INNISFAIL – Lillian Watkinson is the town’s proud gridiron hero today as she came home from Ottawa last week as an important member of Team Alberta that is now a back-to-back national gold medal-winning championship team.
On July 29 Team Alberta defeated Team Québec 52 – 22 at Ottawa’s Carleton University to win the Harlow Division gold medal at the 2023 U18 Women’s Football Championship.
Last year Team Alberta won the inaugural championship in Regina’s Mosaic Stadium.
“Our defensive team was phenomenal through the whole week, and it was very obvious that our defensive coaches were some of the best in the entire country,” said Lillian’s mom Talitha Watkinson. “The whole team was very, very well coached which made all the difference in the field.
“We're all super proud of Lilly and how hard she worked, not only to make it through try outs and earning her spot in a starting position, but also working hard to fundraise and help cover the cost to get there. She did a bottle drive in town and raised just over $1,000 thanks to all of the generous people in this town.
“It really meant a lot for her to have so much support and encouragement from the community.”
This year’s national tourney in Ottawa from July 23 to 29 featured seven provincial teams and the National Indigenous Team.
Team Alberta showed their dominance right from the start. The women girdironers crushed Team Saskatchewan 48 – 6 in their first game on July 23.
Team Alberta then faced Team Ontario Red in the semi-finals and won easily by a score of 60 – 0.
In the final against Team Québec it was closer but Team Alberta was still dominant and won 52 – 22.
“I think the defense played outstanding all tournament,” said Justin Tillery, defensive coordinator for Team Alberta. “It just really goes to show the amount of work the girls put in between our meetings and on field practices.
“I think they were really prepared,” he said. “We were able to go out and execute.”
As for Lillian’s performance on defense, he called the 16-year-old Innisfailian a “fantastic player".
“Last year she came in and tried out as a linebacker and we ended up moving her to a defensive back just because of her size,” said Tillery. “It's funny because this year when she tried out again she came as a defensive back but I ended up moving her back to linebacker because that’s where her strengths are.
“She was really a great tackler all around and is one of the smartest players on the team,” he said of his Innisfail linebacker what stands just five-foot tall and weighs 100 pounds.
“You look at her size and stature and people think ‘oh, she's not a linebacker’ but you don't let her size fool you.
“She can roll with the best of them. And it showed this past week in Ottawa.”
Lillian told the Albertan last week she thought she played well throughout the tourney, including the gold medal game.
“I feel like I played really hard, and I had a really good team. We worked really well together,” said Lillian. “I feel like we've clicked really well and half our team was returning players, so we all knew each other from last year.”
However, victory was in one way bitter sweet.
Lillian has aged out. She won’t be returning to Team Alberta in 2024.
“I'm feeling a little bit sad because it's my last year,” said Lillian. “I still have lots of football left. I’m just a little sad because I won't get to play for Team Alberta anymore.”
However, her talents are still coveted by other teams.
Lillian is going into Grade 12 and she will play another year for the Notre Dame Cougars from Red Deer’s École Secondaire Notre Dame High School.
She is also hoping to once again play for the Central Alberta Fire in the new U18 Female Football League.
And there is additional hope for her gridiron future.
Tillery said there is a strong possibility a new senior level championship for women will begin by 2025.
“Lilly does have that potential to go on and play for the senior women's team,” said Tillery. “Hopefully she can continue playing. I hope to see her again in the white and blue jersey; this time with the senior women's team.”
