Cottonwood Heights April

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April 2017 | Vol. 14 Iss. 04

FREE UTAH FALCONZ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM opens season as defending champions By Carl Fauver | carlf@mycityjournals.com

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Since their creation three years ago, this Utah Falconz team has lost only one game. (Utah Falconz)

“These women are all former athletes and come from all walks of life,” Jolley said. “We have former rugby and soccer players, track runners, basketball and softball players, you name it.” The 52-woman Falconz roster has an 18-year-old, all the way up to a 45-year-old. “No grandmothers on the team,” Jolley said. “But lots of moms.” Cox became acquainted with the team while playing flag football at Sugarhouse Park. The former Dixie State University

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he best Utah sports team you’ve likely never heard of is about to launch its fourth season. In the previous three seasons they lost just one time, a championship game, by four points. “I’ll never forget that game,” Keeshya Cox said. “Sure, we’ve won all the rest …but that one still hurts. I never want that feeling again.” Cox is the star running back for the 31-1 Utah Falconz of the Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL). With league names like the Yellow Jackets, PhantomZ and Lady Crushers, IWFL teams compete coast to coast, from Maine to Montreal and Tampa Bay to Tennessee. The Murray-based Utah Falconz play their home games at Cottonwood High School. Last season Cox rushed for 1,364 yards in 12 games (113.7 ypg), guiding the Falconz to a blowout win in the 2016 IWFL World Championship in Charlotte, NC Utah beat the Minnesota Vixens 49-6. It was sweet revenge for the Utah women, whose only loss in three seasons came in the championship game the year before. The Falconz begin defense of their title April 8 in Phoenix. Their home opener is April 15 against the Sacramento Sirens. “I grew up watching football with my family and always wanted to be a part of it,” said team founder and owner Hiroko Jolley. “This is not a profit-making venture. I spend five to sometimes 10 hours a day coordinating team activities. But I love the game, so it’s worth it.” In this pay-to-play league, each team member is charged $800 to cover uniforms, equipment, travel expenses and referees. Coaches volunteer their time. Nearly every road game involves a long bus ride, though the trek to North Carolina was by air.

basketball player was approached after the non-contact football game by Louise Bean, the Falconz quarterback. “She told me about a brand new team that was just being formed and asked me to join her at one of their tryout clinics,” Cox said. “I loved it right away. This is not a rec league. It’s very, very competitive. It’s great for former collegiate athletes because many of us need something to replace that level of competition.” In addition to her nearly 1,400 yards rushing last season, the Missouri native Cox also scored 29 touchdowns. “Sure, I love carrying the ball, but it’s even more fun for me to assist

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Power pole art entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Indentifying budget priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Bella Vista Storytelling Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 New Brighton baseball coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

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Cottonwood Heights April by The City Journals - Issuu