PINE ISLAND, Minn. - It's an exciting year here in Minnesota as the first statewide girls flag football league is in full swing.
KIMT News 3 stopped by Pine Island to check in on the girls flag football team’s first official practice. The Panthers helped start the league last year, competing against three other schools.
Pine Island girls flag football head coach Andrew Boman says, "we had about 18 girls last year, now we have a roster of about 43- 45 and we have over 50 teams competing in the league this year. We have drastically grown as a program as well as a league."
The Minnesota Vikings have been huge supporters of the sport, being a main contributor to this year's statewide league. As the game continues to grow, more athletes have an opportunity to play and learn.
Freshman flag football player Annie Cote says, "even though it's my second year in this, I am still learning a lot of stuff and I don't think that will ever end just learning more and more about the sport."
The team consists of athletes grades 7 through 12. Coach Boman says these players are contributing to something much bigger than themselves.
He says, "the life lessons that it can teach them and the enjoyment of an activity which people have loved for a very long time that is now open to them."
Freshman flag football player Rylynn Hollar says, "since no girls have been able to do this before I am really excited to see what the season is going to do."
A big goal for these new teams is to make girls flag football an official Minnesota State High School League sport, something coach Boman tells KIMT News 3 is about a four year process where the teams must prove sustainability, have around 30 teams participating, and experience continued growth.
He says, "it's a great start, I cannot believe how quickly it grew, it still boggles my mind, and to see this, the numbers we had compared to last year is awesome."
The Panthers have their first games on April 27 against Farmington at 4:00 pm and against La Crescent at 5:00 pm.