Sader finds her groove on Valkyries defence

Saskatoon closes WWCFL regular season at 4-0

Makayla Sader (#8) is making her mark with the Valkyries defence.

For Makayla Sader, it was worth the wait to finally join the Saskatoon Valkyries.

Growing up just north of Saskatoon in the centre Martensville, Sader took part in all sorts of sports. She focused on figure skating for a time in her childhood years, and she took part in basketball, soccer and track and field in high school.

Out of all the sports she participated in, one sport interested Sader to the point she wanted to continue it past high school.

“In high school, I played flag, and I really liked it,” said Sader, who is a Valkyries defensive back. “I actually injured my knee, and I needed surgery.

“I kind of took a few years off, but I did want to play Valkyries. Because of my knee injury, I was scared, because it is contact.”

On Saturday night, Sader and the Valkyries closed out their WWCFL regular season schedule downing the Regina Riot 33-14 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. Sader had four total tackles and fumble recovery in that encounter with the Riot. 

The Valkyries already had first place in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference locked up going into Saturday’s contest and now exit the regular season with a 4-0 record. Saskatoon will host the Winnipeg Wolfpack (0-3) in a WWCFL quarter-final at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on Sunday, June 12 at 1 p.m.

The Riot fall to 1-3 to close the regular season and will finish third in the Prairie Conference. They will travel to Winnipeg to face the Manitoba Fearless (2-1) in another WWCFL quarter-final at a date and time to be announced.

The Fearless and Wolfpack meet on Sunday in Winnipeg to close the respective regular season schedules for both of those clubs.

Back in 2018, Sader graduated from Martensville High School, and due to focusing on healing up her knee, she elected to not join the Valkyries in 2019, when they won their sixth WWCFL championship in team history. 

Makayla Sader (#8) was a Valkyries running back in 2021.

The 2020 WWCFL campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world.

The Valkyries were able to get back on the field in 2021 taking on the Regina Riot in a three-game exhibition series. Sader’s boyfriend and fellow Martensville product, Carter Dyck, joined the Valkyries as a position coach for that three-game exhibition series.

Dyck, who member of the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops in 2018, convinced Sader that the three-game series with the Riot would be an excellent time to join the Valkyries, and she dressed as a running back for that three-game set.

“It is a good group of girls to play with for sure,” said Sader, who stands 5-foot-6. “I felt very welcomed.

“I liked how high intensity it was. I didn’t know what to expect if it was going to be more slack, or if it was going to be pretty aggressive. It was actually a pretty aggressive team, which was awesome.

“Everybody gives a 100 per cent effort, and that is what I really liked about it.”

In the second game of that series played on July 16, 2021 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Sader got to see some decent action carrying the ball seven times for 38 yards and scoring one touchdown in a 42-7 Valkyries victory. The playing time she did receive gave her the itch to return to the Valkyries in 2022 for a full WWCFL campaign.

“I just really wanted to try like an actual season,” said Sader. “Last year wasn’t really a season.

“We played three games against the same team in Regina. I think we really only had like maybe two months of football.”

At first, the 21-year-old thought she was going to play running back in her second year with the team. Due to the fact the Valkyries were returning veteran star running backs Sam Matheson and Sarah Wright for the 2022 campaign, the team’s coaching staff was looking for a better way to get Sader on the field.

Makayla Sader (#8) is piling up the tackles on defence.

They pitched the idea to her about converting to a defensive back, and Sader jumped at the opportunity to see the field more often. Sader had her biggest outing in the Valkyries third regular season game on May 28 leading the team with 7.5 total tackles when they downed the Riot 46-7 at SMF Field.

“When you think about that, she (Sader) has played three games of defence in her life,” said Valkyries head coach Pat Barry about that contest. “I think she had seven-and-a-half tackles, which was unbelievable.

“That is hard to do as a defensive back. It was an impressive game she had. She is picking it up quick.

“Clovis (Lumeka) our defensive backs coach is really pleased with how she is doing.”

Sader quickly became fond of playing defence, especially the tackling and physical play on that side of the ball.

“I’m really liking it,” said Sader. “It is a lot more aggressive on that end.

“I’m not the punching bag I have to be (as a running back). Of course, I’m punching the bag, so it is way more fun.”

Barry said Sader is doing well in pass coverage too.

“In practices, she is jumping routes,” said Barry. “She is anticipating throws already, which is exciting for a young player.”

Sader said she encountered a huge learning curve during her first two games playing defensive back. She felt comfortable in the May 28 win over the Riot and was able to clue into what the Riot were doing strategically on offence.

“We just focused on a lot more on what I was struggling with in the games,” said Sader. “Honestly, the second half was a lot better for me than the first half, because I kind of figured out the team a little bit better.

Makayla Sader (#8) enjoys making big hits on defence.

“After they run a few plays, you can kind of pick up what they are doing. Something just clicked. I read the game a lot better.”

Sader also enjoys the family feeling that exist in the Valkyries team unit.

“It is sweet,” said Sader. “I feel like a lot of the sports that I played have been awesome.

“There is something about this group of girls. We’re just a lot closer and tight knit. Everybody gets along.

“I’ve never had any issues with any of these girls. I think that is huge when it comes to a group of girls. Definitely, everybody getting along and being able to play together and have a good competitive side is just huge.”

Going forward, Sader is excited to take part in her first post-season with the Valkyries. She would like to help them win a seventh WWCFL title this season.

Saskatoon is scheduled to host the WWCFL championship game on June 25 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field with an expected start time of 1 p.m.

When this season wraps up, Sader plans to continue play for the Valkyries for the foreseeable future.

“I definitely plan to come back,” said Sader. “I think I will for sure play for at least a few more years if not more than that.

“Growing up, I never had a really full aggressive sport that I had to play. Soccer was as close as it got. This is kind of right up my alley.

Makayla Sader (#8) loves the upbeat vibe the Valkyries have.

“I’m definitely coming back next year for sure.”

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