This fall, girls’ flag football made its debut as an official sport, marking a historic milestone for female athletes in Montgomery County. The addition to the sports lineup comes as part of a countywide initiative to give girls more opportunities to compete in team sports and created a buzz among students.
This new sport was a chance for fall athletes to step out of their primary sport uniforms and onto the football field. Fall athletes were given the option to participate in flag football alongside their main sports, which has not been allowed before. “Playing flag football was so much fun. As a cheerleader, I’ve always cheered from the sidelines, and now I get to play, which is really cool,” junior Jenny Brailovsky said.
The introduction of girls’ flag football aligns with broader trends in sports inclusion for women, both locally and globally. Girls´ flag football will be added to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA. “Playing flag football is so cool and now opportunities for girls to play new sports like this are being added all over the world,” sophomore Alexa Krauthamer said.
Montgomery County Public Schools has partnered with the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour to make this historic change possible. According to the MCPS website, “MCPS will pilot girls’ flag football during the fall 2024 season through a partnership with the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour. The partnership will provide grant funding for the pilot program, including equipment and Under Armour uniforms, for all 25 high schools. Grant funding will also be provided to cover other expenses, including coaching stipends, transportation, and awards.”
The team was filled with multi-sport athletes this year and their athletic abilities transferred over well. Senior Isabella Davis-Astrada plays soccer, basketball and lacrosse. Senior Tali Rosen is a cheerleader. Juniors Maya Bellamy and Emory Scofield both play soccer, basketball and lacrosse. Brailovsky is a cheerleader and plays lacrosse. Krauthammer is a cheerleader and also plays softball. Sophomore Malia Bellamy plays volleyball, basketball and lacrosse. Freshman Sloane Berk plays lacrosse. Junior Avni Koenig plays basketball. Junior Chloe Kim plays lacrosse. Junior Helen Manolis plays basketball.
The team finished with a record of 6-3 and a record of 5-3 in the conference.
