Mawdsley is with the Saskatoon Valkyries for life

Offensive tackle pumped for conference final clash with Riot

Betsy Mawdsley sets up at right tackle for the Valkyries.

Betsy Mawdsley has pushed away football retirement once, and she would like to hold off a potential end to her playing days with the Saskatoon Valkyries as long as she can.

The veteran right tackle on the Valkyries all-star level offensive line thought last season might be the time she would ride into the sunset on a pretty good high note. In 2022, Mawdsley helped the Valkyries win their seventh WWCFL championship downing the Winnipeg based Manitoba Fearless 36-6 in the league’s title game held at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on June 25 to cap a 7-0 perfect season.

After the Valkyries season wrapped up, Mawdsley and 11 of her teammates joined Football Canada’s National Women’s Team to play in the International Federation of American Football’s Women’s World Championship, which ran July 28 to August 8 in 2022 in Vantaa, Finland. Canada closed that competition falling 19-17 to host Finland in the bronze medal game.

This week, the 35-year-old Mawdsley has the anticipation type of excitement like a child at Christmas for the Valkyries upcoming post-season clash. They host their provincial rivals the Regina Riot on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference Championship game.

The winner advances to the WWCFL Championship contest to be held on Saturday, June 24 at 2 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon.

As the Valkyries season nears a conclusion with the team down to potentially playing just two more games in 2023, the question for Mawdsley becomes will she be back in 2023?

Betsy Mawdsley makes a stop in the 2016 WWCFL final.

“I think it depends how nice I smile over the year with my partner whether I’ll be back,” said Mawdsley with a chuckle. “I think last year obviously being a national team year I thought it would be it for me.

“At gear pick up, there I was. I think year after year I’ll just have to take it as it comes.”

Mawdsley joined the Valkyries for their WWCFL championship season in 2016. She mainly played defensive end for her first couple of campaigns before transitioning over to the offensive line. Playing right tackle, Mawdsley helped the Valkyries win WWCFL titles in 2019 and 2022 and will still get some reps from time to time on the defensive line.

Both on and off the field, Mawdsley’s life has changed since joining the Valkyries in 2016, and she has enjoyed the fact the family she has built with the team has been there every step of the way as her world has evolved.

“I’d say my role has changed not because of my years on the team, but because I have gotten older,” said Mawdsley, who stands 6-foot-1. “When I started, I was unmarried and in university.

“Now, I’m married with two young children. My role on the team has changed as I have changed. I think now playing O-line I’m standing beside other people who have played forever.

“It honestly feels like all of us have been here forever. I would say my role has grown as I have grown. One complement to the program in general is that as my life has changed the program has continued to be there for me, and I’ve gotten to be able to be with the program for as long as I have.”

Mawdsley, who works as physiotherapist in Saskatoon, is one of the Valkyries veteran mainstays on the offensive line along with centre Alex Wojcichowsky, left guard Lauren Ferguson and left tackle Alyssa Funk. Ferguson and Funk played alongside Mawdsley with Canada at last year’s women’s worlds.

Betsy Mawdsley (#90) pass protects for the Valkyries in 2019.

Newcomers Brianna Hammett, Adrianne Taylor and Savanna Spendiff have played the right guard spot or have filled in at different positions on the offensive line depending how a game is playing out. Together, they’ve all allowed star quarterback Alex Eyolfson and the team’s offence to consistently have big games.

“Our O-line is really, really strong,” said Valkyries head coach Pat Barry. “It is one of the strengths of our team.

“They work together as a unit. (Offensive line coaches) Jack (Sloboda) and Ethan (Paslowski), they do a great job with those ladies. We do have some new players on our O-line, and the vets have really brought them in.

“It is just awesome to see.”

Barry said Mawdsley’s been an MVP when it comes both on the field playing on the offensive line and off the field when it comes to him look after some his own injuries from his own sports playing days.

“I’m a big fan of Betsy,” said Barry. “She does a lot of things for us.

“She is a great person. She is actually my physio. She takes care of my injuries that I have, so she is a great person to have around.

“I’m just so pleased that she continues to be an athlete on our team.”

Betsy Mawdsley (#90) takes part in WWCFL title celebration in 2019.

Mawdsley is looking forward to the heightened excitement that comes from playing the Riot. The Valkyries topped the Prairies Conference in the regular season with a 4-0 mark, while the Riot finished second in the conference with a 2-2 record.

The Valkyries and Riot last met in the post-season in the 2019 WWCFL final that Saskatoon claimed 25-3 in Regina.  Saskatoon has won its last 25 games overall including two forfeit victories.

