Cedar Raptors ready to take the field

CEDAR RAPIDS — Another football team is coming to Cedar Rapids.

This time it involves the largest women’s tackle football league in the world. The Cedar Raptors are the newest member of the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA).

This will be the first semipro women’s football team in Cedar Rapids.

In previous years, the only team in Iowa resided in Des Moines, the Iowa Phoenix. Quinton Ray and his wife, Bridget, were involved with the Phoenix, but wanted to bring a team to Cedar Rapids.

“Too much travel led to the decision to want to start a team here,” Ray said.

Multiple players on the Raptors’ roster were previously on the Phoenix and the back and forth traveling from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines just became too much.

“I want to provide women with the opportunity to play tackle football,” Ray said.

Ray also wanted to provide the chance for any other women in the Cedar Rapids area to pursue football.

Building a roster had some roadblocks in the beginning with very small numbers showing up to WFA tryouts and public minicamps. But a determined Ray continued to host minicamps and. with the help of increased advertising, the numbers started to show.

The roster now sits at 28 players.

“This year is about growing. Both in players and capability and in awareness from fans,” player Bridget Karsten said in a statement to her coach. “We are going to learn as a team.”

One of the missions of the Raptors and of the league overall is to welcome all women who are interested in or have a passion to try and play tackle football.

“We want to be fully all-inclusive to all women regardless of skill,” Ray said. “The team ranges from players who have partaken in tackle football all the way to one’s who have little to no experience when it comes to football.”

This adds to the interesting team dynamic the Raptors will have in their first season.

“This team will be an inspiration to young people in sports, our town and teams across the Midwest,” player Lizzy Stark said in a statement to Ray. “All we can do now is work to keep the flame alive.”

The Raptors open their six-game regular season on the road against the Minnesota Minx on April 27. Their home opener is set for May 11 at 6 p.m. against the Iowa Phoenix. Home games will be played at Clark Field, on the Coe College campus.

“I hope the Raptors can further the reach and scope of women’s tackle football in Iowa and beyond,” player Melissa Stockwell-Gregson said in a statement to her coach. “Given majority of our team has never played tackle football, it is exciting to watch us grow every practice, every play, and truly become students of the sport.”

Comments: benlamparek@thegazette.com