Photograph by: Michelle Berg, The Starphoenix
In addition to scoring a lot of baskets and free throws, Marci Kiselyk used to catch her fair share of passes from teammates when she was a standout member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's basketball team.
She's still making a lot of catches, now that she's traded in her basketball sneakers for football cleats.
The 26-year-old Kiselyk has been one of the top receivers for the Saskatoon Valkyries over four years of play in the Western Women's Canadian Football League, including three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 49-7 win over the visiting Regina Riot at Griffiths Stadium.
"It's very different having a helmet on and pads on and running away from the ball - running away from the quarterback," said Kiselyk, originally from Athabasca, Alta.
"I spent a lot of time with friends in a field for the first year trying to figure out how to catch a football consistently. It was a lot of work. Now I'm pretty confident for the most part.
"As a receiver you've got to believe you're going to catch every ball."
Kiselyk's helped the Valkyries to three league titles, and they're early favourites for a fourth.
Previously, Kiselyk played forward for the Huskies basketball squad from 2007- 2011, helping the squad to a Canada West championship and their best-ever finish at nationals, second-place in 2011.
Coincidentally, at the same time Kiselyk's Huskies career was winding down, the Valkyries were forming. But she wasn't sure about trying football at first.
"I knew about (the Valkyries), but I didn't think I wanted to do it," said Kiselyk. "Honestly, I was hauled out to a practice by a friend (Alicia Wilson) who was playing receiver. She said, 'You're coming with me.' And I went there and it's a pretty easy transition from basketball to receiver. And it seemed to fit."
In addition to her three league championships with the Valkyries, Kiselyk was one of 10 teammates to compete for Team Canada and bring home a silver medal from the women's world football championship last year. She can't believe all the doors football has opened for her.
Kiselyk teaches at Aden Bowman, where she is the senior girls' basketball head coach and a junior football receivers coach.
She has also helped start a new Saskatoon Rush Football League. The league features 16 high school flag football teams just for girls across the city.
"At Bowman I've got 26 kids signed up," said Kiselyk. "I'm hoping that these girls are going to become future Valkyries, some of them at least."
The Valkyries took the lead on the very first play of Saturday's win over Regina after Julie David ran the opening kickoff back 57 yards for a touchdown. David added 69-and 34-yard TD receptions.
Four other Valkyries scored touchdowns, including Kiselyk's 15 yard catch and a 70-yard Gillian Allen punt return. For more game results, see the Sports Report below.
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