The Riot handed the Valkyries their last loss way back on June 24, 2018 by at 14-10 final in Regina in that year’s WWCFL final. That result allowed the Riot to cap a perfect 7-0 campaign in 2018.

Sunday’s encounter will also mark the first time the Riot and Valkyries have gone head-to-head in a playoff game in Saskatoon since June 19, 2016, when the Valkyries prevailed 29-14 in the Prairie Conference final. Eyolfson threw four touchdown passes in that game as an 18-year-old rookie.

“I really enjoy playing Regina,” said Mawdsley. “It is always a hard game.

Betsy Mawdsley (#90) make a block in the 2022 WWCFL final.

“One thing you can guarantee is if you see Regina three times in a year you’re going to see three different teams every single time. It is always a really exciting game and a really exciting week leading into it. It doesn’t matter what happened with the last game.

“You can’t sleep on them. You have to show up and get ready, because you know they’re going to show up ready and different.”

The winner of Sunday’s game between the Valkyries and Riot will face the Calgary Rage, who were 3-0 in the regular season, in the WWCFL final. On Tuesday, the WWCFL announced the Edmonton Storm had elected to forfeit the league’s Western Conference Championship game that was slated to be played either this Saturday or Sunday in Calgary.

With that announcement, the Rage advance to the WWCFL title game for the first time since 2017, when they fell to the Regina Riot in Saskatoon.

As the Prairie Conference final between the Valkyries and the Riot approaches, Mawdsley is enjoying being in the present. Once the 2023 campaign is done, she will start thinking about potential plans for 2024.

“I want to say it is not my last year, but it also realistically could be,” said Mawdsley. “I think one of the things Pat (Barry) always says is enjoy every moment.

Betsy Mawdsley will decide in the off-season about returning in 2024.

“You don’t know when it is your last game, and that is what I’m trying to do. I’m lucky to have played as long as I have and hope that I get to keep showing up year after year.”

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Funk discovered Valkyries by chance, off to another WWCFL final with team

Valkyries LT Alyssa Funk (#56) blocks a Steel rush end.

    Thanks to Google, Alyssa Funk received confirmation that women can play tackle football in Saskatchewan, and it started her career in the sport.

    Having grown up in Hague, Sask., Funk was visiting Saskatoon to watch her younger brother Jaxon play football a little over five years ago. Following Jaxon’s game, Alyssa noticed the field crew was setting up the field for the Saskatoon Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League.

    She used the Google online search engine to learn what the Valkyries were all about. Once she realized they were a competitive women’s tackle football team, Funk got excited about playing the sport and decided to join the squad.

    “I was a little scared when I first came, because I didn’t know anyone,” said Funk. “They were really welcoming right from the start.

    “I came to a fall camp my first year, and they were great. I knew I wanted to play O-line. They loved me there.

Alyssa Funk (#56) clears a passing lane for QB Alex Eyolfson.

    “The coaching was great. It was awesome.”

    Funk is now in her fifth season with the Valkyries and anchors the team’s offensive line at left tackle.

    The 23-year-old helped the Valkyries roll past the Lethbridge Steel 53-0 on Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in a WWCFL semifinal contest. The Steel’s campaign came to an end with the loss as their overall record was finalized at 3-3.

    With the win, the Valkyries, who improved to 7-0 overall, advance to the WWCFL championship game to be held this coming Saturday at 4 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

    Saskatoon will face the two-time defending WWCFL champion and host Regina Riot in the title clash. The Riot, who have a 3-3 overall record this season, downed the Valkyries 14-10 in last year’s final.

Alyssa Funk (#56) clears a path for RB Sarah Wright.

    Regina took the other WWCFL semifinal contest 30-8 in Edmonton on Saturday against the host Storm.

    In Sunday’s win over the Steel, the Valkyries piled up 609 yards of total offence with 238 yards coming on the ground and 371 yards through the air.

    The Steel was limited to 136 yards of offence.

    Funk said the chemistry on the Valkyries offensive line has been strong this season. Along with Funk, the club’s starting offensive line includes right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, right guard Lauren Ferguson, centre Eden Rakochy and left guard Ashley Viklund.

Alyssa Funk (#56) sets up to protect the passing pocket.

    Besides the fact the starters have played well, Funk said the Valkyries have received strong contributions from the backups as well.

    “We’ve been playing together really, really well,” said Funk. “It doesn’t matter which of the seven of us are on.

