Marissa Glanville (16) of the Saskatoon Valkyries takes on Ashley Clayton (25) of the Regina Riot during the WWCFL semi-final match up in Saskatoon on June 18. Originally from Melfort and Kinistino respectively, neither player knew they both came from the same area of the province before facing each other on the field. (submitted photo/Becky Zimmer)

By Becky Zimmer

WWCFL

North central Saskatchewan well represented at WWCFL semi-final

Jun 20, 2023 | 9:19 AM

The future is bright for women’s tackle football in the province.

Once again a Saskatchewan team will be in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL) final on June 24 after the Saskatoon Valkyries defeated the Regina Riot 19-9 in the ​semi-final match in Saskatoon this past Sunday.

Even with the provinces’ two largest cities proudly displayed on their jerseys, both teams featured some north central athletes.

This is the first year Marissa Glanville from Melfort will wear the green and white. A teacher and flag football coach in Saskatoon, she hopes she’ll be on the field for a couple more seasons as well as help grow the sport with the many camps both teams have hosted throughout the year.

Plenty of her own flag players came out to watch the game on Sunday, which is exciting to see for all the players.

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“You see all the young girls in the crowd and we’re just excited to see them grow up and fill our shoes when we’re done,” she said.

Even with the win under their belts and the final to come, the players are just happy to be on the field together, she said.

“Every time we’re on the field, we do the best we can and do it for each other.”

The Saskatoon Valkyries will be inviting the Calgary Rage to their home turf as the Valkyries are hosting the league final at the Saskatoon Minor Football field at Gordie Howe Park.

Being on opposite sides of the field, Glanville often clashed with longtime Regina Riot player Ashley “Dirt” Clayton.

The defensive back just finished up her seventh season for the red and black and originally is from Kinistino.

Clayton was playing frisbee and kept “accidentally” tackling people, she said, which was when someone recommended joining up with the Regina Riot. Growing up around the Melfort Comets, she just assumed football wasn’t an option for her, but when given the opportunity, Clayton fell in love with the sport and didn’t look back.

“It’s a great game and I would love every woman that I ever meet to try it.”

Assistant head coach Olivier Eddie proudly proclaimed Clayton to be a staple of the team, however he knows that Clayton would never make that claim herself.

With the WWCFL only ever being won by a Saskatchewan team, Clayton was on the Riot roster for three championship wins, the 2015 and 2017 wins against Alberta teams, and the all Saskatchewan final in 2018. She’ll have another shot at the title next season, she said, but she knows she’ll eventually have to hang up the cleats.

“My hope, my plan is to play until there’s no more play left, because it’s a beautiful game and I never want to quit. Obviously, there’s an end time but I don’t want it yet,” she said.

Also hitting the field with the Riot on Sunday was Brooklyn Shaw from La Ronge, Savannah Debray from Prince Albert, and Shayden Magnus from Tisdale.

Second-year Riot player Tilka Chapman from Tisdale was off the game day roster due to injury.

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becky.zimmer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @bex_zim