BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
About three-and-a-half years ago, a
professional flag football team from Quebec came to Sudbury to
watch a tournament and spread the word about the International
Women's Flag Football Association (IWFFA).
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BOISVERT |
Naughton native Josiane Boisvert, a College
Notre Dame student at the time, was one of the athletes
participating at the tournament and the news of the flag
football association caught her attention.
Boisvert, now 21, ended up going to Quebec
and joining the Quebec Storm for a tournament.
It changed her life forever. "I played in the
one tournament and liked it," said Boisvert. "I liked it so
much, I decided to stay and continue playing."
The decision to continue playing eventually
resulted in ultimate glory for Boisvert.
Last February, Boisvert and the rest of her
Storm teammates won one of the biggest flag football
tournaments in the world, the Kelly McGillis Classic in Key
West, Florida.
"It was the first time we won," said
Boisvert. "It was great, and I also was named the MVP for
defence at the tournament. It made everything perfect."
The event featured about 50 teams from around
the world, including Mexico, Sweden, Canada and the United
States.
The IWFFA doesn't play league games, it's a
system of organized tournaments throughout the calender
year.
Boisvert, who plays the position of rusher on
defence, is back playing with the Storm this year, and the
squad will be defending their coveted Kelly McGillis Classic
Championship from Feb. 11-14.
"This year, we have the same girls going back
down to Key West, so we have a good chance to win again," said
Boisvert. "We pay our own way, so when we play, we play for
pride."
