Kowalski wins silver with Team Canada

Impact player in Game 2 before tearing ACL and MCL

Katie Brickman, Moose Jaw Times

Aimee Kowalski of Team Canada came home with a silver medal at the 2013 IFAF World Women's Football Championship held in Finland over the past two weeks.
(Photo credit: Jari Turunen, wwc2013.com)

Not only did Aimee Kowalski learn and grow as a quarterback and teammate over the past two weeks, she was an impact player.

The Moose Jaw native recently returned home with a silver medal after spending time in Vantaa, Finland competing for Team Canada at the 2013 IFAF World Women’s Football Championship.

“It was really nice and I learned a lot from the coaches,” she said. “There were lots of new plays and we had to incorporate a whole new playbook. We ended up playing and practicing 14 days straight.”

Team Canada started off strong, going 2-0 in the round robin before losing in the gold medal game to the United States. They were shutout 64-0 in the final game.

In the first game, Canada crushed Spain 50-0.

“Spain is new and this was their first year,” she said. “They didn’t score in the tournament, but they had lots of heart and (were) very proud. They enjoyed themselves.”

In the second game, they played host Finland. Team Canada was down 12-6 at the half before coming back to win it 34-12, landing them a spot in the final.

“We were actually losing in the first half. I just punted in the first half and I didn’t go in as QB until the second half. We ended up winning,” Kowalski said. “It was nice to be able to make an impact in that game and lead us to the gold medal game.”

After being a big component in helping send Canada into the final game against the United States, Kowalski didn’t even make it out of the first quarter.

“I actually blew my knee out in the first quarter. I was taken away halfway through the first quarter. I went to cut and my knee just gave out. I tore my ACL, MCL and meniscus,” she stated.

She is scheduled to have surgery at some point this summer and the recovery time is about six months.

“I am a personal trainer, so from that perspective, it is just another journey and I have another experience on my resume,” she explained.

While Kowalski waits for surgery and a new Western Women’s Canadian Football League season to begin, she is already focused on bringing what she learned from this experience to the Regina Riot.

“I am really excited to apply what I learnt as a QB. I think one of the biggest things was that I have become more effective as far as footwork when handing off or when I’m throwing or on the run. I’ve really become better as a QB,” she stated.

Despite tearing her knee, the experience was positive and an honour to wear the Canadian jersey in a competition. She made sure to soak in as much as she could with all her teammates and coaches, a highlight of the trip, even if she faced some disapproval.

“I think there was some criticism if I should have made the team or not as far as my  coachability,” Kowalski said. “My quarterback coach really enjoyed working with me, so it was nice to come out and learn.”

Rookie Receiver Pam Buccini part of promising future for Calgary Rage

Mark Staffieri, Bleacher Report

(Photo credit: Candice Ward Photography)

As the 2013 edition of the Calgary Rage featured many new faces, one that showed great promise on the offensive side of the ball was wide receiver Pam Buccini. While the 2013 Western Women’s Canadian Football League season ended with the Rage posting a .500 record, an extra year of experience for Buccini could hold the key to a postseason berth in 2014.

Donning No. 88 (made famous by football players such as Michael Irvin, Lynn Swann and Marvin Harrison), Buccini attended Rage training camp at the urging of a friend. This friend would also emerge as another rookie on the Rage roster, running back Esther Hong.

“Esther Hong was joining the team this year and convinced me to come join her; she thought I would be good at it for some reason. I don't know why she thought that (laughs). I have always had an interest in sports. When I was younger, I played lots of sports; gymnastics, swimming, volleyball and softball.”

While the two were novices in football, both quickly enjoyed their new athletic endeavor. Buccini’s first WWCFL match resulted in a 33-0 blanking of the Okotoks Lady Outlawz on May 11. She quickly learned that part of being a receiver is taking hits. Proving that she was tough and durable, receiving a hit from an opposing player was far from intimidating for the ambitious rookie, “It was a rush, so awesome!”

With two members of the Calgary Rage (Erin Walton and Annie Tremblay) competing for Canada at the 2013 IFAF Women’s Worlds, Buccini is proud to call them teammates. With some of the team making the trip to host Finland to cheer on Canada at the IFAF Worlds, the display of team spirit is a point of pride for her.

“Most definitely I am! I think we would have all gone if we could. I have learned so much from these women in just a short period of time. All of them are so supportive and encouraging. I am lucky to have such great teammates.”

During the tragic flooding that occurred in mid-June in Calgary and other parts of Southern Alberta, Buccini learned the true essence of teamwork. Utilizing social media, Buccini emphasized that her residence was available as a necessary shelter, while advising others which areas were badly flooded.

A common thread throughout the season for Buccini was the fact that she was one of many mothers on the team. While juggling the responsibilities of parenting and the commitment to football makes for a unique balance, the youthful-looking Buccini found many new friends in her rookie season.

“Being able to play full-on contact football is my favorite part of playing with the Rage. Taking hits. Making hits. The whole experience and the people have just been amazing! It has been such a pleasant experience to become part of the Rage team.”

Although her rookie season resulted in missing the playoffs, Buccini was part of a breakthrough season for the franchise. Having posted losing records in 2011 and 2012, the .500 season was their first. For an ambitious franchise looking to make a playoff run, Buccini is ready to contribute and ensure that the team breaks on through toward their postseason dreams.

“We just need to stay confident and work together. I think we have the dedication and skills. We will get there.”

Washington enjoys rookie season

Ted Black, The Bowie Blade-News

When the DC Divas prevailed over the visiting Columbus Comets, 42-20, Saturday evening at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, the victory had dual importance for Divas’ rookie and Bowie native, Melissa Washington.

Saturday the Divas (5-3) clinched their 10th division title in franchise history and will head into the Women’s Football Alliance playoffs June 22 seeking their first championship since 2006. Washington, a 2003 Largo High and 2007 Wake Forest graduate who played basketball professionally in Europe for five seasons, donned pink shoes in honor of her mother, Nicole, a two-time breast cancer survivor.

“I am so proud of my mother for how strong she has been through all of the ups and downs,” said Washington, who had 5.5 tackles in the Divas’ victory. “By looking at her and talking to her, you would never know how much she’s been through. She lives without complaining even when she has the right to do so. She is a warrior, an adapter and the most giving and genuine person I know.”

Washington is one of 35 rookies on the Divas, a squad that historically has been among the perennial powers in the WFA. After playing basketball for over a decade, Washington had to shift her focus to football when she tried out for the Divas in January.

“When I retired from basketball, I didn’t want to stop playing sports altogether,” Washington said. “I wanted to stay active. I had heard about the Divas and decided to go to the tryouts. It was different, but I felt like I could fit in. The veteran players have really made me feel welcome. (Linebacker) Trigger (McMair) has been a tremendous leader and she’s made all the rookies on defense feel like part of the team.”

Despite the squad’s youth movement, Washington has plenty of veterans to look up to on the Divas. Quarterback Allyson Hamlin, an Eleanor Roosevelt High School and University of Maryland graduate who has been the Divas’ starting quarterback since 2004, and 13-year veteran Donna Wilkinson has played running back, linebacker and tight end for the squad since her rookie season with the squad that was born of expansion in 2000.

“We have a lot of new faces on the team this year,” Hamlin said. “It’s a good thing, because it shows you that a lot of women want to come out and play for us. It’s just going to take them time to learn all of the plays. But someone like Melissa, you have to love her athleticism and enthusiasm. She’s a tremendous athlete and she’s had an excellent rookie season for us. I’m glad she’s here and I hope she stays around.”

“Seeing these younger women just inspires me to work harder,” said Wilkinson, who turned 39 before the season began and has overcome numerous serious injuries to her knees and back. “I can’t move as well or as quickly as I once could, but I’ve learned how to adjust and not only get stronger but get more nimble. I’ve been able to do that through yoga and through Asea, a natural drink that really helps the body heal itself.”

Washington and her fellow Divas’ defensive players looked too generous on the Comets’ opening possession Saturday when Columbus went right down the field on only four plays, all of them runs up the middle. But after spotting the visitors an 8-0 lead, the Divas clamped down and Hamlin led the team to three first-half scores and a 21-8 lead at the intermission.

