For the first time ever, a female player has signed with the VI Raiders.
Among signees announced by the Canadian Junior Football League team June 8, offensive lineman Jordan Vearer from Victoria. Vearer has experience playing youth football and rugby.
Vearer told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin she doesnB次元官网网址檛 see herself as a pioneer and didnB次元官网网址檛 realize it was B次元官网网址渟uch a big deal.B次元官网网址� She will focus on her position and being a good player.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really passionate about whatever I do, so IB次元官网网址檓 willing to put in the extra hours of training,B次元官网网址� said Vearer when asked about her strengths. B次元官网网址淚 think IB次元官网网址檝e got some good basic skills, like foot work and hand work building up, just excited to see where the next level of coaching and playing can take me.B次元官网网址�
RaidersB次元官网网址� coach Curtis Vizza told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin that having a female lineman was a B次元官网网址渧ery unique thingB次元官网网址� and Vearer is strong, fast, aggressive, with a good understanding of the game. He envisions Vearer playing guard and shifting to the other side of the ball, playing defensive tackle, if necessary.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 got very quick feet, great hands,B次元官网网址� Vizza said. B次元官网网址淲hen she engages on a block, she knows exactly how to position her body to be effective and sheB次元官网网址檚 got that competitive edge thatB次元官网网址檚 going to make her great.B次元官网网址�
Vearer said sheB次元官网网址檚 been accepted to the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and is set up to play rugby with a club team. She doesnB次元官网网址檛 know what the future will hold.
B次元官网网址淲ith COVID and everything, lifeB次元官网网址檚 been a little crazy lately, so I have a lot of plans that I thought were going to go and didnB次元官网网址檛; (I) ended up still being here,B次元官网网址� said Vearer. B次元官网网址淭his opportunity just came forward, so IB次元官网网址檓 just going to go with the flow, see where it takes me. If I really like, it I might hang around, see how it goes or if the opportunityB次元官网网址檚 still there, I might end up going over to university, get my degree and come back, see where lifeB次元官网网址檚 at.B次元官网网址�
Vizza said the Raiders want to break down gender barriers and support the whole community, including athletes.
B次元官网网址淭o us theyB次元官网网址檙e football players, thereB次元官网网址檚 no gender,B次元官网网址� Vizza said.
In addition to being the first-ever female Raiders player, Vizza also said Vearer will also be the first-ever in the B.C. Football Conference and second in the CJFL.
The Raiders open their 2022 campaign at Caledonia Park on Saturday, July 23 against the Okanagan Sun.
B次元官网网址� Files from Greg Sakaki
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