The Estevan Kinette Club Viragos U18 female football team continues to make important strides towards the start of their first season.
The Viragos, which is a word for a female warrior, will feature young women in Grades 7-12. At a meeting earlier this year at the Estevan Comprehensive School, about 20 young women voiced their interest in being part of the program.
Kevin Mortenson, who is the president of Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football, said they could use even more young talent.
The Viragos will play under the minor football banner.
“We’re looking to strengthen the numbers, both for players, obviously, and coaches,” said Mortenson.
The Kinette Club has stepped forward as the Viragos sponsor. A presentation recently took place as part of the Kinettes’ support for the program.
They also have their coach, Shanelle Rioux, who is no stranger to football in Estevan. Rioux played minor football and high school football in Estevan, and has also played for the Regina Riot women’s tackle football team. Last year she attended the Grey Cup festival in Regina through the all-Canadian Titan program.
She attended camps and other activities designed to further her skills and learn more about the game.
“We’re happy that she is helping develop our girls program here in Estevan. She can relate more with these girls, she’s the same age as many of them, and those younger ones will be looking up to her because she’s been there and she’s done that. I don’t know what other level of football she has to play,” said Mortenson.
An emblem has been designed for the Viragos, and Dynamic Signs has taken care of helmet stickers.
The Viragos will play against teams from Moosomin, Yorkton, Melville and Regina.
“We’ve been conversing back and forth. There’s a tentative schedule, and basically, we’ll be playing each other once, and then the playoff format, right around Thanksgiving, those games will be on the weekend.”
Mortenson is excited to have the program in Estevan. Estevan Minor Football has had numerous female players on its teams since the organization was first formed back in 2008. And Mortenson noted Moosomin has been angling Estevan to get a team going for a number of years.
“We’ve just been putting it off because we were short on practice facilities with the grass at Chow Field getting redone,” he said.
He’s also excited to have the Estevan Kinettes Club step up to sponsor the team for the next three years.
“The service clubs in Estevan has been phenomenal, helping out minor football or even the high school football program,” said Mortenson.