The Divas added to their lead in the third quarter and owned a commanding 42-14 advantage when the Comets scored a meaningless touchdown with 29 seconds remaining.

Saturday the DC Divas will face the Comets again in a WFA quarterfinal game at the Sports & Learning Complex. The Comets edged the New York Sharks, 22-20, last Saturday evening in an opening round game of the WFA playoffs. DC already owns two victories over the Comets this season, taking the first one 53-20 and the most recent, 42-20.

Amanda McKenna Patrols the Defensive Backfield for the Calgary Rage

Mark Staffieri, Bleacher Report

(Photo Credit: Candice Ward Photography)

Representing the next generation of stars for the Calgary Rage of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, Amanda McKenna is hard working, studious and determined. With little experience in competitive sport, her first experience with the Rage came at the invitation of a friend.

While McKenna was reserved at first, she eventually made the bold decision to partake in the game. The result has paid dividends for the Rage as McKenna has blossomed into a dependable defensive back.

“I have honestly never played a sport in my life besides gym class. I was always the one standing off to the side and praying I did not get hit by a flying ball. My friend and fellow teammate Ferne Lavers offered me to come check it out one day.  So, I went down to a sports show where the Rage was allowing people to run some drills and try on the gear.

"Again, I stood on the side and declined trying any (equipment) on. I asked Shelly (team manager) a bunch of questions and wrote my name down when no one was looking. To add to this point, three years ago, I did not know a single thing about football, down to what a receiver was.”

Like many of her teammates on the Rage, McKenna has had the experience of playing both offense and defense. While she began with the franchise as a wide receiver, she quickly discovered a preference for the defensive side of the game. In discussing what she preferred about competing as a defensive back, she remarked,

“I enjoy being a defensive back because I get to hit people (laughs), and the fact that I do not have to try and remember tons of plays. I played wide receiver one year and found it boring and frustrating when I was unable to take out my frustrations in hits.

"The challenge of trying to read the other players and decipher where the ball will be going is something else I enjoy. This year I finally had my first tackle, it was not anything big or flashy, but it sure felt amazing.”

Since the Rage have had many women compete for Team Alberta (at the 2012 National Challenge Cup) and the Canadian National Women’s Team (including the likes of Susie Childress, Annie Tremblay and Erin Walton), McKenna has many veteran stars to look up to as she perfects her game. With the strong sense of family that exists on the team, McKenna knows that she can rely on her teammates.

“I looked up to all of my teammates for guidance and advice. They all have so much to share and have always been willing to lend a hand. I have always been able to turn to anyone and get strong advice.”

While the adrenaline rush of making a tackle is one that enriches the experience of competing on the gridiron, McKenna is a willing student of the game. With the courage of candor, McKenna reflects on her initial sojourn into football, along with the tremendous personal growth that the sport has provided her, in two specific ways.

“A favorite moment, hmm. My first (favorite) was my first hit in a practice drill; might I note (that) I was the one being hit. It was my first year and we were going to run a scrimmage. I still had no idea what was going on and was trying to watch the play to figure out what I needed to do.

"My teammate at the time did not hold back, I could see her barreling towards me out of the corner of my eye and turned around just in time for the hit. She knocked me right off my feet and flat on my ass, I knew at that moment I loved football!

"Another personal moment for me is when I realized what this team has given me on an emotional level. Most people do not believe me when I say I used to be a very quiet and closed-off type of person; I would sit in a crowd and barely say a word, only there because I had to be. I feel as if this team brought me to life if you will. Each one of the women that have come and gone or are still part of the team have helped me to become more than I dreamed possible. Now I am outgoing and oh so talkative (laughs). I love who I have become.”

Her valiant play and tremendous personal transformation makes McKenna a feel-good story among the remarkable women of the WWCFL. The willingness to try something different and watch her life evolve in a positive way defines a career that is filled with hope and valor.

Her enthusiasm for the game holds the promise that even better moments are yet to come. It is part of a message of encouragement that McKenna provides to women and young girls thinking of trying the game.

“If I can do it, so can you! There is just something about putting on those pads and getting on the field; it is a feeling I cannot even describe but it makes me alive.

"The Rage is made up from such a variety of women, yet we are all one big family who will always be there for each other no matter the situation. Do not ever be afraid to try something new; if it does not work out, you can say you did it.”

PHS grad Bushman ready to play for women's football world title

Portsmouth native is one of three quarterbacks for U.S.

Mike Zhe, Seacoast Online & Foster's Daily Democrat

Portsmouth native Brittany Bushman competes in a USA Football tryout camp earlier this year in Austin, Texas. Bushman, who plays quarterback for the Dallas Diamonds of the Women's Football Alliance, will represent the U.S. in the Women's World Football Championship in Finland next week.

Even when she was young, Brittany Bushman could bring her dream into focus.

She was a top athlete in her sport, standing on the podium at the Olympics, fans cheering as the gold medal was draped around her neck.

"I always in envisioned a stadium full of people watching the USA win — pride, dignity and honor," she said, "but these dreams were always with basketball."

On Thursday, Bushman will get on a plane to Finland, and she and her teammates will try to win a gold medal for the U.S. in women's tackle football. The 2nd Women's World Championship, which also features national teams from Finland, Sweden, Canada, Spain and Germany, opens Sunday and concludes July 6.

"Oh, my gosh, it couldn't be higher," said Bushman, of her excitement level. "I can't believe it's actually here. I was super-happy to make the team but it's kind of surreal that this point has come."

A standout dual-threat quarterback for the Dallas Diamonds of the Women's Football Alliance, the 5-foot-8 Bushman grew up in Portsmouth starring in a different sport — basketball. She was a very good guard on some of the Clippers' last Class L teams, teaming with Sarah Barton to go 16-2 as a senior, and went on to become a 1,000-point scorer at Division III Emmanuel (Mass.) College.

But she was playing tackle football, too, first with the Little Clippers and then at the high school, earning a varsity letter as a junior and senior as a backup defensive back. During summers away from college she played for the Massachusetts Mutiny of the National Women's Football Association.

Now, she's at camp with her USA Football teammates at Lewis (Ill.) University outside of Chicago, doing two-a-day practices and some team bonding before flying to Finland on Thursday.

"Never in my wildest imaginations did I ever conceive it was even possible to win a gold medal for tackle football," she said. "Now that the opportunity and possibility is here I'm thankful I had the experience as a young athlete to learn and play the game. Having played with boys, they taught me the love, passion, hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and how football is the ultimate team sport."

Last spring, Bushman was named MVP of her conference in the WFA. Her start to this season, coming right after she was picked for Team USA after a three-day tryout in Austin, Texas, was hampered by a knee injury she suffered in the preseason.

"We were running 'option right,'" she said. "I planted with my right foot a couple times to make people miss, and then I planted a third time and felt it."

The "it" was a severe MCL strain that cost her the first three games of the season and curtailed her running. But she's been on target as a passer, hitting on 66 percent of her throws for 698 yards, 14 touchdowns and just one interception.

The Diamonds (9-0) and the rest of the WFA will take two weeks off as its top players head to Finland, and resume with playoffs on July 13.

The first Women's World Championship was held in 2010 in Sweden and the U.S. romped, beating Canada in the gold-medal game, 66-0. Of the three quarterbacks on this year's U.S. team, two — Karen Mulligan of the New York Sharks and Sami Grisafe of the Chicago Force — were holdovers from the 2010 squad; Bushman is the new face.

"No one really knows where we stand," said Bushman. "From what I've heard from the other girls that played in 2010, they try to make it pretty even in the (prelim) games and whoever plays the best (starts in the medal round)."

More than just winning a gold medal, the competition allows the women picked for the teams to be ambassador for a fledgling sport that is gaining popularity. The 36-team WFA is one of three major women's tackle football leagues in the U.S., with the Independent Women's Football League and the Women's Spring Football League.

There are 45 women from 15 states on Team USA. Linebacker Vicky Eddy of Woburn, Mass., is the only current New England resident.

"Competing on a world stage allows for women to continue on with the mission of being ambassadors for the sport," said Team USA coach John Konecki, who also coaches the Force.

It's also a great travel opportunity for Bushman, who is a teacher and AAU basketball coach in the Dallas area.

"I'm definitely looking forward to the food and seeing what Finnish culture is like," she said. "I've heard they're very fashionable."