    “We communicate well. We talk to each other. We finish our blocks, and we are putting up points. That is all you can do.”

    Funk joined the Valkyries in 2015 and quickly vaulted to star status. She helped the Valkyries win their fifth WWCFL title in June of 2016.

    The Valkyries thumped the Edmonton Storm 81-6 in the WWCFL final held in Lethbridge, Alta. Funk remembers current Valkyries head coach Pat Barry, who the team’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at the time, asking at halftime how many people had won a championship with the team before.

Alyssa Funk (#56) opens a hole on a running play.

    “Only about half the hands went up,” said Funk. “He (Barry) said lets win it for the people whose hands aren’t up.

    “We went out there, and we crushed them. It was a great time.”

    In late July of that same year, Funk suited up for Team Saskatchewan at Football Canada’s inaugural Senior Women’s National Championship tournament.  Funk and Saskatchewan won gold at that event held in Regina.

    During the 2017 campaign, Funk had the opportunity to suit up for Canada’s national women’s football team. She helped Canada win silver at the International Federation of American Football Women’s World Championship tournament held in Langley, B.C.

    Funk never envisioned she would have those experiences under her belt in her second and third seasons.

Alyssa Funk (#56) and Eden Rakochy (#57) team up on a block.

    “It was actually surreal,” said Funk. “I didn’t have high expectations for myself.

    “I didn’t want to get my hopes up. It was the greatest thing I have ever been a part of. It was amazing.

    “I worked really hard for it, and I hoped that I could get myself there. It seemed unrealistic, but I am glad it wasn’t.”

    Barry said Funk has been an important part of the Valkyries since joining the team.

    “She (Funk) is an excellent football player,” said Barry. “She cares about the sport.

    “She is an excellent blocker. We’re very pleased to have her. She is just strong.

Emmarae Dale (#45) make a tackle for the Valkyries.

    “She is a student of the game. She is someone who cares deeply about the Valkyries and about her teammates.”

    Funk is looking forward to the fact the Valkyries will return to the WWCFL title game.

    The Valkyries had dedicated the season to late defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who passed away in a plane crash on June 1. On top of that fact, Funk wants to help her teammates that have never won a WWCFL title gain that experience for the first time.

    “I think it is really exciting that everybody gets to play for a championship now,” said Funk. “We all get that chance again for redemption.

    “A lot of our girls have lost championships, but haven’t won them. That inner drive is there for us. We’re motivated. We’re ready.”

Haley Girolami had three TD catches for the Valkyries on Sunday.

    In the win over the Steel, the Valkyries led 15-0 after the first quarter and expanded their edge to 43-0 at halftime. They cruised to the 53-0 final result from there.

    Rookie receiver Haley Girolami hauled in three passes for 100 yards and scored three touchdowns. She had the Valkyries first major score on a 28-yard reception and went on to add a 66-yard scoring catch and a six-yard touchdown grab.

    Star running back Sam Matheson ran the ball seven times for 92 yards and scored two touchdowns. She hauled in two passes for 45 yards as well and kicked an 11-yard field goal.

    Third-year running back Sarah Wright ran the ball 11 times for 95 yards and scored two touchdowns. She caught two passes for 46 yards in the win.

    Alex Eyolfson started the game at quarterback for the Valkyries, and she completed 11-of-13 passes for 255 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Sam Matheson had two rushing TDs for the Valkyries on Sunday.

    Safety Rienna Rueve scored a single point on a 20 yard missed field goal.

    Defensively, middle linebacker Emmarae Dale piled up 11.5 tackles for the Valkyries.

    Barry was pleased with his team’s performance.

    “We were excited to be able to get a lot of people on the field,” said Barry. “You don’t always get to do that in playoffs.

    “We’re happy about that. People who don’t always get to play as many reps they got to play a lot of reps today, so that was good.”

    NOTES – Filteau’s parents, Ron and Nancy, joined the Valkyries for the game’s opening coin toss. Nancy handled the duties of flipping the coin.

    The Valkyries coaches and a number of team staffers were wearing “Filteau’s the Worst” T-shirts.

The Valkyries celebrate advancing to the WWCFL final.

    It was a favourite shirt the late Justin Filteau liked to wear, and it was given to him by the Valkyries players in 2017 as a humourous gift.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Valkyries set high standard

WWCFL champs show how great women’s football can be

Veteran receiver Marci Kiselyk hauls in a pass for the Valkyries.

    The hot topic in Saskatoon sports circles on Monday revolved around a final score of 81-6.

