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Admin
Ipswich Cougars
Ross Dorward
0413 015 187
PO Box, 705
Ipswich, 4305
Queensland, Australia
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Club History
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Ipswich Cougars Gridiron Club formed in 1990 when Queensland Gridiron commenced a junior competition,we were originally Known as the Westside Rams and were based at Richlands area.
This team went through the 1990 season undefeated and won the Junior Sunbowl Championship 28-nil.
In 1991 the club moved from Richlands to Carole Park. The team was coached by American David Brandt and completed the season with only one loss and one draw and only narrowly losing the Championship 6-nil.
The Queensland League hosted the National Gridiron Championships in 1991. Eleven of the Rams team were selected in this side which became the first Australian National Junior Champions.
In 1992 the club expanded to field a senior team called the Cougars. Coaches in 1992 were Todd Schultz and Jason Ramsey from California, who played with the Cougars and coached the Rams.
The Rams started the year successfully only losing two games during the year and the Junior Sunbowl Championship 31-16.
The Cougars struggled in their first year with a lot of new players to the game and with injuries.
Eleven juniors were selected in the Qld State team winning 18-12.
1993 saw the team enhance their identity by relocating to Ipswich and also gaining the services of Tony Hart an American College player as coach. The Rams once again had a successful season winning all their season games only to be beaten in the Sunbowl Championship 12-nil.
Twelve Rams players were selected in the Qld State Junior team, which remained, undefeated 13-nil.
1994 saw the bulk of the Cougars being former Rams and
three of the original Rams, Brian Dagg; Jamie Gibson; Daniel Booth taking over the coaching of the club.
The Rams continued their success and won every game they competed including the Sunbowl Championship 26-6.
Seventeen players were selected in the Qld State team, which once again was successful.
The Cougars showed improved form with some excellent wins. Three Cougars were selected for the Qld Senior State team, which had its first winning series.
1995 saw the club struggle to attract enough players for both juniors and seniors although we had the services of two American and one Canadian player. This obstacle didn’t detract us from becoming premiers and were just beaten in the Sunbowl.
In 1996 the Rams won the majority of their matches and the Sunbowl with the Cougars finishing a good year once again only missing out of the finals.
In 1997 the club was coached by Todd Shultz with the Rams taking out the Sunbowl Champions and the Cougars finishing well despite not making it to the Championships.
Again this year proved to be difficult to attract new players and financially stay alive.
In 1998 the club was unable to field a junior team to defend the junior Sunbowl Trophy. The Cougars went through the entire season undefeated becoming Sunbowl 14 champions
1999 saw the return of the Rams and a successful season for both juniors and seniors. The Rams were undefeated during the season only missing the Sunbowl and the seniors only losing once in the season and missing the Sunbowl.
Unfortunately in 2000 the club was unable to field a junior side. This didn’t deter the Cougars having a successful season, becoming Sunbowl 16 Champions.
2001 saw the return of the clubs junior side with a name change to Cougar Juniors. The juniors had a tough season to remain in Championship contention, but proved their staying power by making it to the finals but narrowly missing the Championships due to controversial refereeing. The Cougars went through the season undefeated, Looking for a repeat on the previous season, the Cougars thought they had the Championships in the bag. Unfortunately in the last minutes of the final, the Stingrays proved too good.
For 2002, the Cougars are expanding their player profile by welcoming new players including a few from America. The Juniors were unsuccessful in reaching the Semi Finals, the Senior team had an undefeated record becoming the Sunbowl 18 champions.
In 2003 the Ipswich Cougars produced 13 Queensland representatives, which competed for the Australian National Championship title which was held in Adelaide in March. The Cougars also produced 8 Australian representatives that toured to New Zealand in July 2003 to contest the Oceania Bowl.
In our local competition, the Cougars losses of experienced players in both grades and had to start from scratch, the Juniors were unable to make the final, while the Seniors, after a somewhat shaky season were able to complete the season on third place, bouncing back in the finals to become the Sunbowl 19 champions.
Overall the Ipswich Cougars have been the most successful club in Gridiron Queensland's history having won the last 5 of the Senior Sunbowl Championships.
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