And, maybe, she'll be on the podium with her teammates at the end, receiving the gold medal she's always dreamed about.

No matter the sport.

Women's Indoor Football League to host tryout in Birmingham

The Associated Press
Daily Journal, The Telegraph, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Republic

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The Women's Indoor Football League is planning to host a tryout in Birmingham next week to fill rosters for its teams there, in Montgomery and Atlanta.

Ray Blanchette, CEO of Blanchette Sports Holdings, told the Montgomery Advertiser the Women's Indoor Football League is meant to give women the opportunity to play at a professional level as an alternative to the Legends League — formerly known as the Lingerie Football League.

"Even though they changed the name from the Lingerie Football League to the Legends League, it's still the same thing. There's just so many things not right with the LFL," Blanchette said.

The league is expected to start out with 15 teams along the East Coast and expand from there.

The tryouts on June 30 will be similar to an NFL combine and will include passing drills, a 40-yard dash, three-cone drills and broad jumps.

Blanchette said the league is hoping at least 50 to 70 women register for tryouts to fill slots for the Birmingham Black Widows, the Montgomery Mustangs and the Atlanta Aces. Training camps for the league are expected to begin in January.

A league of their own: Women's Indoor Football League coming to the Capital City in 2014

Ali Jenkins, Montgomery Advertiser & Prattville Progress

There’s no doubt football is king in America. Whether it’s high school on Friday nights, college on Saturdays or NFL on Sunday, the entire Southeast practically shuts down three days a week to celebrate the boys and men who throw a pigskin around a 100-yard field.

Come January, women will have the opportunity to prove football isn’t just a man’s sport.

The Women’s Indoor Football League will begin training camps in January to become the nation’s first true pro women’s football league.

“Right now the only place women have to play football at a high level is the LFL,” said Ray Blanchette, President and CEO of Blanchette Sports Holdings. “Even though they changed the name from the Lingerie Football League to the Legends League, it’s still the same thing. There’s just so many things not right with the LFL.

“I figured it was time to give the women an option for a different place to play where they can play the same high level of football in groups of athletes, not that those girls aren’t athletes. I don’t know how you would word it. Keeping the quality of play high and making the level of competition even better. And not having to play in bikinis too.”

Blanchette is no stranger to pro sports. His company owns and operates the National Baseball League and the Independent Hockey League and is currently in talks to establish six more leagues in five different sports.

“I have several leagues going,” Blanchette said. “The plan was to go public with all of them once we were ready and the one that garnered the most attention, and the most attention would be the one we would move forward with first. A few of the leagues got a lot of interest, but the WIFL was the one that got the most. I never ever dreamed it would be that one. I just never thought.”

On June 30, the WIFL will hold a tryout in Birmingham to fill the rosters of the Atlanta Aces, Birmingham Black Widows and Montgomery Mustangs. It will be similar to an NFL combine, with passing drills, 40–yard dash, 3-come drill and broad jump. The tryout costs $25 and is open to any woman interested in playing football at the professional level.

“We’re realistically hoping to get 50–75 girls, at least,” Blanchette said. “It’s a good market. Montgomery has some good players. It’s a good football market. Birmingham, same thing. There are a lot of women players up there. There’s a ton in Atlanta.”

For Blanchette, the WIFL isn’t about making money or becoming a business icon. At the end of the day, all Blanchette wants is to give women an outlet to play the game they love.

“The thing that really got to me is that I know a lot of these girls, and I have for a long time,” Blanchette said. “They train year-round for this, and they only play four games in the LFL. That’s just ridiculous. How can you gather up fan support for a team that’s only going to play two games at home for the season? It just doesn’t make sense.

“On the same token, some of the girls don’t live near the team. They have to drive one or two hours each way to go to practice, and they do so because they love the game. They don’t get paid. The LFL doesn’t pay its players. I just figured it was time that these girls that are that dedicated should get rewarded with some kind of compensation and be able to play a full season. Four games? You’re just hitting your prime. It just didn’t make sense. I decided it was time to do it the right way and give them a professional league that treated its players that way and offer them the same thing that the men do. Put the sport back into it, because the LFL is not a sport. It’s like wrestling. It’s entertainment.”

Blanchette understands the reluctance of sponsors and businessmen when first approached with plans of a women’s football league, but he also knows just how successful the WIFL can be if established the right way.

“From a player standpoint, it was the easiest thing I’ve done,” Blanchette said. “From a sponsor standpoint and on a business standpoint, it was extremely hard because people hear women’s football, and they tune you out right away. They don’t consider it. The non-followers don’t realize how big of a following they actually have. There’s thousands and thousands of women’s football players around the country, and some of them are good. I mean really, really good.”

While Blanchette planned for the WIFL to have teams nationwide, he and his partners decided the initial success of the league was most important and opted to only have teams in the East for the first year. With 15 teams ranging from New York to Tampa, the WIFL will give hundreds of women the chance to play pro football for the first time.

“We think it can absolutely sustain itself for five or 10 years and hopefully a lot longer, Blanchette said. “If we market it the right way and continue down the path and provide the atmosphere and type of game and type of environment for the players that we are offering, and we can keep that up, then I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t succeed.

“Now as big as it will get? Women’s sports do not get all that big. It doesn’t matter what league it is. It just doesn’t. It can sustain, it can be a long-lasting league, it can be successful, but it’s no way going to be an NFL or anything like that. We want to be on that level where when people think of women’s sports, a lot of them think of the WNBA first. We want the WIFL in that same breath. There’s really no reason it can’t be done.”

NY Knockout Thrive in First Season

News Center Fox 23 (Click to see news clip)

Schenectady, NY - Melissa Messemer has been playing some form of football her whole life and last year she decided to bring a semi professional women’s tackle football team to Schenectady.

“It’s an excellent opportunity that the Independent Women’s Football League has offered us,” said Messemer, owner and lineman for the New York Knockout.  “It gives us the opportunity to do something that normally, at least people my age were always told they couldn’t do.”

The New York Knockout became the IWFL’s newest team last year, and in their first season they proved themselves by winning a division title.

“We started from the ground up, and we’ve been lucky and successful,” stated Messemer.

The IWFL follows NCAA football rules with very few exceptions. Anyone who attends a Knockout game will notice there’s plenty of hits just like the men’s game.

“This is the real deal,” said Knockout center Charlene Pommer.  “This is real football, there are helmets, shoulder pads, and it’s competitive. You come to our home game and we’re going to get you.”

However, the cost of being a first year program means there are several challenges to overcome.

“Every time you go somewhere no one has any idea who you and they say, really there’s a football here,” said Messemer who also admits finances can be another tough spot for the team.

However, if the Knockout continue to win, the notoriety will come along with the financial support.

They will have their final game of the regular season Saturday, June 29th at 6pm at Schenectady High School, and they encourage fans to come and support them.

Chris Rudd Brings Coaching Acumen to Ambitious Calgary Rage Franchise

Mark Staffieri, Bleacher Report

(Photo credit: Candice Ward Photography)

A mainstay in Calgary football, Chris Rudd brings a decade of coaching experience. Helping to coach defense for the Calgary Rage of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, he helps provide direction to an ambitious roster looking to fulfill its championship dreams.

While the women of the WWCFL are the main attraction, coaches such as Rudd comprise the group of unsung heroes that ensure quality coaching is in place for the fearless-feminine warriors of the gridiron.

“I have been coaching minor football in Calgary for 10 years. Originally, I was with the Calgary Falcons for seven years.  I have been with the Rage for three and a half years. (Head coach) Rob Perry asked me to help when they were short a coach on their staff.”

For women new to the sport, competing on the gridiron can present its own series of adjustments. As a coach, it is Rudd’s responsibility to ensure that they are prepared to compete. Having coached both male and female football players, Rudd is quick to acknowledge the energy and enthusiasm that women bring to the game.

“They have so much desire to learn because they could not play this game at a young age.  Sometimes it is funny, because when you tell them to do something, they ask why instead of just doing it like 90 percent of guys.”

Seeing the enthusiasm of the players on the Rage, Rudd is highly motivated to help them succeed. As the WWCFL has added two expansion teams (Grande Prairie Northern Anarchy and Okotoks Lady Outlawz), Rudd is excited with the direction that the WWCFL is heading.

