Oakville, Ont - Head Coach of the Sheridan Bruins Women's Flag Football team, Melissa Grieco, committed four impressive players for the 2023-24 season after successful recruitment efforts.
Grieco says of their first recruit, Ruby Pearson, "Ruby is an unbelievable athlete who will bring a veteran presence with her leadership and experience to a young team". Pearson will be joining the team as a wide receiver/safety while studying Athletic Therapy at the Davis Campus.
The coaching staff is also adding a new quarterback, Haleigh Cole, studying Welding Techniques at the Davis Campus. "Haleigh is one of the best young QBs in the province who will absolutely shine at the collegiate level."
In addition, they committed center/linebacker Cali Bouwmeester, a Brampton local. "Cali comes to us with a very high ceiling. We believe she is a versatile player and can make an impact anywhere on the field."
Lastly, Coach Grieco committed wide receiver/defensive line Ella Westover, another Brampton local, who she says will contribute "Athleticism and competitiveness to our roster". Westover was a standout during their flag football high school showcase and will study Athletic Therapy at the Davis Campus.
The Bruins flag football team proudly competes in OWIFA (Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Football Association) against other prestigious post-secondary institutions; Western, Guelph, Laurier, Queens, McMaster, University of Toronto, Brock, York, Carlton, University of Waterloo, and University of Ottawa. As the only college in the league, they finished this past inaugural season with a fair record of eight wins and twelve losses, just missing out on National contention for fives.
Coach Grieco and Coach Emerson (Bruins defensive coordinator) recently attended the Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp to represent CFL's Women in Football program and CFL's Diversity in Football program, respectively. Coach Grieco assisted with the offensive line by running receiver/quarterback drills and reviewing playbooks with the players. Grieco's experience is a fantastic asset to the Blue Bombers, and she recently expressed, "My goal right now is to grow the women's side (of football). I think we've kind of lacked in that area. But now that the CFL has programs (like Women in Football), it allows women to see that there are spots for them. That this isn't just a space for men". Coach Emerson found herself on the defensive side of the ball, primarily spending her time with the defensive backs and linebackers. Coach Emerson also learned the analytics of breaking down plays while prepping for future opponents.
Grieco says of hopes for the Bruins' upcoming season, "Bringing back knowledge from both sides of the ball from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and adding these players to our roster, it has the potential to be a very successful and rewarding season. I'm excited to get back on the field and have our athletes back doing what they love; for me, that is already a win."
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