Treasured milestone

Second straight undefeated season special for Graves

As a world-class competitor in female football, Trina Graves has experienced many milestones. One of the greatest ever to grace the gridiron in the Maritime Women’s Football League, she is among a remarkable group of women who represent the heartbeat of female football in New Brunswick.

The beauty of Graves’ gridiron game is in her remarkable versatility. Having played on both the Offensive and Defensive Lines for Team Canada at the 2010 and 2013 IFAF Women’s World Football Championships, Graves elevated her game even further. Starting in 2014, Graves took the reins as the starting quarterback for the Saint John Storm, one of the signature franchises of the MWFL.
Despite the change in position, Graves took to it gracefully and resolutely, providing the Storm with a smooth adjustment, testament to her strong leadership.

“I am fortunate that I’ve been able to see a lot of the game from both sides, and have had the opportunity in the past years to take some snaps both in shotgun and from up under. Outside of tackle, I have quarterbacked for my touch team for 13 seasons, which does not translate directly, but helps with a foundation. The biggest adjustment is standing and having to watch defense…it drives me crazy!”

In the aftermath of the 2015 MWFL championship game (also known as SupHer Bowl XII), Graves had the opportunity to cement her legacy by leading the Saint John Storm to a second consecutive undefeated season as the starting quarterback. Considering that her superlative MWFL career involves multiple All-Star nods, complemented by the honour of the inaugural All-Decade Team, the chance to contribute to a significant chapter in both MWFL and Storm history signifies a very strong point of pride,

“I would say two undefeated seasons ranks in the top moments of my football career, seeing as though these are my first two seasons as QB for Storm. We have really pulled together as a team, and I couldn’t have been so successful without the knowledge and teaching coming from amazing coaches and team mates, on the field and sidelines, through practice and games. I have a ton to learn, and am striving to be even better next season.”

During the 2015 edition of the MWFL Championship Game, the clash for the Judy Upward Trophy was a see-saw battle that saw the Capital Area (Fredericton) Lady Gladiators provide very valiant competition. Despite the Storm facing a 14-11 deficit after three quarters of play, Graves not only retained her composure, but her confidence. In showing such great poise, she helped to navigate a comeback which may stand as her finest hour.

“I do not think there was ever a time in the Championship game where I did not feel the win was possible. There were moments where strategy needed to be altered, and we definitely had to get off of our heels. Yet, we as a team have a fire to us, and it was going to take more than 11-7 score in the 3rd to keep us down.

The turning point in momentum however, I think would have been the fumble recovery by rookie Lindsay MacKinnon, and then the pass to Lori Boyles that took us down to the one.

We had a time out, and instead of Coach telling us what to run, he asked who was going to get it for us. Rookie tackle Meaghan Ferris, who just moved up from our Jr. girls level, told us she had it and helped open a huge lane for the TD. From here O and D seemed to just come alive.”

Heading into the season, the eventual run to the title saw a Storm franchise with many new faces. With half of the roster comprised of rookies, veterans such as Graves and Lori Boyles rose to the occasion with a solid work ethic, proving that greatness can never be taken for granted. The end result was an unforgettable cast of characters, a blend of veterans and new faces strategically aligned for success.

“We had some seriously smart and athletic rookies this past season, which made it so much easier to move people around and pull the most skill out of them as possible. Although daunting, and a lot of times downright confusing for them, everyone stepped up and did their job on the field.

Also, having the dedicated and well-rounded senior players that we do who step up and lead makes coming together so much easier. We were all on the same page, and on the field for the same reason; to be successful, or at the very least, to learn what we have to do to be successful and make the adjustments. We all point each other in the right direction, so leading and motivating becomes a team affair.”

“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”