Moms spend Sunday on the gridiron
The hits don't stop for Denise Kolosky when the final buzzer sounds.
Kolosky got a break from parenting on Mother's Day so she could play middle linebacker for the Saskatoon Valkyries.
But moments after the Valkyries crushed the Manitoba Fearless 55-0 in the Western Women's Canadian Football League season opener, Kolosky was wrapped up by her daughters, Emma, 3, and Olivia, 2. "They tackle me at home all the time," she said, laughing.
With the help of her energetic daughters, Kolosky is constantly on the move, allowing her to slowly reestablish herself on the football field.
After all, it was only three months ago that she gave birth to her third child, son Ruben.
"It's tough. Really tough," Kolosky said of her hasty return. "I recommend people wait and then come back."
The patience and understanding shown by her teammates and husband Colin have played an important part as well.
"It's helped out a lot," she said. "If I didn't have that encouragement, I don't think I would be back."
But so has Kolosky's passion for the game. Growing up in Toledo, Ohio, Kolosky watched her six brothers play football.
She joined a flag football league, with her mother providing the encouragement. "My mom was always like, 'Go do what you do. I love you. If you want to do it, go do it,'" she said.
Kolosky eventually caught on with the Toledo Spitfire women's team. She followed when the Spitfire relocated to Ann Arbor, Mich.
There Kolosky met Colin. Within a year they were married.
They moved to Saskatoon three years ago. Colin is from the city and wanted to be closer to his mother, who was battling cancer. (She died last year on the day the Valkyries won their third consecutive WWCFL title).
Kolosky's father-in-law told her about the Valkyries. Of course, there was one hitch in the idea. It proved to be a minor one.
"I was pregnant at the time," Kolosky said. "When I came, I just had Olivia. It was maybe two weeks and I went and tried out."
Valkyries head coach Jeff Yausie is no longer surprised by Kolosky's determination to get back on the field after childbirth. He's seen her do that twice now. And, as he noted, she never misses a practice.
Once Kolosky's on the gridiron during game action, her drive isn't much different either.
"It's amazing and fun to watch her play," Yausie said of his third-year player and team captain.
"She's willing to do some heavy hitting in the middle against bigger O-linemen and bigger players. She's a great asset to our defence."
Kolosky made two tackles and assisted on three others in Sunday's easy victory.
Running back Julie David was the star on offence, scoring four touchdowns, one of which was on a screen pass. She finished the game with 245 all-purpose yards.
Quarterback Candace Bloomquist completed six of her 10 pass attempts for 113 yards before being removed in the second half.
Receiver Marci Kiselyk had three catches for 91 yards and scored a touchdown.
But the defence was also up to snuff.
Although the Fearless helped with eight penalties and eight turnovers, the Valkyries limited their Prairie Conference foes to 56 yards of net offence and six first downs.
Kolosky played the entire game as she continues her post-childbirth comeback.
The Valkyries return to action on Saturday when they host the Regina Riot at Griffiths at 7 p.m. Chasing children around the house will only help get Kolosky ready.
"It will gradually get better," she said. "Yes it will. I'll be better next week. I'll be even stronger."
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