by a combined 62-13 score.
For Terrio, the mini-games were welcomed after he missed half of that week-long training camp.
“I came off another hamstring strain, so coming off that and getting my feet back in the field was positive,” he said. “I practised the last three full days, had a day off and then we went to Nova Scotia and I got a chance to fully play a game, which was nice. It was definitely a relief that I got to play again considering last year it took a while for me to recover.”
Terrio missed the entire training camp and preseason for the 2016 campaign He suited up for five games, but caught passes in two – eight receptions in all for 121 yards and a touchdown. He’s hoping to see a lot more action this season.
“Dave Wright here has got me doing what I have to do to stay healthy. Huge props to him,” Terrio said. “Basically, the exercises that Dave has given me makes sure they’re strong – a lot of fast-twitch and strengthening of the hamstrings and just maintaining sleep and eating. Those are the biggest things to keep your muscles going — and hydration. All the things you’re told to do, you have to do, especially with hamstrings, and those exercises along with it.”
Wright is the interim head athletic therapist, filling in for Teresa Budwal who is off on parental leave.
“The exercises Dave has given me, the stretches and exercises, have worked,” Terrio said.
For the receiver, OUA football wasn’t that far off his preconceived notion of the type of play he’d experience. However, preparing for it wasn’t easy.
“I had an idea coming in that it was going to be a faster, more physical game and that’s definitely what it was,” he said. “At first you can’t really anticipate how fast it is and how fast your brain is moving and how fast you’re thinking. Eventually you settle down once you know the play book and you start to pay attention. I think it was what I thought it would be, but it’s a little different than what you can prepare for.”
For freshmen athletes who are also first-year students, the school workload can be daunting.
“For me, the first semester I took three classes because I knew it was going to be more heavy duty,” the human kinetics student said. “I found that relatively manageable. It wasn’t difficult to manage. Second semester I took four classes. Along with SAM (Student Athlete Mentorship program) and all the athletes on our team that can help out with the same program, I found it was definitely manageable.”
Now Terrio and his teammates are focused on being ready for their season opener Sunday afternoon when they’ll tangle with the Ottawa Gee-Gees at Alumni Stadium.
“(I’ve got to) practise hard this week and be consistent and in terms of the hamstrings, every night I’m always doing those exercises and I’m always hydrating. Before the game, I’ll make sure I’m fully warm before I go out.”
Game time Sunday is 1 p.m.
“I’m beyond excited to actually play Week One and be ready to go. I can’t put it in words really. It’s unreal.”

Written by Rob Massey