INNISFAIL – Lillian Watkinson is the town’s proud gridiron hero today as she came home from Ottawa last week as an important member of Team Alberta that is now a back-to-back national gold medal-winning championship team.
On July 29 Team Alberta defeated Team Québec 52 – 22 at Ottawa’s Carleton University to win the Harlow Division gold medal at the 2023 U18 Women’s Football Championship.
Last year Team Alberta won the inaugural championship in Regina’s Mosaic Stadium.
“Our defensive team was phenomenal through the whole week, and it was very obvious that our defensive coaches were some of the best in the entire country,” said Lillian’s mom Talitha Watkinson. “The whole team was very, very well coached which made all the difference in the field.
“We're all super proud of Lilly and how hard she worked, not only to make it through try outs and earning her spot in a starting position, but also working hard to fundraise and help cover the cost to get there. She did a bottle drive in town and raised just over $1,000 thanks to all of the generous people in this town.
“It really meant a lot for her to have so much support and encouragement from the community.”
This year’s national tourney in Ottawa from July 23 to 29 featured seven provincial teams and the National Indigenous Team.
Team Alberta showed their dominance right from the start. The women girdironers crushed Team Saskatchewan 48 – 6 in their first game on July 23.
Team Alberta then faced Team Ontario Red in the semi-finals and won easily by a score of 60 – 0.
In the final against Team Québec it was closer but Team Alberta was still dominant and won 52 – 22.
“I think the defense played outstanding all tournament,” said Justin Tillery, defensive coordinator for Team Alberta. “It just really goes to show the amount of work the girls put in between our meetings and on field practices.
“I think they were really prepared,” he said. “We were able to go out and execute.”
