Vipers offensive lineman Caissie Liberatore a positive influence for women in sport
A remarkably fit and well-conditioned athlete, Caissie Liberatore was a key contributor to the Moncton Vipers MWFL championship in 2012. In addition to her heroic exploits on the football field, she is also an accomplished body builder and one of the most unique figures in sport in Atlantic Canada.
As an offensive lineman with the Moncton Vipers, she is an impenetrable force that always provides her club with an opportunity to win. While the 2012 run to the title shall always be a treasured moment in her career, she was also part of another unique chapter in Canadian women’s football.
Football Canada hosted the first-ever national women’s football championship in 2012. Held east of Montreal in Laval, Quebec, teams representing Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and the Atlantic region all participated. While the tournament was also part of a talent evaluation to determine Canada’s roster for the 2013 IFAF Women’s World football championships, regional pride was on the line for all participating teams.
Donning number 57, Liberatore was one of 12 players from the Moncton Vipers roster to be part of Team Atlantic. Competing on the regional team were players from the other franchises in the MWFL. The opportunity to call former rivals her teammates in such a historical event was a unique experience.
“Playing for the first-ever Team Atlantic was an incredible experience. We all played against each other in our respective cities, but we came together as a family to play against some of the best players in the country. It was a time in my life I will never forget.”
Like Kait DiNunzio, a linebacker for the Calgary Rage of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, Liberatore spends her off-season as a competitive body builder. While training is a year-round obligation, her introduction to body building followed a sojourn into martial arts. Like so many other female athletes, her motivation stemmed from a boy stating girls did not have a place in his sport of choice.
“The interest in bodybuilding came 16 years ago when a boy in my class said kickboxing was not for girls. I joined to solely prove a point that women can and do play the same sports as guys. From there, it went to karate, and then I started at the gym.
I was reading the Oxygen Fitness magazines and loved how the women looked. Muscle on a woman displayed confidence to me. I loved the feeling and have been doing it ever since. I have competed in seven bodybuilding shows to date and have placed in the Top 10 in Canada for the last three shows.”
Through an associate at the gym, Liberatore would see herself having the opportunity to break barriers. A suggestion to compete in the traditionally male-dominated sport of tackle football brought with it new opportunity. Challenging convention again, Liberatore would earn a spot on the Moncton Vipers of the Maritime Women’s Football League.
“Naturally, football has always been looked at as a men’s sport. In 2009, a friend from the gym told me that I should go try out for the Vipers, because she had played for the last several years. I did not know the first thing about football, but thought it would be fun to go and see what it was about. I soon feel in love with the sport. There is something about putting the gear on that makes you feel invincible (laughs).”
While Liberatore is one of the pioneers of women’s football in Atlantic Canada, she is very humble about possibly being considered a leader on the team. Preferring to look at the bigger picture, she believes that working together is the engine that propels her team towards success.
“I do not necessarily see myself as one of the leaders in the team, yet I look at it as we each have something important to bring. Each person plays a role and we all feed off each other, which fuels the fire for this team. Sure there are star players, but if the other people did not do their job, then those star players would not be stars.”
A novicve to the sport just a few years ago, playing at the 2012 nationals was truly a great point of pride for Liberatore. Employing a strong work ethic and a desire to succeed, her ambition makes her a role model for young women looking to try a new sport.
“The highlight for me would be making it to Nationals playing a sport I knew nothing about just a few years ago. It goes to show, if you are willing to learn, practice hard and are driven and focused, you can achieve anything.”
“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”
Image obtained from : http://www.saradas.org/index.php?topic=23495.0
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