ST. PAUL – Female football is growing across Alberta, and two St. Paul athletes are right in the thick of it.
Grade 10 student Porscha Tomlinson made it to the Team Alberta U18 female football team and will head to Calgary July 17 to July 26 to participate in the U18 Girls National Championship.
Porscha previously captained the St. Albert Valkyries U16 team during the 2023-24 season and helped lead the team to the province’s first female minor football championship in the U16 category. Before that, she played four seasons with the bantam St. Paul Bengals, where she was part of a provincial-winning team. She currently plays for the Valkyries’ U19 team.
When she was younger, her interest in football started with a slight curiosity. Her brother plays football and for Porscha, watching, it looked fun. She thought, “I can do this too.”
Eventually, her father, Marshall, asked her to go play football in the backyard. That is how it started, and being a competitive person, she was “wanting to be better than my brother.”
She familiarized herself with the team and the tactical aspect of the sport, until it became a clear advantage against opposing players. “I’m able to see what’s happening on the field,” she says. It made her react quicker to challenges in the game.
But being a multi-sport athlete is not easy. Porscha says she must balance school and work with her sports.
During football practice weeks, she must drive to St. Albert from St. Paul and back. She has to do this multiple times a week. But it’s all worth it, she says, because she can do what she loves to do. And with education still being a top priority for her, she explains she just has to make sure to study in-between rides and pay attention at school.
Porscha is thankful for everyone who has supported her, from her coaches at the Bengals who helped her get better throughout her football career, to the St. Paul Football family, as well as friends.
“Also, the Woods family, who have been really supportive and following me throughout my career and cheering me on no matter where I go,” she says.
But of course, she also thanked her parents.
“My inspirations are my parents because they motivate me to do better. They show they care . . . driving me to places to help me keep continuing on my goals and dreams of playing football,” she says.
“We wouldn’t be traveling to the city if we didn’t think Porscha thought it was worthwhile,” says Marshall.
Tala, Porscha’s mother, agrees, adding if there is an opportunity for her kids to do what they like, “Why not try?”
Porscha plans to play U19 football until she ages out and help coach football just to stay involved. After U19, she hopes to also play at the Western Women's Canadian Football League.
Porscha is encouraged to see football grow among female athletes. “It’s great knowing more girls want to play . . . and join football,” she says and wants more girls to be involved.
Football, being a very physical sport, does have some challenges, she says. It is common to hear, “Girls can’t do this,” or “Why are you playing?”
But those questions only pushed her further. She believes, “Girls can play [football] just as good.”
“It’s challenging, but it’s also very rewarding,” Porscha says.
Fellow Bengals alum Sarah Zapisocki is a living example.
Sarah has made it to the Team Alberta U16 female football team. She played for the U16 St. Albert Valkyries during the 2024-25 season, helping the team claim their second consecutive provincial championship.
The team went undefeated this season.
Sarah, who plays tight end, fullback, and running back, scored multiple touchdowns throughout the season, including a 100-yard touchdown run.
Sarah says she is happy with the win and hopes “to play more [football] and get new experiences playing with new people.”
She commended the St. Albert Minor Football Association for its program. “It’s a really good program,” she says.
Sarah also hopes for more growth in female football programs across the province.
Derek Zapisocki, Sarah’s father and also the head coach of the Bengals, commends both Sarah and Porscha for their accomplishments in the sport. “Both girls dominated fairly well in their leagues,” he says.
Their training and capabilities also speak for the football program in St. Paul, he says. “We’re able to prepare our players to go to the next level of where they want to play and see that our players can fit in other programs.”
