As one of two franchises in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL) that compete in the city of Winnipeg, the Fearless are looking to emerge as the most dominant. With their crosstown rivals, the Winnipeg Nomads Wolf Pack having five players on the Canadian National Team, the intensity of the rivalry will only increase.
Last season, Manitoba and Winnipeg split their regular-season series. In addition, both squads registered 58 points against the other in regular-season play. With neither club having qualified for the Prairie Conference final in their franchise history, both are looking to make a statement.
Despite being a second-year player for the Fearless, Roxanna Cox understands the leadership role that comes with being the team quarterback. Also named to the National Team, Cox is eager to prove worthy of the selection heading into the regular season.
“Being the quarterback of the Fearless, I definitely see myself as a leader on the team. (As a side note, I will be playing wide receiver for Team Canada). In my rookie season with the Fearless last year, I was named one of the team captains and I take that role very seriously.”
“I am a pretty quiet person in general, but I have always been loud and vocal when playing competitive sports. Most importantly, I want to be able to lead by example in my work ethic.”
As the league enters its third season, defensive back Pauline Olynik believes that the quality of play will continue to improve. “Yes I believe it will improve. The level of play has already increased and as women’s tackle football expands, the amount of professional athletes will grow as well.”
With their first game against Winnipeg on May 12, Lisa Klaverkamp is looking forward to renewing the rivalry:
“Absolutely! I look forward to every game, but I do enjoy playing the Wolf Pack. They have many excellent football players on their team and I have a couple of very good friends on that team. The Wolf Pack are our hometown rivals and it’s always a close, hard-fought game when we play them.”
When asked what it will take for the Fearless to win a championship in 2013, Cox stated:
“For the Fearless to win the championship this year, the offense will need to be able to march the ball down the field and score consistently.”
Competing in the Prairie Conference, the Fearless have to contain the two-time defending champion Saskatoon Valkyries. The franchise has never lost a game in league history and have nine players named to the 2013 Canadian National Football Team.
“The team will need to be diligent in executing our game plans. The Saskatoon Valkyries are the strongest team in the league having never lost a game. We will need to get through them in order to play in WWCFL final,” added Cox.
Photo credit: Manitoba Fearless Football Website – http://www.fearlessfootballwomen.com/p/photos.html)
Source: Mark Staffieri – The Bleacher Report
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