As the sport continues to grow, his analysis on the current state of the game draws parallels with the role women’s hockey had a generation ago.

When the IIHF staged the first Women’s World Hockey Championship in 1990, the game was a fringe sport at best. Today, hundreds of thousands of women compete in rinks throughout North America.

Rudd is optimistic that the future may hold a similar outcome for female football.

“I think the league has made great leaps and bounds this year.  Adding two teams in our division has been great. I hope more women try football and realize it is 10 times the sport that hockey is."

"The WWCFL is just the beginning. I hope one day that we just have the WCFL(Women's Canadian Football League) and are across this great nation. I know some people will say that it is a pipe dream. Yet, 20 years ago, people thought women's hockey was nothing and look at the press it gets now.”

While the Rage missed qualifying for the postseason by one game, Rudd is still very proud of the effort his players put forth out on the field. When an injury cost one of his players the rest of the season, Rudd was truly impressed at the ability of his team to unite together and play for a fallen teammate. As a coach, it was a satisfying moment that embodied perseverance, teamwork and sportsmanship.

“It is hard to just pick one moment. This team has had some great moments.  If I had to pick one, it was seeing the team get stronger as a group after we lost our defensive leader Alana Doyle for the season."

"It was great to see them try to win for Alana. Even though we did not get the results we hoped for, I can say that I have never been more proud of a team in my life. I am truly honored that these great women let me be a part of their lives.”

Pittsburgh Passion In Boston For Week 2 Of WFA Playoffs

Larry Snyder, City of Champions Sports

Last Saturday at Hempfield Area High School Stadium in Greensburg, Pa., the Pittsburgh Passion women’s football team shut out the Cincinnati Sizzle 63-0 in the first round of the Women’s Football Alliance playoffs. It was the largest margin of victory in Passion playoff history.

Quarterback Lisa Horton led the Passion attack with two passing touchdowns and 112 passing yards.

Pittsburgh’s running game was also hitting on all cylinders as running back Ciara Chic had one touchdown along with 79 yards rushing. Rookie fullback Candice Snyder was not to be denied as she contributed two touchdowns and 41 yards rushing.

The Passion’s stingy defense against Cincinnati was led by rookie defensive tackle Monica Williams with one sack and five tackles as well as defensive back Melissa Gaskick, who also had five tackles to go along with one fumble recovery. Defensive lineman Kaitlin Niedermeyer had four tackles and one fumble recovery, while defensive back Autumn Kramer added one interception on the night.

Pittsburgh placekicker Amy Fallon tied a team record for the most PATs in a single postseason game as she went 9-for-9 on extra points.

The Pittsburgh Passion will be on the road for the second round of the 2013 WFA Playoffs as they travel to Boston to take on the Militia on Saturday at Dilboy Stadium in Sommerville, Mass. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. The last time the Passion and Militia faced each other was Week 5 at Highmark Stadium in Station Square, when Boston defeated Pittsburgh 42-28.

Passion Pride: The Passion finished the 2013 regular season with a 6-2 record and in second place in the Women’s Football Alliance NFC Division 2. In nine games, the team has averaged 38.9 points per game while surrendering only 13.9.

Horton has completed 116 passes on 215 attempts for 1802 yards, 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Rachel Wojdowski was the leading receiver with 36 receptions for 766 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Snyder gained 297 yards on 50 carries and seven touchdowns to lead the Pittsburgh ground game.

The Pittsburgh defense had four shutouts during the regular season to go along with last week’s shutout in the playoffs.

Linebacker Ebony Ivy led the defense with 48 tackles while linebacker Tia Montgomery was second with 45 tackles. Defensive linemen Kaitlain Neidermeyer and Olivia Girswold each had 3.5 sacks this season.

The WFA announced their 2013 All-American Squad and the following menbers of the Passion were named to the First Team: Horton, Wojdowski, cornerback Sharon Vazquez, wide receiver Amanda Haeg, Snyder and Fallon.

Second-team honors were bestowed on Montgomery, defensive linemen Kim Zubovic and Shelby Horak. They will all be representing Pittsburgh on Aug. 3 when they play in the 2013 WFA All-American Game in San Diego, Calif.

Boston Clipboard: The Militia finished the regular season with a record of 8-0. They were 6-0 in WFA games and 2-0 in non-league games. Boston finished in first place in the Women’s Football Alliance NFC Division 1 and had a first-round bye in the WFA playoffs.

The Boston Militia ground game is lead by Whitney Zelee, who set a team and WFA record in Week 7 when she rushed for 236 yards aginast the Central Maryland Seahawks. Zelee has rushed for 2,138 yards on 129 carries; she had 34 touchdowns this season. Stacey Tiamfook has 566 yards on 53 carries and 11 touchdowns.

Quarterback Allison Cahill is completing 65.3 percent of her passes to go along with 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Adrienne Smith is the leading receiver with 19 receptions for 342 yards and four touchdowns.

In Week 6, Boston put up 81 points on the scoreboard while the D.C. Divas had 54 points in one of the highest scoring games in WFA history.

Linebacker Vicky Eddy is the leader of the Militia defense this season with 42 tackles while linebacker Jennifer Pirog is second with 33 tackles and two interceptions.

Versatile Lindsay Bennett an Unsung Hero in MWFL with Halifax Xplosion

Mark Staffieri, Bleacher Report

Being tackled by several members of the Capital Area Lady Gladiators

Humble, articulate and dedicated are all qualities that come to mind when fans think of Lindsay Bennett. Having played both offense and defense for the Halifax Xplosion of the Maritime Women’s Football League, her strong work ethic sets the example for a franchise eager to stake its claim as one of the finest.

With a love of soccer as a child, Bennett now plays a different game on the field. Her interest in football started in front of the television. Watching Sunday afternoon games with her father became a weekly ritual. Although the opportunity to one day compete in the game may have seemed impossible, the opportunity to strap on the shoulder pads and don the helmet provided finally came. The league provided Bennett with a satisfying feeling.

“I played soccer throughout my childhood and was always involved in intramural play in school. Growing up, I was always pretty athletic. I was the kid watching football every Sunday with my dad. I did not always understand what was going on, but it looked like a lot of fun. I thought all the different jerseys were awesome.

It was not until five years ago when a friend at work told me there was a women's football team in Halifax that my interest peaked. I could not pass up the chance. I quickly learned that football was more than just pretty jerseys. It was aggressive, dirty and painful...and I have been addicted to it ever since.”

Last season, Bennett was given the Xplosion’s Unsung Hero Award. Bennett’s versatility in playing different positions over the years makes her a true team player. While the squad has suffered through a myriad of losing seasons, Bennett provides hope for the future.

“I was humbled and very honored to receive the Unsung Hero award. It meant a lot coming from such a great group of girls and coaches. I tend to fly under the radar but if a coach asks me to play a certain position I have no problem saying yes.

Every year that I have been on the team, I have played a new position, because I want to learn and experience as many different aspects of the game as possible. My first year would see me as an offensive lineman (how I survived is beyond me). I have also been a tight-end, slot back, wide receiver and most recently free safety. I like to think of myself as a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, but I am ok with that (laughs).”

As the 2013 campaign marks the 10th anniversary for the MWFL, Bennett is very proud to be competing during a historic time in the league’s growth. A MWFL All-Star in 2012, Bennett reflects on her status as one of the league’s elite with humility.

“I am incredibly honored to be named an MWFL All-Star. To be a member of such an outstanding league, I am very proud. By no means am I even close to the skill level as some of the girls which I have had the privilege to play with or against. Yet, I always give 100 percent and they are my constant motivation to get better.

Honestly, I am just thankful that I have the opportunity to play. My passion for football grows more and more every year. The rush you get on the field is an incomparable feeling and I know that is what everyone is playing for.”

Bringing an undeniable love of the game to the gridiron, Bennett’s enthusiasm is one that brings positive energy to the team culture. While there is not a particular moment in her career that stands out as her favorite, Bennett prefers to look at the bigger picture.

“Every moment I spend on the gridiron is my favorite. Whether it is making a great tackle or watching someone else on my team make an amazing play, the whole team feels it and we feed off of it.

We all have so much to give to the game and when you are surrounded by so much talent, it is hard to pinpoint one favorite moment. I just love being on the field with all these amazingly athletic players!”

