Morinville’s Ava Sanderson earns spot on Team Alberta for National Championship

By Haylee Winger

Morinville’s Ava Sanderson will represent Alberta on the national stage this summer after
earning a spot on Team Alberta for the 2026 Football Canada Senior Women’s National
Championship, taking place in Saskatchewan this August.
The selection marks another milestone in Sanderson’s football journey, which began at Sturgeon
Composite High School, where she played two seasons as the only girl on the football team.
After graduating, she returned to help coach the school’s junior boys’ football team, continuing
her commitment to the sport and to developing young athletes.
“I was beyond excited,” Sanderson said of learning she had made Team Alberta. “I love the
sport, and I’m looking forward to playing alongside talented athletes from across Alberta while
learning from the coaching staff. Every coach brings a unique teaching style and different skills
to the game, and I’m excited for the opportunity to grow as both a player and a student of
football.”
Today, Sanderson plays for the Edmonton Arctic Pride Women’s Football Team, contributing on
both the offensive and defensive lines. She also coaches with the St. Albert Minor Football
Association, helping introduce and develop the next generation of football players.
Her mother, Andrea Deelstra, said watching her daughter’s journey has been filled with both
challenges and proud moments.
“I’ve watched her learn, grow, struggle, fight through challenges and never give up on the sport
she loves,” Deelstra said. “Playing football on a boys’ team wasn’t easy. She constantly had to
prove herself and earn her playing time, and there were times when it was really hard on her. But
Ava never quit. If someone tells her she can’t do something, her response is usually, ‘Watch me.'”
Deelstra said her daughter’s determination, discipline and passion for football have been the
driving forces behind her success.
“She works incredibly hard, rarely misses a practice, and is fully committed to football,” she
said. “When she’s not playing, she’s coaching and giving back to the sport. Football isn’t just
something she does—it’s a huge part of who she is.”
Representing Alberta is an honour that Sanderson and her family don’t take lightly.
“She takes great pride in representing her province, her community and everyone who has
supported her throughout her journey,” Deelstra said. “This opportunity is an important step
toward one of her long-term goals: someday representing Canada on the national stage.”
Sanderson hopes her selection will also help raise awareness about the opportunities available for
women and girls in tackle football. She said many people don’t realize girls can continue playing
beyond the minor level, with opportunities ranging from youth and high school football to
women’s teams such as the Edmonton Arctic Pride and provincial programs like Team Alberta.

She encourages young girls to give football a try if they’re interested.
“Football is for everybody, and there is a place for every body type on a team,” Sanderson said.
“The football community is like a family. The friendships I’ve built with teammates, coaches and
their families have become some of the most meaningful relationships in my life. Football can
open doors, build confidence and create lifelong connections.”
Sanderson’s selection to Team Alberta reflects years of dedication, perseverance and leadership
both on and off the field. Along with competing, she continues to serve as a role model through
coaching and by encouraging more girls to discover the opportunities available in football.
As she prepares to compete at the national championship, Sanderson credits the many people
who have helped her along the way, including the coaches who have supported her throughout
her football journey and her brother, who spent countless hours helping her practice and develop
her skills.
She also expressed heartfelt gratitude to her family for their unwavering support, especially her
mother, who has never missed a game or practice, packed a medical kit in her football bag, made
sure there was always food ready between work and practice, and cheered her through every
challenge and success.
For Sanderson, wearing Team Alberta colours is not only a personal achievement but another
opportunity to represent Morinville, Sturgeon County and Alberta while showing young girls
that there is a place for them in football.

MPP Photography