BY ON APRIL 28, 2013
Among an impressive number of two-sport stars in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, Alexa Matwyczuk represents a bright future for theNorth Winnipeg Nomads Wolf Pack. In addition to her superlative play on the gridiron, she is also a track and field competitor.
Her love of football was a family affair. With her older brother having excelled as an athlete, she was influenced by him. The result was that Matwyczuk would carve her own niche as an athlete, which also included competing against boys.
I grew up with the sport, my older brother played and my dad coached his club team; I was always exposed to the atmosphere. When I was much younger I idolized my brother and wanted to do everything that he did. I actually began playing football when I was seven years old up. For most of my life I had always been playing against the boys, once I played out my last year of high school football, I made my shift into women's football.
With the University of Manitoba Bisons, she has competed in the shot put and the weight throw. As of March 15, 2013, Matwyczyk was ranked No. 10 in the Canada West conference in shot put with a distance of 11.33.
She registered the distance twice this season. The first time was at the Bison Classic in Winnipeg on February 1, while the second was during the Kinsmen Indoor Games (held at the Regina Field House) on February 8, 2013. With regards to the weight throw, her personal best was 11.81, also accomplished on February 1.
One game she has marked on her calendar is on May 12, 2013. The Nomads Wolf Pack will compete against Winnipeg’s other franchise in the WWCFL, the Manitoba Fearless. Emerging as one of the premier rivalries in the league, Matwyczuk is eager for the opportunity to clash with the rivals.
“Seeing as I missed the last time that we played the Fearless due to an injury, I cannot wait to play our cross-town rivals.”
Heading into the 2013 World Women’s Tackle Football Championships, Matwyczukwill have only turned 20 years old. Named to the team on the defensive line, she joins fellow Nomads Wolf Pack teammates Christine O'Donnell and Amy Mohr (who both competed in the inaugural World Championships in 2010). A key building block for theCanadian National Team, she brings great potential with her. To have been named to the squad is a great point of pride for her.
“As an athlete who has made never it past the provincial level in men's football, and in two years make it to the national level and then the international level is unbelievable.”
