Most teenage girls would spend their summer months hanging out with friends, socializing or maybe playing one sport or a hobby. Very few would be spending their time travelling all over Canada playing a variety of sports; however, Weyburn’s Ella Schenher is far from ordinary. Schenher wrapped up the end of July in Calgary for her third and final year of U18 Women’s National Football Championship, quarterbacking the Saskatchewan team. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the result they were hoping for, losing out in the semi-finals to Ontario 43-26; Schenher says it was still an amazing experience.
“Oh, it was awesome. So I've played with the Team Sask female program for the past three years, so this was my last year and we ended up getting third, although there wasn't a third place game because there was only six teams. We went 2-1 which is pretty good. I ended up walking away with offensive MVP of the tournament and then two players of the game (honours) out of the three games. So, it was a great group of girls, so fun like I just love going to that tournament and I'm kind of sad that I'm going to miss it, but overall, my favourite thing.”
Schenher literally ran away with the MVP honours this tournament, rushing in 10 touchdowns and throwing for 2 over the three games. She explains her experience and chemistry with her teammates is to credit for her success.
“My first year I was a running back, but now third year I'm quarterback, so that's obviously one difference but just the group of girls has changed like significantly. The first year we were all we were close, the second year got better and the third year we were like a unit. We all worked together and that’s why we came out on top from the past two years.”
Schenher will have to make a tough decision whether to carry on with women’s football, as there are tryouts for the national team or possibly trying out for the Regina Riot of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL). That will be a bridge she will cross once she reaches it as her focus shifts to a different sport; lacrosse. She was selected to join Team Sask’s U17 Women’s Box Lacrosse taking place at the Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland. That will take place from August 8th to August 25th. She says she's been playing lacrosse for roughly five years, picking it up during COVID and finding success from there.
From Calgary to St. John’s for two different sports on the national level, that would certainly be a full summer for anyone. However, there won’t be much time to rest as once she’s back, she’ll prepare to move to Swift Current to play U18 AAA hockey this upcoming season. Schenher talks about her hockey timeline over the years.
“So, I started when I was about 8, played minor through Weyburn, and then my first year of U18 I went and I played (with the) Regina Rebels, and we won the Esso Cup which is National Champions. Then, I ended up bugging up my knee so I couldn't play, and then I came back and I played AA here and we were provincial champions and then went and I tried out for Swift (Current) and made the cut. So now I'm going to go play Swift for seven months and then come home and graduate (high school).”
Playing three sports at the highest level and achieving that degree of success before even donning the graduation cap and gown is quite the achievement. However, that success doesn’t come without sacrifice. Schenher has had to battle to get to that level and while she says it’s rewarding, it is also taxing.
“It's a lot as an athlete for sure. It’s definitely rewarding. Not many people get to do what I do for three sports especially, but it is also challenging staying away from home and not seeing my family that often. Like in Calgary, I only saw them three out of the 14 days that I was there. Lacrosse, it'll be a little different because I'll get to see them more. But yeah, moving away to Swift like I moved away to Regina. It was rough, but it was close. Three hours is a lot longer than one, so we’ll have to make it work. But, it's honestly rewarding knowing that all my efforts are going somewhere.”
Not only the mental tax of not seeing your family as often or having to dedicate your time to practices and games, playing three contact sports obviously takes a toll on her physical health. Schenher explains the physical toll of being an athlete.
“I'll tell you, I feel like an 80-year-old as a 17-year-old that's for sure. Going up the stairs every day, it's a little rough but honestly, it's not too terrible like I'm used to it at this point. Broken ankles, broken wrists and everything but I've healed so just getting back at her."