MCHS’s flag football team finished with one of the best seasons of all fall sports the school has to offer for the second year in a row. Despite this, it seems like much of MCHS has not truly taken notice.

After losing their playoff game against Cary-Grove, McHenry’s flag football season came to an end, finishing with a record of 12-5. Last year, in the sport’s first year at MCHS, the team went 14-3. According to NFHS, since 2019, girls flag football has seen a 63% increase in participants, with girls ages ranging from six to 17.

Following the team’s success in the first year including the sport, the players were able to progress and prepare to meet the expectations placed upon them.

“We were already at a starting point much more advanced than last year,” says Kyle Owens, assistant varsity flag football coach, “We built off of the foundation we laid last year with the girls … we’ve had great support from Warrior Nation, there’s a lot more people talking about girls flag football, with teachers and admin as well coming up to the coaches and saying ‘Good job’ and ‘Good luck.’”

Flag football has provided much more than just a ‘winning’ experience for the students involved, however. This sport has united the players at MCHS and has helped some of these players build friendships and create memories that they will never forget.

“We grew a lot of knowledge this year with our understanding on how to play and our relationship with each other,” says sophomore Chloe Casey, “Last year it was a new sport and we just had fun, and it was a lot more fun this year knowing what we were doing, and building off of those friendships.”

Regardless of their grade or usual sport, flag football athletes have grown a mutual bond over working towards a successful flag football season.

“We were determined to win Regionals,” Casey adds. “It didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but everyone was putting in work and wanting more for everyone.”

As the flag football team continues to grow and new players rush to sign up every Fall, so will the support from teachers, fellow students and anyone else who chooses to show up to games and wear orange and black with pride.