Bennett’s outlook on the game is one in which camaraderie and friendships are the building blocks upon which a team is built. Those are the core values that she believes would lead to a satisfying endeavor for any girls or women interested in playing football,

“If you are a woman interested in playing football and you have the opportunity to do so, I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. I would not be who I am today without this team.

Being able to contribute to a team that quickly turns into a family is an amazing feeling. Do not let your older age or smaller size deter you from trying the best sport ever invented. Our league has a place for everyone and that is what makes it so great!

It is one of the best stress relievers out there and if you are looking for a legal way to ring someone's bell, than look no further!”

Sami Grisafe Ready to Display Her Football Proficiencies on the World Stage

Mark Staffieri, Bleacher Report (Click for more photos and videos)

Grisafe donning the Team USA uniform

As the United States looks to win its second consecutive gold medal, a key element in their ambitious plans rests on the shoulders of quarterback Sami Grisafe. Team USA will be defending their world title at the 2013 IFAFWomen’s Tackle Football Championships in Vantaa, Finland.

At the inaugural IFAF World Women’s Championships (held in Sweden in 2010), Grisafe helped Team USA to the gold medal. In three games, Grisafe had a remarkable passer rating of 262.53. This was complemented by 309 passing yards and six touchdown passes, respectively.

Considered by some to be the best female football quarterback on the planet, she will have the opportunity to stake her claim at the 2013 Women’s Worlds. With the 2013 season being her last in football, a gold medal would solidify her standing as one of the greatest women to compete at the position. Hailing from Redlands, California, the 28-year-old quarterback has established a new home in the Chicago area.

The relocation to Chicago was not motivated by football; rather it was a love of the dramatic arts (which she studies at Roosevelt University). Despite her love of the arts, facing her destiny as a football player was inevitable.

In 2007, Grisafe joined the Chicago Force (currently competing in the Women’s Football Alliance) on the recommendation of the office manager at Roosevelt’s theatre office. Upon joining the Force, her love of the game was reignited.

Early in her career, she had the opportunity to help the franchise win a historic game. An April 19, 2008 match served as the franchise’s first-ever night game. Competing against the 2007 IWFL champion Detroit Demolition, Grisafe led the Force to an 18-7 victory.

Since joining the Force in 2007, Grisafe has led the club to a sparkling 50-6 record. While playing with the Force in the IWFL (2007 top 2010), Grisafe had a 26-6 mark with the Force. Since the Force joined the Women’s Football Alliance in November 2010, Grisafe has never lost a regular season game in the growing league. During her playing career, she has had a lifetime passer rating of 131.3, better than any NFL quarterback.

The one accomplishment that has eluded her is a national championship. In the 2008IWFL title game, Chicago was defeated by the Dallas Diamonds. At Heinz Field (the first NFL stadium to host a WFA title game), Grisafe and Chicago were bested by the San Diego Surge in the 2012 championship.

Her first brush with the game occurred at Redlands High School.Grisafe made national news in 2001 when she became the first female quarterback in the history of California Interscholastic Federation Division 1 athletics to compete in a varsity game.

Growing up, her favorite player was Joe Montana. Grisafe also played boys’ baseball in California for nine years and became the first girl in Redlands to be named to a boys' baseball All-Star team.

With the Chicago Force, her abilities and strong skills were on full display. Her first five seasons resulted in five All-Star selections. In 2011, she logged 1,746 passing yards and 24 touchdown passes, respectively.

One year later, Grisafe would be part of female football history by competing with the Force in an unprecedented event. On August 4, 2012, Grisafe led her squad to the first-ever WFA football championship game played on an NFL field. The competition was held at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh as the San Diego Surge claimed the title.

Despite her athletic prowess, Grisafe (like all other competitors in the WFA) is not compensated. While working as a bartender to make ends meet, Grisafe has also re-explored her love of the arts. She would use her musical skills to record a theme song for the league titled "Fourth and Inches". Her love of music comes from her parents and her aunt, who performed throughout Southern California.

Originally part of a musical quartet known as The Wick, Grisafe was the band’s lead singer. She also helped to co-finance their first recording effort, a 13-song album called The Wick on Wax. Openly gay, Grisafe also recorded a song with The Wick in tribute to The Trevor Project, a group that looks to prevent suicide among young lesbian, gay and transgender individuals.

Currently part of The Sami Grisafe Band, she recorded an album titled Atlantis while performing in Chicago, Nashville and New York. In 2013, she earned a Chicago Music Award as Best Rock Entertainer, and performed at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

On May 18, 2013, Grisafe had one of her finest performances ever. In an 82-20 road victory against the Indy Crash (at Marian University), she threw for 501 yards, completing 64 percent of her passes and contributing seven touchdown passes.  Her 501 yards were a franchise record, while the 82 points and 12 touchdowns also surpassed previous franchise marks.

In the first quarter, she would register two touchdown passes. On the first play of their second possession, Grisafe connected with Ashley Berggren for a 28-yard score. With their following possession, Grisafe found Jessica Javelet for an amazing 64-yard pass and a 12-0 lead.

A punt return for a score, followed by three touchdown rushes made it 40-6 for the Force with 2:35 remaining before halftime. On the last possession of the first half,Grisafe would earn her third touchdown pass of the game, connecting with Berggren again on a 25-yard play for a 48-6 halftime advantage.

Grisafe would only get stronger in the second half, with four more passes for touchdowns. Berggren would be the recipient of two more passes, giving her four touchdown receptions on the night, complemented by 176 receiving yards. Brandy Hatcher and Jessica Javelet would each get a touchdown in the second half, as Javelet led all players with 205 receiving yards.

The final regular season game was another lopsided affair as Grisafe led the Force to another undefeated season and division title. The June 8 contest against the West Michigan Mayhem resulted in a 56-7 final.

Having scored touchdowns on their first five possessions, Grisafe would contribute with three touchdown passes (Jeanette Gray, Ashley Berggren and Karlee Quaritsch were the recipients). Grisafe would add another touchdown pass in the third quarter as she connected with Brandy Hatcher.

Named Offensive Player of the Game, Grisafe finished with 386 yards, 68 percent pass completion (23 of 34) and four touchdowns. She would finish her regular season as the WFA leader with 2,582 passing yards, 178 completions and 32 touchdown passes. The second closest to her in passing yards was Lisa Horton of the Pittsburgh Passion with 1,802 yards (trailing Grisafe by 780 yards). In addition, the Force would finish the season as the highest scoring team, while Gray was the WFA receiving leader.

Through the first 10 weeks of the 2013 WFA season, Grisafe had a 62.5 completion percentage, 2,582 passing yards, 32 touchdown passes (compared to merely three interceptions) and a sparkling 131.3 passer rating. For her efforts, she was one of four quarterbacks recognized as a WFA All-America selection (the others being Allison Cahill of Boston, Lisa Horton of Pittsburgh and Allyson Hamlin of the DC Divas).

Shattering the glass ceiling and proving that women have the same right as men to compete on the gridiron, Grisafe is a pioneer in her sport. Her courage in admitting her sexual orientation makes her a true role model, while providing inspiration to those who are struggling with their own choice to declare their preference.

While Grisafe’s superlative career with the Force has established her as a Chicago sporting hero, she is far from being a one-dimensional character. Complemented by an ambitious musical career which is testament to her vitality and personality, Grisafe is quickly emerging as a figure in popular culture.

Even if a championship never looms on the horizon, by no means will it diminish her legacy. As she announced that this season would be her last, the pressure is mounting for a storybook ending.

While the pressures of playing quarterback are accompanied by expectations of championships, legendary pivots such as Dan Marino and Jim Kelly never won a Super Bowl, but are NFL Hall of Famers. In Chicago, legendary figures such as Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers never won a championship, but their place in the hearts and minds of sports fans will never be forgotten. To a whole generation of young women, Grisafe can proudly say that she now occupies that same place.

