Page 54 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 143

54 Issue #143 December 2024 www.sportsenergynews.com

U19 Women’s Tackle Football coming to

Cornwall Wildcats

By Casey Leger crowned mid July.
Immediately following the OWFL
he Cornwall Wildcats Football championship game, the top 23
TClub is fielding the first women’s athletes will be competing in Calgary,
tackle football team in area history. Alberta, as Team Ontario seeks
Football Ontario and it’s Ontario to defend its national title won in
Women’s Football League members Fredericton, New Brunswick, last
unanimously approved the motion to year.
include the Cornwall Wildcats entry Area student athletes from St. Joe’s
into its U19 division. This will be and La Citadelle were the first girls to
the third season of women’s tackle hit the gridiron in an all-girls football
football in Ontario. The league had game, as both schools fielded teams
seven teams last year, with teams last year for exhibition matches. Says
from Chatham, Clarington, Kingston, St. Joe’s Coach Dan Lapierre, “It’s
Peel, Cumberland, and two from so important for girls to have the
London. The six-game, 2025 regular same opportunities as boys, and I’m
season runs from May to July and thrilled to see the growth of women
will include new clubs Bel-Air, in sports. With the talent and passion
Photo Submitted
West Toronto, North Bay, Sudbury, we’re seeing, this is a great time for
and Hamilton. Top teams will earn girls’ tackle football to thrive here in Cornwall.” in Ontario.” Camplin designated
playoff spots, and a champion will be That season generated interest from longtime Wildcats coach, Dan Legros,
Single Game Ticket 26 00 per ticket either game girls at other area schools. Sisters as the first head coach of the U19
$
OWFL Cornwall Wildcats squad.
Discounted Group Ticket Packages Available - See Box Office Staff Marissa, and Miranda, Thomas, from Coach Dan is the principal at École
St. Lawrence High School, spent
their spring and summer travelling to secondaire catholique La Citadelle,
Orleans last year to play in the OWFL and he was the head coach for the
with the Cumberland Panthers. “The Patriotes girls’ tackle football team
reason we like girls’ football is it last spring. Legros’ experience in
gives us a chance to do what we love women’s football includes being the
without judgement; girls’ football defensive coordinator for the 2024
makes us feel like we fit in. Once Team Ontario U18 Women’s team that
we found out that there would be competed in New Brunswick at the
a girls’ team in Cornwall, we were national championship. He returns to
crazy excited.” Both sisters played the 2025 Team Ontario squad as they
at the younger age levels with the compete in Calgary later this summer.
Cornwall Wildcats teams. Assistant There will be an information session
coach, Hélène Cormier, adds, “In the held at La Citadelle on Wednesday,
inaugural season of U19 Wildcats December 11th, at 7 p.m. for girls
tackle football, these young women born in 2006 to 2009, who would
will not only be competing but will be like to participate. Parents and family
breaking barriers for all girls in their members are invited to attend in order
community.” to meet members of the coaching

Kirby Camplin, Club president, staff and get information about dates,
says, “Wildcats Football is excited costs, rules, equipment needs, and
to be the newest franchise in the practice times. Anyone wanting more
OWFL. We look forward to watching information can contact Head Coach
our athletes compete against the Dan Legros at daniel@coachlegros.
top female tackle football players com