Team Saskatchewan finished 5th at the National U18 Women’s Football Championships in Fredericton, New Brunswick last week. One of the standout athletes on the team was Weyburn’s own Ella Schenher, who over the course of one game and one quarter of action, amassed 435 yards rushing, while also handling quarterback and punting duties, and also taking some snaps on the defensive side of the ball.
“I love the group of girls I was with, and getting to travel to New Brunswick – a place I’ve never been to, it was super fun,” Schenher said while visiting the Discover Weyburn studios. “New Brunswick did an amazing job hosting. We got to meet some officials. We got to meet new girls, play football, obviously. It was a blast, and I wish I was still there if I’m being honest.”
The tournament saw Team Saskatchewan play three games in a span of just over a week, a pace that takes a toll on the body, Schenher explained. There are two days of rest between every game, which is 60 minutes of full-contact football.
“With all the bumps and bruises that we get, it’s not enough time,” Shenher noted. “We get practises in between, two days to study film. It’s not a lot of time, and it’s hard.”
The toll did hamper Schenher’s time in New Brunswick, as she had to leave the second game of the tournament after suffering an injury. She had racked up 267 yards along the ground in the one quarter of the game she did play.
“It was all because of my team,” Schenher said. “If I didn’t have the blocks on offence, I would not have those yards. Having the support from them, it just helped me all along the way.”