La Crosse, Wis. - Champion.  That's what Cole Spieker can call himself.  The 2020 graduate as a general studies major, was a member of the 2023 Canadian Football League (CFL) Grey Cup champions Montreal Alouettes.
 
The Grey Cup game, first presented in 1909, is Canada's largest annual sports event.  The Alouettes earned a 28-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on November 19 in Hamilton, Ontario.   Playing wide receiver, he caught three passes for 62 yards including a 23-yard touchdown pass to cut Winnipeg's lead to 17-14 in the third quarter.  Montreal outscored Winnipeg, 14-7, in the fourth quarter to earn its eighth Grey Cup in team history.

 

"I feel extremely blessed, and it means a lot to be apart of a group that was able to come together and accomplish what we did," said Spieker. "Especially to be able to have my parents there and see me win my first championship as a football player. This one is for all the people that believed in me and supported me along my journey."  
 
After graduating from UWL, Spieker played in the 2021 The Spring League (TSL), a shortened season of six games played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.  "All of my tryouts with individual teams were canceled in 2020 due to COVID," said Spieker.  He continued to pursue his dream of playing professionally by training and working at UPS.
 
After attending several combines/showcases around the country, a Montreal scout found Spieker at a showcase in Indianapolis and invited him to one of the team's open tryouts in Dallas.  He was signed to a contract after the tryouts and played in two games for the Alouettes in 2022, finishing with six catches with one touchdown.  Spieker appeared in 12 contests this year, recording 33 receptions and one touchdown.  Montreal picked up his 2024 option after this year's Grey Cup.
 
Spieker says he has learned one major key to success in the professional ranks is being able to come together as one.  "Through supporting each other through the highs and lows," adds Spieker.  "Having genuine joy for other's success as much as your own, and being committed to the goals of the team.  I believe this is true outside of sports well."
 
He believes his greatest strength is having reliable hands, and being able to make contested catches.
 
Voted the 2019 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Offensive Player of the Year while at UWL, Spieker set a single-season school record with 83 receptions, including a single-game school record 17 versus UW-Eau Claire on November 9, 2019.  His 1,216 receiving yards in 2019 ranks second in school history.  Spieker was named to the 2018 and 2019 All-WIAC First Team, the 2018 honorable mention team and 2017 second team.
 
Along with his conference accolades, Spieker was selected to the 2019 D3football.com All-America Second Team and named of a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in NCAA Division III.
 

He finished his UWL career second in receiving yards (2,338), tied for third in touchdown catches (26) and fifth in receptions (144).
 
"One of the most important skills UWL helped me develop was discipline, which has helped me during each step of my journey so far," said Spieker.  "UWL helped show me the value in working hard and dreaming big."
 
He added that he made a lot of impactful relationships while at UWL. 
 
"They supported and pushed me to be the best version of myself on and off the football field."