With winter sports ramping up again, one team is celebrating its one-year anniversary. The girls’ flag football team is set to continue its legacy for a second year, led by coaches Ms. Haywood, Ms. Sassi, and a new addition Katie Brodsky, who also coach’s girls’ lacrosse. This year, the coaches have once again selected a team of junior and senior girls, with the team operating under club regulations rather than official sports status at Prep.
Despite winning last year’s Metro Championship, flag football has yet to be recognized as an official sport and still functions as a club activity. Sam Reed shared that Prep was prepared to transition flag football into a sport this year, but the WIAA ultimately voted not to approve it. Reed explained, “We decided that we would once again operate it as a club. If — and probably when — it is voted in as a sport, we are open to including it as an official sport.”
The addition of flag football has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Prep community. Gigi Enell ’25, a participant last year and now a team captain, expressed her excitement to continue. She said, “Flag football was an amazing experience, not just because of the victories, but also because it gave me the opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, and try a winter sport I had never played before.”
Coach Sassi also highlighted the benefits flag football has brought to Prep. Beyond fostering leadership, collaboration, and teamwork, it has offered the girls a creative athletic outlet. Sassi shared, “The girls had such a positive attitude and came up with their own plays, which we got to workshop and develop as a team.” She emphasized her goal for the girls to feel empowered and “have a sense of agency in their sport.”
In less than a year, flag football has become a thriving program at Prep, providing an enjoyable and inclusive environment for girls to engage in sports. With a mix of experienced players and new talent, the team is poised for another successful season. Stay tuned for updates on the girls’ flag football journey this year.