    That of course was the result of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League championship game on Saturday in Lethbridge. The Saskatoon Valkyries were the victors claiming their fifth WWCFL title in six years. They smashed the Edmonton Storm harder than a Ray Lewis blindside hit on a quarterback.

    When locals in Saskatoon heard the score that was repeated often on various radio stations Monday, you almost immediately heard, “Wow, our girls kicked their asses.”

    During their six seasons of existence, the Valkyries have won numerous blowout games. Saturday’s effort set a team record for points scored in a game and equaled the team mark for largest margin of victory at 75 points.

Alyssa Wiebe (#13) became a dangerous target as a Valkyries receiver.

    Saskatoon’s previous record for points in a game came back on June 12, 2011 in a 78-6 thrashing of the Winnipeg Wolfpack. The last time the Valkyries won by a 75-point spread came on May 10, 2015 in a 75-0 bombing of the Wolfpack.

    Against the Storm on Saturday, the Valkyries performed with great precision. While the neutral site encounter only attracted about 300 onlookers, news of what took place spread like a wildfire.

    Saskatoon played with an efficiency and dominance that would likely make New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick blush. During the romp, the Valkyries, who finished with a 7-1 overall record, substituted frequently through their 55-player roster, and there wasn’t a drop in the level of play between starters and backups. Everyone played great on the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium turf.

    The Valkyries, who have a huge following in Saskatoon, are also benefiting from the popular girls flag football league that exists in their home centre. Besides veteran receiver Carly Dyck, the Valkyries roster contained 32 players in their first or second year with the team including 22 rookies. All the newcomers arrived with a high skill set that transferred over to the full tackle game.

Betsy Mawdsley created chaos as a Valkyries rush end.

    Rookie Alex Eyolfson and sophomore Reed Thorstad split the duties at quarterback for much of the season, and both displayed great form in throwing to a group of talented receivers.

    Others like rookie receiver Alyssa Wiebe arrived with a decorated resume of accomplishments in other sports. In Wiebe’s case, she arrived as a former star hockey player most notably with the University of North Dakota, and she picked up the game fast thanks to her natural athletic talent and the guidance of veteran pass catchers like Dyck, Marci Kiselyk and Stacey Boldt.

    On defence, rookie newcomers like defensive end Betsy Mawdsley and linebacker Emmarae Dale showed that they were naturals.

    All these newcomers connected extremely well with a strong core of veterans. Original Valkyries Beth Thomson, Tori Giles, Jaime Lammerding, Lori Smith and Kiselyk all seem to be finding new peaks in their respective games.

    Kiselyk started the year sidelined with a nagging injury, and when she returned, she looked almost as fluid as NFL great Jerry Rice. Thomson is terminator at linebacker and Lammerding and Smith love to create havoc in the middle of the defensive line.

Tailback Julene Friesen had a stellar season for the Valkyries.

    Giles spent her first five years with the Valkyries playing receiver, but when she switched to defensive halfback this season, she looked like she born to play that spot. When teams ran the ball, Giles quickly drew a read on what was going on and often sliced into the backfield to make a tackle for a loss.

    Fifth year linebacker Denise Kolosky and fourth year safety Shaylyn De Jong were lights out playing at an all-world level.

    Arguably, the Valkyries MVP this season was third year running back Julene Friesen. Friesen was the Valkyrie version of former NFL star Marshall Faulk becoming the tailback that could do everything from running hard inside and outside to making big plays in the passing game as a receiver.

    The Valkyries success also has to be attributed to the fact that they put in the work. Pretty much all the players train year round, and the team starts practising together three months before the season starts.

    The only other squad that likely trains that hard in the WWCFL is the Regina Riot, who were the only club to beat the Valkyries this season.

    Saskatoon is also guided by an elite coaching staff under the guidance of head coach Jeff Yausie. When Yausie hasn’t been available due to commitments with Football Saskatchewan and Football Canada, the rest of the staff steps up. Special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Chris Hengen-Braun really shines in these moments with his big upbeat enthusiasm.

Jaime Lammerding (#21) hoists the WWCFL title trophy for the Valkyries.

    Former Valkyries player Beth Thompson has become a key part of the coaching staff as a defensive line coach. As years go on, you can expect more former players will become coaches.

    In Saturday’s impressive display, the Valkyries showed how good women’s football can be. They are the example that all other clubs in the WWCFL can aspire to be.

    If even three or four other clubs from the eight-club circuit can get to the level the Valkyries are at, it would be a very cool thing to see.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.