Quarterback Allison Cahill Building Her Own Legacy in Boston's Football Scene

Mark Staffieri, Bleacher Report

Making a one handed repcetion in an
April 14, 2012 match versus the New York Sharks

While Tom Brady has assembled a Hall of Fame career that has made him as big a sporting legend in Boston as Bobby Orr, Bill Russell and Ted Williams, Allison Cahill of the Boston Militia has built quite the resume herself. In a distinguished career that has seen the 32-year-old Cahill win two national football titles (the Independent Women’s Football League championship in 2010, and the Women’s Football Alliance title in 2011), she has built a remarkable sporting legacy for female football in Boston.

A lifelong New England Patriots fan, she had a memorable opportunity to throw the ball with former New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan. Her father had Patriots season tickets for over 30 years, and Cahill grew up fondly watching the Patriots compete at the former Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro.

Hailing from Uxbridge, Massachusetts, Cahill is a multi-sport star that once played basketball for Princeton University in the Ivy League. In her junior season (2001-02), she led the Princeton Tigers in two statistical categories, points per game (14.2) and assists (83).

Her 119 rebounds and 53 three-pointers ranked second on the Tigers squad. For her efforts, she was named a 2002 Second Team All-Ivy selection. Having graduated in 2003 with a major in History, Cahill’s 176 career three-pointers rank eighth all-time in Ivy League history.

Her first brush with football began in the fifth grade when she played flag football in a local boys league. As the team’s quarterback, she would lead them to three consecutive league titles.

While at Uxbridge High School, the District E Athletic Directors Award was bestowed upon her. Criterion for the honor included scholastic achievement, citizenship and leadership. On the hard court, she led Uxbridge to four consecutive winning seasons, complemented by four postseason berths.

In addition, she was the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball (among both boys and girls). She would also earn three varsity letters in softball, while serving as captain of both the softball and basketball squads.

Since the Militia was formed in 2008, Cahill has served as the team’s starting quarterback. In that time span, the Militia have gone a Tom Brady-like 55-5 under Cahill’s leadership. Named the Militia’s Most Valuable Player in 2009, she would also earn the WFA Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2011 (along with First Team All-America honors).

In their first ever home game in franchise history (contested in 2008 against the DC Divas), she ran the ball for the first touchdown of the contest, a 27-22 Militia victory. It would be a sign of greater things to come for Cahill and the Militia (which were an amalgamation of two defunct franchises, the Boston Rampage and the Massachusetts Mutiny).

Cahill would leave an impression in her last two seasons in the Independent Women’s Football League (2009 and 2010). Resulting in two consecutive 8-0 regular season records, Cahill would help the Militia to a memorable finish in 2010. Competing in the IWFL Championship game, the squad vanquished the Sacramento Sirens to finish with an 11-0 overall record.

Her legacy would only grow in 2011 when the Militia joined the Women’s Football Alliance. Finishing with a 7-1 record, Cahill would make a huge statement in the postseason. A victory over the Chicago Force in the conference semi-finals was made sweeter as their quarterback was Sami Grisafe (who helped the US win a gold medal at the 2010 IFAF World Championships).

The 2011 WFA title game would serve as Cahill’s chance to shine. While she only threw for 106 yards, her three touchdown passes were crucial. After a first quarter that saw opponent San Diego take a 6-0 lead, Cahill displayed great poise. On their first possession in the second quarter, Cahill bounced back with a touchdown pass to Adrienne Smith.

With the momentum changing, it would mark the beginning of three consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter. With 48 seconds remaining in the half, Cahill would find Whitney Zelee for a 12-yard touchdown pass, as the Militia jumped out to a 20-6 advantage.

Boston’s first possession in the third quarter would result in Cahill tossing her third touchdown pass. A 16-yard toss to Emily Weinberg would widen the lead to a 27-6 margin. While the offense sputtered in the fourth quarter, Cahill protected the lead, as the Militia would defeat the Surge by a 34-19 final for the 2011 WFA championship.

While Militia teammate Whitney Zelee set a WFA record in 2013 by logging the first 2,000-yard rushing season in league history, she credited Cahill with helping her get into shape. When not serving as the field general for the Militia, Cahill is employed as a personal trainer. Zelee’s record breaking season is testament to Cahill’s abilities as a team leader.

During the 2013 regular season (in which Boston finished 8-0 with a division title), Cahill completed 65.3 percent of her passes (64-of-98 attempts), while also tossing for 1,002 passing yards. She was one of only eight quarterbacks who threw for more than 1,000 yards in the season.

This was complemented by 12 touchdown passes (compared to only two interceptions) and a passer rating of 130.2 (ranking fourth in the league), while also being named a WFA First-Team All-American.

As the women of football struggle for respect and recognition, the fans at Dilboy Memorial Stadium in Somerville know that they have a gem in Cahill. Her fierce work ethic has led to championship results, helping to solidify Boston’s standing as the greatest City of Champions of the last ten years (Super Bowl wins in 2001, 2003-04, World Series wins in 2004, 2007, an NBA title in 2008, a Stanley Cup victory in 2011 and a Clarkson Cup in 2013).

She may not earn a million dollar salary or have product endorsements, but no one can put a value on the heart and dedication that she brings as Boston’s field general. While she works towards ending her 2013 campaign with a second WFA title, the sporting legacy that she is creating in Boston will forever leave an impression on fans.

Roberta Gordica the Heartbeat of Okotoks Lady Outlawz During Expansion Year

Mark Staffieri, Bleacher Report

Gordica (wearing number 45) in action against the Lethbridge Steel
(Photo credit: Mike D Helms) 

In a dual role as both player and general manager, Roberta Gordica came out of retirement and helped get the expansion Okotoks Lady Outlawz off the ground. A former competitor with the Calgary Rockies (the predecessor to the current Calgary Rage), Gordica’s maturity and leadership was crucial in getting the Alberta-based expansion team launched.

While the Lady Outlawz inaugural season in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League left them without a victory, Gordica was still proud of the effort shown by her teammates.

“Regarding my impressions of our first season, I do not think you could find a group of ladies with more heart than this group.  The season was difficult with learning the sport and brand new ladies, along with learning what was required from the WWCFL, injuries to the players, coaches having to make different decisions from football in their life and moving on," she said.

"On the other hand, there is not a better group of ladies who go out and put their bodies out there for football. The team was eager to learn, they wanted to play and they wanted to hear the crunch of the other lady hitting their pads. Overall it was a great season, with some minor hiccups.”

Her tireless work as general manager encompassed many duties. As the WWCFL still works to establish itself as a brand, while increasing public awareness, there are bigger challenges for an expansion team. Aside from the usual financial challenges in any sport, Gordica was responsible for assembling the team, hiring the coaching staff and finding a stadium.

“My duties as GM are everything from getting coaches, players, equipment, fields, refs, to fundraising and paying the bills," Gordica said.

"Keeping the lines of communication open between the coaches, support staff and the players was the hardest challenge. As a new team, there were challenges, such as support from the community, getting coaches, support staff and players.  It took roughly a year and a half to get the team up and running. Raising money for the team was another challenge and still is.”

Earlier in the season, the club forfeited a game against the Calgary Rage. As difficult a decision as it was, Gordica involved the entire team in the decision-making process. After suffering an opening day loss to the Lethbridge Steel (who would finish their season undefeated), many players were not healthy enough to compete. With a roster that featured many athletic women competing in football for the first time, the injury factor was one that resulted in the painful decision.

“Forfeiting the game was the hardest decision to make, though it was made as a team decision.  We needed to heal from our injuries as everyone had to go to work on Monday.  Due to the injuries, we could not get enough active players for the roster that was required by the WWCFL. It felt like failure.”

While coming out of retirement and competing again brought with it great joy for Gordica, she reflects on the season with great maturity. Although she may be her biggest critic, her playing experience was a valuable resource for many of the rookies on the Lady Outlawz roster.

“The experience of playing was great. To be back on the field (was fun), but realistically, I should have never come out of retirement.  My age started to hold me up; I was too slow getting off the line and I could not bounce up off the ground like I used to,”Gordica said.

Having been athletic her entire life, Gordica has a lifelong love of football. A way of life for many residents in Alberta in summer, the opportunity for women to compete on the gridiron has only enriched the love of the game. Gordica’s rookie season would come in 2005 as she competed for the Calgary Rockies (at the time, one of only two women’s football teams in Alberta).

“The interest of football has always been there, I have always been active and I was involved in track and field during junior and high school. I made the Red Deer College cross country team in grade nine, and I played badminton and volleyball competitively."

