At University of Waterloo’s Warrior Field, the turf was charged with energy as young athletes showed their stuff in hopes of landing a major opportunity. “On the women’s side, we’ve got 50 athletes here. On the men’s side, we’ve got about 300 athletes and they’re all the top tackle athletes in the province,” explained Emily Todd, director of development and administration with Football Ontario. In a series of Red vs. Black inner-squad matchups, Ontario football players across U14, U16 and U18 levels took to the field Sunday to earn a spot on Team Ontario. “We look to find athletes that fit our culture,” said Aaron Geisler, CEO of Football Ontario. “Are you willing to buy into our all-in mentality of are you coachable? Are you a good teammate? Are you someone that we would want to be able to take out of province to show what we truly encapsulate our values in football?” It’s an event 17-year-old Lucas Underhill was excited to participate in for a second year in a row. “It’s almost indescribable,” Underhill told CTV News. “It’s like a family away from home. Just hanging out with players from all over the province and just great friends that turn into brothers.” Organizers said these aren’t just exhibition games, they’re the proving grounds for the best and brightest. “We have athletes from Sault Ste. Marie to Windsor to Ottawa to Toronto,” said Geisler. “For us, it’s our opportunity to select our final provincial teams to go and compete in national championships.” Between the tackles and the rising talent, Geisler said this weekend is proof amateur football in Ontario isn’t just alive, it’s thriving. “We have a full provincial league now of over 32 teams that didn’t even exists three years ago,” he said. For the first time ever, the Team Ontario Women’s Tackle Program was also included in the event. “We’re coming off of a national championship win in July,” said Todd. “This is a huge event and it’s just a celebration of the growth of women’s tackle football in Ontario and really elevating the caliber of competition we have every year.” 15-year-old Madeline Justesen drove with her dad from Toronto to take part in the program. “Me and my brother would play flag and touch football when we were younger and ever since then, this is the game for me,” she said. “There’s an uptick of girls getting into football, being interested in it from tackle to flag as well.” From youth development to gender inclusion in sport, Warrior Field was more than just a battleground. “Especially the ones who want to play at the next level and go to university, this is a big event and this allows us to showcase our skills,” said Underhill. “It’s so much fun and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love it,” said Justesen. After this weekend, the Team Ontario coaches will make their final decisions and the Football Ontario Top 40 will be selected to take part in the Football Canada Cup (U18) and the Eastern Regional Challenge (U16). Both will be held in Nova Scotia.
