Steve McGrail/ Special to The Independent

Todd Vokes was born in Petrolia in 1970 and grew up attending Lambton Centennial School. He moved with his family to Tiverton in Bruce County for a brief time but returned to Petrolia and attended LCCVI.
Vokes played fastball in Bruce County and also played in Enniskillen in 83-84 and has fond memories playing and pitching games at Krall Park. He also played hardball in Wyoming.
He ran Cross Country in Grade 9 and competed on the track and field team. His best event was the 1500m. In Grade 12 and 13, he took up the discus and javelin and competed well locally.
By Grade 10, football was Vokes’ focus. Under the guidance of legendary Lancer Coach Vince Lyons, Vokes and the Junior Lancers won the LSSAA Championship in 1985.
In Grade 11, 12, and 13 Vokes played on some Great Lancer Senior Football Teams coached by longtime coach Murray Jackson. Mike Reeb, Dennis Meston, Mike Clements, Steve Hull, Jason Levitt, Shawn Forsythe, Rob McRae were all exceptional teammates and football players, he says. Many of these guys went on to play at the university level.
Vokes graduated with Honours from LCCVI in 1989. His first and truly only choice for university was Queen’s University in Kingston. At the time he enrolled at Queen’s he was told that he was one of the first LCCVI grads to go to Queen’s in 20+ years. He was accepted into the Physical and Health Education program and graduated in 1993.
While at Queen’s, Vokes made the practice squad in the first year. It was the start he needed, but unfortunately injuries sidelined him for the entire 1990 season.
Vokes recovered from injuries and returned for his third year(‘91) healthy and determined to play. Vokes started as defensive back and was relentless in his pursuit of the opposing teams’ ball carriers.
In year four (‘92) Vokes started at defensive back again before moving to the linebacker for his fifth and final year (‘93) at Queen’s.
During the 1992 season Vokes and the Queen’s Golden Gaels won the National Championship and brought home the Vanier Cup which is synonymous with being the best university football team in all of Canada. Vokes and his teammates received championship rings to mark their amazing accomplishment.
He graduated from Queen’s with his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical and Health Education and his B.A. in Health Sciences.
He currently lives in Georgetown with his wife, Trina, and daughter, Sydney. According to Vokes, Sydney is a way better athlete than he ever was. Sydney is a top performer on her Rep and High School Volleyball, Soccer, and Track teams.
Vokes has moved into the role of taxi transportation for his daughter and ensures Sydney gets to all of her sports. He is also her biggest fan and supporter.
Todd works for Miller Waste Systems Inc. in commercial sales.

• Steve McGrail is a sports enthusiast and teacher and writes Where are They Now for his Facebook Pages Promoting Wyoming/Petrolia Athletes