Football eventually took center stage for Gordica. "I played football with the boys in school during gym class. My favorite play has always been the statue of liberty. Eight years ago, I was watching a Stampeders game and saw a poster for Calgary Rockies Women's Football and from there it is history.”

Despite the winless season, the Lady Outlawz have some building blocks that should provide for a solid future. Gordica reflects on the remarkable women that shared her vision for female football with pride. With the inaugural season now history, the franchise can focus on the future.

“Potential stars, well that would be Tegan Donnelly ("The Real Deal"), Georgia Moore ("The Aussie Clipper"), Christine Szostak ("Crazy Eyes"), and Jodie Ward ("Queenie"). All the players though put their heart and soul into the team," Gordica said.

"Now that they have this year under their belt, next year they will be the stars. Some of the players were only able to get one game in due to injuries. I really hope that next year they will be healthy and shining in the spotlight.”

Passion take show on the road for 2nd-round playoff game

Dave Mackall, TribLive

Coach Muzzy Colosimo
(Photo credit: Barry Reeger, Tribune-Review)

The Passion's 2013 record away from Highmark Stadium remained perfect in five games, even if the team didn't travel far from its Station Square base for a first-round playoff game in the Women's Football Alliance.

The club, while under contract to play home games at Highmark Stadium, welcomes occasional opportunities to play at other venues.

“It's good for us to get out there and for people to get a chance to see what we're all about,” team owner Teresa Conn said. “We've always had good support, no matter where we go.”

Playing at Hempfield High School, the Passion (7-2) set a club record for largest margin of victory with a 63-0 rout of the Cincinnati Sizzle on June 15, moving them into the second round at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Boston Militia (8-0).

Both of the Passion's regular-season losses at Highmark Stadium, including a 42-28 decision to the Militia on May 11.

The Passion were forced to play their most recent game at a neutral site because Highmark Stadium was hosting a United Soccer League Pro Division game between the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Charleston (W.Va.) Battery.

“We had a nice crowd,” first-year Passion coach Muzzy Colosimo said of the gathering at Hempfield, estimated at 1,000. “It showed we could play out there.”

Colosimo, the former coach at Greensburg Central Catholic where he is the school's all-time winningest coach, took over the Passion's coaching duties after a former coaching colleague, Monroeville businessman Lou Biondi, encouraged him to meet with Conn.

“Lou knows Teresa well,” Colosimo said. “Like me, he was disappointed when I was let go at Central. He told me to give the Passion a try. I went to practice one day a week, then two days — you're teaching something and you don't want to let it go; you want to see it through — and it got to the point where I just started going all the time.

“My wife will be the first to tell you she's never seen me smile so much.”

Even though the job is on a voluntary basis, Colosimo has been rewarded by his players' acceptance.

“The girls love Muzzy,” Conn said. “He's a teacher, and they are sponges.”

Colosimo also is involved with Renaissance Christian Academy, a first-year private institution in Penn Hills. He joined with former Kiski Area and Imani Christian coach Harvey Smith to start a football program at RCA that plans to play an independent schedule made up mainly of out-of-state opponents.

“It's a Christian-based school,” Colosimo said. “It's an academic institution where we'll work on past grades and future grades. We want to get the kids academically sound.”

Prior to Colosimo's arrival, the Passion played a 2012 playoff game at Franklin Regional High School and before that at North Allegheny High School for two seasons when their former home field, Cupples Stadium, on the South Side, was under renovation.

Shelby Moran Emerging as Future Leader on Defense for Regina Riot

Mark Staffieri, Bleacher Report

As the Western Women’s Canadian Football League continues to grow, players like Shelby Moran will serve as the foundation for the next generation of stars. Competing with the Regina Riot, Moran is working tirelessly to help the franchise attain its first championship.

While the WWCFL is shattering barriers and expectations as to the role of women in football, Moran was accomplishing a reputation as a great competitor in high school. Like fellow peer Alexa Matwyczuk, Moran played high school boys football.

“Playing football in high school was an amazing experience.  I first played for my high school during the ninth grade in Dryden, Ontario. I had so much fun and got along so great with the guys, that when I moved here [in Regina] I had to play. Then I played a year at another school because I had a friend that really wanted to play and she wanted me to join her.”

As the remainder of her high school playing career was in football-mad Regina, Saskatchewan, Moran continued competing against the boys. Competing on the Winston Knoll Wolverines varsity football team in high school, she was a defensive back. Standing only at 5’2”, Moran was a spitfire of remarkable energy and strength who not only earned the respect of her coaches, but held up her own against the boys.

“After that, my coach at the high school asked if I was going to play for them. Then next year came, and of course I was going to play, no questions asked. I had amazing coaches here and a great head coach [Kelly Adams] which really made playing more enjoyable. When I was on the field there was not any difference between me and the guys; I was just a player.

That was the best part, being treated 100 percent equal when I was playing. The guys were of course hesitant at first to hit me, but once you hit back...they soon forget and hit me just the same as any other player. Overall playing in high school was great, and I learned so much from playing which has really helped me now. It has also made me more confident in my tackling now because before I was able to take down big high school guys.”

Like many women competing in the WWCFL, Shelby Moran is also a two-sport star. While at Winston Knoll Collegiate, she won the 2008 provincial wrestling championship in the 65-kilogram weight class. She would also represent Saskatchewan in wrestling at the 2009 Canada Summer Games, finishing in sixth place.

In university, Moran continued to compete in wrestling. With the University of Regina Cougars wrestling team, Moran ranked in fifth place in the 82-kilogram class at the 2010 Canada West Championships. While football was her first love, Moran found similarities between the two sports. The toughness and skills acquired on the gridiron transferred well to her wrestling endeavors.

“Wrestling has definitely helped in some areas for sure. The main part it has helped is with tackling. Really, it is all the same concepts as a running double leg takedown. The intense training has helped with fitness. In wrestling, you have to recover fast and catch your breath quick between periods so that also has helped me be able to recover really fast between plays.

I originally played football before I ever wrestled, so football also helped me wrestle as well, especially with takedowns. Wrestlers make great football players, and I would love to see more wrestlers playing football because they are usually the better tacklers.”

The defining moment in her young career came in a historic moment in WWCFL lore. Heading into the 2013 WWCFL campaign, the Regina Rage had an ambitious goal of usurping the Saskatoon Valkyries as the finest team in the league. With the Valkyries having never lost a game in league history, Regina handed them their first loss on May 12, 2013.

As the hard-earned victory came on Moran’s 22nd birthday, it would provide with a series of treasured moments that would last a lifetime. In the 15-7 final, which was a defensive showcase throughout, Moran registered four tackles.

“The win against Saskatoon was amazing! I could not ask for a better birthday present that is for sure. It was so intense and our defense just came together as one it was awesome!

That win really helped our team’s confidence. We always knew we could beat them. It was just a matter of coming together as a team to do it. This year we had the right coaches and it just seemed to work out. I think beating them also broke that mental block that our team seemed to have whenever we face them.”

Another milestone for Moran and her teammates on Regina was the opportunity to host the Prairie Conference championship game in 2013. Having claimed the regular-season title for the first time in franchise history, the opportunity at the elusive WWCFL championship seemed all too real.

Despite the fact that the Valkyries managed to defeat the Riot in the Prairie Conference final and advance to their third consecutive WWCFL title game, Moran and her teammates made significant progress in 2013. While the offseason will certainly provide Moran with motivation, she is confident that the future will provide the much desired championship result. In discussing what it will take to win the coveted championship, Moran declared,

“To win the championship, our team all has to come together and play together. Football is the ultimate team sport. You have to completely trust that everyone on your team on that field will do their job. If you have full confidence that the person next to you is doing their job, then you can do yours. That is the key, to trust the person beside you. Everyone just has to play hard, make their tackles and blocks and then we will be successful.”

New York Sharks, Women's Football Team, Highlights Acceptance, Camaraderie And Love In Sports

Glennisha Morgan, Huffington Post (Click to see more photos)

Sharing a field with youth soccer players at the Bushwick Inlet Park in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, the New York Sharks, women's professional football team are preparing for their June 15 playoff game against the Columbus Comets.

