Chris Goetzman, a coach on Baldwin’s new girls flag football team, has high hopes for this year.
“I’ve seen some impressive catches in practice from girls who have never played before. They’re going to be good,” Goetzman said.
This spring, Baldwin will be competing against other schools in a WPIAL league for the first time.
Work for the team began last year, with Baldwin girls competing against each other in an intramural game, and then they played a scrimmage against Seton LaSalle. They also played in a summer league, have been practicing this fall, and will participate in a tournament this weekend.
In the spring, the Highlanders will join schools like Moon, North Allegheny, Shaler, and West Allegheny in WPIAL league competition.
Senior Kendall Santilla played in the spring game last year and is excited to see what the team will do this spring, playing in the WPIAL.
“I think we will do well going into the WPIAL because we have been watching how the other teams have been playing,” she said.
Santilla said the Highlanders also will be strong because the coaches see the players in school, since Goetzmen and De’Andre Hicks are both coaches and school security guards.
Hicks said he’s optimistic about the season.
“Right now, we are in the beginning phase with a new group of young ladies and some returning ladies, just working on getting better,” Hicks said.
Junior Audri Filek said there are big differences between last spring and this year.
“We have better competition and different plays to learn. I’m excited to see what I can learn and how we do as a team,” she said.
Junior Bethel Emmanuel said the players understand that patience will be important this first WPIAL season.
“Since our school has made flag football an official sport later than some other schools, sometimes it’s easy to get frustrated,” she said. “But we all must remember we are new to this and we are working hard to get better every day.”
Sophomore Sriya Kharel is setting both personal and team goals.
“I personally want to sack the other team’s quarterback in a game as well as make some touchdowns this season,” she said.
Goetzman said that team camaraderie and youth are among the team’s biggest strengths.
“The girls all get along really well,” he said. “And … we have a lot of freshmen, which is good because down the line, they’re going to be good.”
