All In- The Carter Gooden Story
By: Keegan McCabe
Growing up in Canada, youth sports play a crucial part in helping children develop the skills required to succeed. From learning how to work hard to developing collaboration and social skills through playing on a team, organizations like Football Ontario strive to help young athletes better themselves — and Carter Gooden, a four-star talent from Tabor Academy, is no exception.
Gooden is a defensive end, dominating competition at Tabor Academy, a school located in Marion, Mass. But prior to his time playing in the USA, Gooden spent his early years playing for the Hamilton Jr. Tiger-Cats, his local football team.
Following his freshman year of high school, Gooden found himself trying out for Team Ontario based on a recommendation from a friend. His success at this level only continued, and he parlayed these experiences into further opportunities south of the border.
Among these experiences was an opportunity to join the senior squad in just his Grade 10 season. Gooden was granted this opportunity after seeing his junior varsity squad at his high school, the Saltfleet Storm, eliminated from the playoffs. However, this was a chance for growth — and he took it. After a short time, Gooden found himself in a starting role despite being younger than many of his teammates, making the most of the opportunity.
As a result, Gooden says he currently has more than 20 Division I offers, with many of these opportunities stemming from his time with Football Ontario. “Team Ontario, and the process, was very helpful — very helpful in helping me get better and furthering my football career,” he said.
With two years of experience with Team Ontario under his belt, Gooden saw his football skills and mindset improve, readying him for the next chapter of his football journey. He learned to embrace the “All In” motto of JT Tsui, the Director of Culture and Sport with Football Ontario and a mentor of Gooden.
Despite his dominance on the field, however, he remains incredibly humble, as Rob Underhill, a coach with Team Ontario, noted.
According to Coach Underhill, it’s not just Gooden’s abilities on the field that impressed him. Underhill spoke highly of the sportsmanship and leadership that Gooden brought to every encounter. “He’s infectious, everyone draws toward him. He always had time for everyone on the team — from the worst player on the team to guys that didn’t get along with everyone. Carter always had time for everybody,” he said. “The kind of kid you want to see succeed — and Carter has succeeded,” Underhill said.
Tom Pain, coach of a rival high school team, coached against Gooden, noting his incredible ability to improve as the game goes on. “Having to play against him, you always had to know where he was and where he was lining up,” Pain said.
Like many before him, Gooden developed key skills during his tenure with Team Ontario. The program teaches young athletes how to work hard and study harder — a skill that prepared Gooden for his studies in the USA and a long football career with NFL aspirations. He serves as a prime example of the benefits that hard work and expert leadership can provide a talented young athlete — the tools to succeed at the next level.