Chatter about a rookie talent show that recently took place at a Mexican restaurant in Manhattan is rampant among the diverse group of football players, as they stretch and dress for practice. Dark clouds hover over them and the near East River, while light rain taps their helmets.

Lauren Pringle, a 30-year-old, recently married wide receiver stops to chat with HuffPost Gay Voices, in between being asked about her wedding and football plays.

A few weeks ago she married her girlfriend of five years, who is a performer on Broadway. To show support, her teammates threw her a bachelorette party during the bus ride home from an away game in Maryland.

"We definitely had a good time," she said of the party. "It was a lot of fun."

In addition to planning her own wedding, Pringle and her wife assisted another teammate with her recent engagement. Katie Rose, a defensive end linebacker from Virginia, who loves the contact in the sport, recently got engaged to her girlfriend Melissa Pickett, a teammate who is also the current general manager.

Rose secretly planned a faux scavenger hunt leading up to the popular ruby-red stepsin Times Square, where she got on one knee and proposed to Pickett, in front of Pickett's family and friends.

"Pringle was involved in the planning of it. We talked a lot beforehand. I remember her saying something like once you're engaged it's better and things are different," gushed Rose. "Once that happened, it was totally true."

Pickett, who's been a New York Shark for five years and is currently taking a break due to injuries, is happy that lesbian athletes are accepted on the football team.

"What's really nice is that we've always had a good mix of straight, young, older, homemakers and married girls, etc.," Pickett said. "Even despite all of those differences, when it comes to game time, we still have a common goal."

Although lesbian players are highly accepted on the New York Sharks, unfortunately some of the women can't fully be out at work and off of the field.

One 32-year-old linebacker, who asked to be identified only as Rebecca, said she had to be cautious about being out because she teaches young children, even though she's married to a quarterback on the team.

"Unfortunately, it comes down to what your age group is, what you're teaching, along with the culture surrounding it. Sometimes it's still a big stigma," she explained. "It's kind of like a 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

Rebecca and her wife were in a long distance relationship between Los Angeles and New York for a year prior to tying the knot. Being on the same team, the couple is now able to spend a lot of time together, which they appreciate even more given the prior distance between them.

Outside of some of the romantic love that has developed on the football team, the players genuinely care about each other and most importantly, they passionately care about the sport.

Unfortunately, on June 15 the Sharks lost the game to the Comets, 20-22. It was a close game that intensified in the second half.

Sharks' head coach Richard Harrigan, a Brooklyn native who has been coaching football for over 30 years, feels that the team had a lot of opportunities to win.

After the game, the Sharks huddled to discuss their feelings about the night's loss. Still in their navy and sky blue uniforms, some players admitted faults during the playoff game and others offered tear filled speeches about how the team has become their "family."

The team that is affiliated with the Women's Football Alliance (WFA), may have endured a loss during the playoffs, but they're winning when it comes to acceptance and support.

Harrigan, who thinks that the same-sex relationships and comfortability to be out on the team is "positive", wants to be around to see the Sharks go to the next level, hopefully becoming paid athletes affiliated with the NFL.

"If the mainstream gets on fire with the total acceptance of it, just like the military, that will help women's football a lot actually into being a viable entity in the mainstream," he said. "The WNBA has the same issues because they have a lot of relationships and people who are lesbians playing."

Although not all of the players are in same-sex relationships, there's value in being able to just be and not feel like an other.

"What's great about this team and being around so many people that are like you, it just feels normal. You don't seem like an other. You just are living your life," Pringle said. "I'm married and I play a sport. That's how I see myself. It's really a great experience to not feel different.You can just be and that's the most amazing thing."

Sarah Attewell Represents a Bright Future for Halifax Xplosion

Mark Staffieri, Bleacher Report

Attewell (left) in action against the Capital Area Lady Gladiators
(Photo credit: Jason Quackenbush) 

As the Halifax Xplosion of the Maritime Women’s Football League work tirelessly toward building a championship-caliber team, Sarah Attewell is emerging as an invaluable component. Part of the hopeful championship blueprint, Attewell is a multiple MWFL All-Star whose leadership and experience make her a leader for the improving franchise.

Like many of her peers in the MWFL, Attewell’s first exposure to the sport came through rugby. In participating at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport level with the St. Thomas Tommies varsity rugby squad, Attewell quickly learned the values of leadership and teamwork. Those values have served her well with Halifax as she is part of a team culture that fosters friendship and belonging.

“When I was young I had an interest in a lot of sports, but it was not until I started playing rugby in high school that I really fell in love with a sport. I continued to play rugby when I went to St. Thomas University.

“Playing university rugby fostered a real appreciation for team sport and an understanding of what it takes to work as a team. When I moved to Halifax, I wanted to meet new people and be part of a team. I saw a poster about the Xplosion and I got really excited to learn a new sport. I knew nothing about football before I started playing with the Xplosion. The team was so welcoming and I instantly felt like I belonged with them.”

While Attewell is working tirelessly to provide the franchise with a championship, her career has been showered with numerous accolades and honors. Being named to the MWFL All-Star team is a great point of pride in her budding career.

“It is an honor to be selected a MWFL All-Star. I do not play football for awards; I play for the feeling I get when I am on the field and after a game. If my whole body hurts, I know I had a great game, and that is my motivation.”

Having joined the Xplosion in 2011, her career continues to evolve and grow into one where she employs a stronger leadership role. As the MWFL is a player-run league, many players have to wear the hats of both player and manager. Attewell understands the demands and is displaying true commitment as a team player by also trying to contribute off the field.

“This is my third season playing for the Xplosion and I am finding myself in more of a leadership position on and off the field. There is a lot of work behind the scenes with a football team and I like to help our team out the best I can.

“On the field I try to keep a positive attitude and encourage other players. I have had the opportunity to learn different positions, and I try to help newer players gain confidence in their spot on the field. I am always ready to go on the field wherever and whenever the coaches need me.”

Still in the prime of her career, Attewell is able to reflect on the frustrations of losing with strong dignity. Not afraid of the responsibilities required to help her team elevate to the next level, Attewell understands that the first necessary change is confidence. In discussing what it will take for the Xplosion to win a championship, Attewell discussed,

“For the Xplosion to win the championship, we need to believe that we can win. I think we are so used to being the underdog that we do not know how to approach the game as winners. This season has been monumental for our team.

“I know we have not put a win on the board yet, but I know it will be happening soon. Anyone who watched our games in the past, and then watched our last three games (in 2013), knows we are working for a win. Once we have that first win I think we will be unstoppable. Our coaches have set us up to win. We just have to finish it on the field.”

Despite the lean years of losing, it has not quelled her desire to compete and excel. The motivation to succeed only runs stronger, and it has helped to further the appreciation that she has toward other teammates that have helped to put the franchise on stronger footing.

“We have been so blessed to have leaders on our team like Tasha McMaster and Heather Archibald that give of their time and do not give up on us. I am also very thankful for all the time and effort our coaches put into the sport. We could not do any of this without them.

“We are lucky to have a great group of women playing on our team that are giving it their all. It is easy to be part of a team when they are winning, but being part of a team that is struggling for a win takes real heart. When we have our first win it is going to be the best feeling! I will cry like a baby and I cannot wait.”

With the 2013 campaign signifying the MWFL’s landmark 10th-anniversary season, the growing league is currently the only women’s sporting league in Canada to have reached the 10-year mark. The opportunity to be part of the historic year is one that provides Attewell with great happiness.

“I LOVE that I am playing in the MWFL's 10th-anniversary season. I am thankful for every game that I can lace my cleats up and play this sport. I just love to play. I hate when the game is over and hate even more when the season is over.”

Like many of her peers in the MWFL, Attewell is an articulate and educated individual. Her spirit for the game represents the culture that makes the MWFL an exciting and dynamic league.

As the sport of women’s football continues to grow throughout the world, the MWFL helped to lead the charge in Canada by empowering ambitious and remarkable women. Attewell is part of the next generation of amazing women who are getting the well-deserved chance to experience athletic glory.

“I am very excited for the growth of women's football and women's sports in general. I want every young girl to have a chance to play a sport like football so they can feel empowered by what they are capable of. I would not be half the person I am now if I did not play sports. The great part about our league is that you do not have to be 'young' to play. Anyone who wants the chance to experience football can with us.”