Female Warriors come out strong

The Wetaskiwin Warriors all-girls Midget team game out fighting and took Leduc down 40-14.

Earlier this year, the Wetaskiwin and District Amateur Football Association announced it wanted to put together an all-girls tackle football team and after weeks or promotion, they signed 14 girls from Wetaskiwin, Maskwacis, Pigeon Lake and Ponoka.

In their first exhibition game Friday night against Leduc, the team came out strong, beating Leduc.

“It was a good outcome,” said WADAFA president Codey Soanes.

Given that Wetaskiwin is the smallest centre to have an all-girls team, they’ve put together the largest team. Edmonton has eight players, St. Albert 12 and Leduc 10.

“That’s kudos to us to have these girls coming out,” he said, noting League officials have said, not only is Wetaskiwin the largest team but it’s the fastest.

“We’ve got come pretty good talent on our team,” said Soanes.

Head coach Nick Fricke agrees.

“Of the 20 years I’ve been coaching, this is my favourite team,” said Fricke.

Most of the players are coming in with no experience and coming from a number of communities, Fricke said, the players don’t know each other but they’ve been quick to come together.

“A lot of the girls don’t know each other but they’ve come together as a family already,” said Fricke. “Our players are phenomenal. They’re great athletes and great human beings.”

Fricke said five of the players have previous experience playing football but to see the team on the field, you’d never be able to tell because of how they play together.

Fricke added the coaching staff has high expectations for the players and are pushing them to be their best and the players have bought into it but encouraging each other to strive for excellence.

“They don’t let each other off the hook. They push each other to succeed,” he said.

With many of the players being younger, they are likely going to be playing together for two or three years and that bodes well for female football in Wetaskiwin.

“I’m excited to be a part of that,” he said.

The team takes on St. Albert this Friday in its first regular season game.

“St. Albert’s a strong team and a well-coached team but I think we’ve got a great chance against them.”

Because of the number of teams this year, all of the games are being played in Edmonton.