Three members of Estevan’s Viragos football team recently took part in Team Sask tryouts, joining athletes from across the province in the hopes of making the elite squad.
Sophie Lester-Geysen, who has been with the Viragos since March 2022, said the weekend was a valuable experience.
“It was a really great experience. It was a lot of teamwork. It was hot,” she said with a laugh. “But overall, just meeting new girls, learning new skills—it was great.”
This was Lester-Geysen’s first time trying out for Team Sask. She said she was encouraged by fellow athletes and motivated by how much she’s come to love the game.
“This is a sport I’ve really grown to love, and I’m seen as a leader on this team,” she said. “My love for football made me want to try out for something bigger.”
Before joining the Viragos, Lester-Geysen came from a background in dance and gymnastics—activities she said don’t directly translate to the gridiron.
“I think I just kind of jumped into this,” she said. Adding that she hadn't ever taken part in a contact sport before.
While she plays defence, she said she enjoyed the opportunity to show off a range of skills at the tryout, including running and receiver drills. She's most excited for the games this season and watching new players fall in love with the sport the same way she did.
Also attending the tryout was Aurora McCutcheon, a senior member of the Viragos, who’s entering her fourth year with the team.
“This is my third year trying out [for Team Sask],” she said. “This is my last year for it, so I just wanted to go for it.”
McCutcheon said it’s bittersweet knowing it’s her final season, but she’s excited to possibly return as a coach in the future and continue playing after graduation.
Over the weekend, McCutcheon said she tried to support newer players who were nervous or feeling discouraged.
“Some of them were getting down on themselves, so I just told them, you know what, it’s OK—just think of it as a camp. Don’t think of it as a tryout.”
That mindset, she said, helps athletes stay out of their heads and perform at their best.
Both athletes spoke highly of the Viragos as a team and a community.
“If you want to try out or even just join football, don’t be worried about it,” McCutcheon said. “Most coaches and players will help you get through it. So if you want to try out, just go for it.”