First season of Saint Viator Girls’ Flag Football sets the bar high

With the state finals in girls’ flag football concluding recently in Willowbrook, Saint Viator team members and coaches are reflecting on their inaugural season. Despite bowing out in the second round of the playoffs, they consider this season to be a win.

For starters, the new sport drew a record 55 girls to try out, which was far more than Coach Nick Sobieszczyk, '05, and his staff expected.

“It’s been an incredible first year for the program,” Coach Sobieszczyk said. “The turnout alone showed how much excitement and curiosity there was among our students. We ultimately built both JV and varsity teams, and from day one, the energy and believe-in from the girls was outstanding.”

Coach Sobieszczyk credits the surge in interest to a variety of factors, including the novelty of the sport, the opportunity to represent Saint Viator in something new, and the growing visibility of girls’ flag football across Illinois and the country.

“Many of our athletes are multisport players who want to challenge themselves in a fun, competitive environment,” he said.

Most players came in with limited flag football experience, Sobieszczyk said, but they were quick learners. The athleticism and competitiveness were there, he said, it was just a matter of teaching the technical side of the game.

“Watching them grasp concepts like route running, flag pulling, and defensive coverage so quickly, was really rewarding,” Sobieszczyk said.

The varsity team finished with a winning record of 10-7-1, highlighted by a few exciting late-season victories that really brought the group together, Sobieszczyk said, including their first playoff win in program history over Warren Township.

“More than the wins, though, the biggest success was the culture that developed,” he said. “The girls supported one another, took pride in being pioneers, and created something special for future Lions to build on.”

Looking ahead, Coach Sobieszczyk and his coaching staff intend to focus on developing fundamentals, expanding their playbook, and building strength and speed in the off season. They also plan to continue growing awareness and participation through school events and off-season clinics.

“It’s been a great start,” he said, “and we are really proud of how far the girls — and the program — have come in such a short time.”