The 2024 fall sports season welcomed the first year of girl’s flag football being an official IHSA sport. East joined in on welcoming the new sport to girls and coordinated a team for girls to participate in.

Flag football was held as a club sport for the first season to give an opportunity for girls to try it out without the entire commitment of an official season. Junior Saniya Cullins has been involved with girl’s Powerpuff the past three years so the introduction of flag football immediately piqued her interest. 

Cullins joined the team this year and brought along her friends as many others did, resulting in a ton of girls showing up to practices and scrimmages from the very beginning. 

“I wasn’t very surprised by the large amount of people who joined because I feel like many girls have been waiting to play football in a space they feel welcome in,” Cullins said

It is important for girls to have a safe space to come together and be a part for something they are passionate about as this opportunity can be a way for more women to get involved in sports. 

Not only were players impressed with the turnout of girls showing up, but Assistant Athletic Director and Head Coach of the girl’s flag football team Jeremy Hillman also was. 

“When we started, 108 girls were signed up in the Google Classroom. That number dropped due to girls not attending practice and then leveled out around 45-50 on a consistent basis.  I am surprised and extremely pleased with how many girls showed interest in the sport,”  Hillman said.

After an impressive turnout for the first unofficial season of flag football, Coach Hillman also expresses his high hopes for the future of this program.

“This sport will spread like wildfire. Our athletes here at East can compete with anyone else in the State,” Hillman said. “I am excited to see just how great they can all be.”

Seeing hope from the coaches of this new sport shows lots of potential that East holds for the future seasons. 

Junior Dresha Gavin has shown her love of football in years past through the annual Powderpuff game and was completely on board with joining girl’s flag football. After this season, Gavin is looking forward to the growth and the overall future of the program at East. 

“Next year will look different with more official refs being there, the bleachers will be more packed, and we will have way more girls as well as a social media page,”  Gavin said. “I want to see the coaches keep thriving to make us great as well as work us harder.”

The future of girls flag football at East will only continue to increase in size and skill level, looking to put up a fight at the IHSA level next school year.

Written by Juniors Eve Cerny and Hannah Groh. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.