In 2024, Cardinal Newman has made history once again! This year, Cardinal Newman has started its own girls flag football team.
Competing with private and public schools, our girls have had an eventful season. Although being a tough one on the team with the many losses, the girls are happy to be part of the history and to have worked together through the season.
Many of our freshmen girls knew the coach and he knew what kind of team he was working with. With that in mind, and the motivation of many other girls striving for a spot on the new team, the pieces aligned and Cardinal Newman was able to establish its first girls flag football team.
Coach Andrew Kennedy from Saint Juliana has led our girls through thick and thin, being a pivotal role in the success of the team and establishment of the program.
“First year with the flag football program at cardinal newman and we’re excited… It is a sport that we started during Catholic Middle Schools Week two years ago.. Some of our ninth and tenth graders have experienced… That brought a lot of energy and anticipation for bringing the sport into Cardinal Newman,” explained the coach. “We are a young team and it’s been a process so far but everyone’s doing a good job and we are just trying to get better every week,” added Kennedy.
When asked about how it felt to be the first coach of the sport at Cardinal Newman, Kennedy expressed his opulent optimism and honor. “I am happy to be a part of starting the program at the high school level. My experience coaching this sport the last two years with the girls has inspired me to want to coach so when they asked me if I would do it, there was no hesitation. I was sure I wanted to do it.”

I asked some of our girls how they feel about being a part of Newman’s first flag football team and here are their responses:
Alysha Fenelus (Senior) – “It was a great season and I really love the girls. We are a new team but we have done some very great plays and I can’t wait for us to thrive along the years!”
Stacey Jean (Sophmore) – “I would say this season was a really fun we had an amazing team full of athletes coming together to try something new, with it being our first year we had to go through many challenges and it wasn’t easy but with amazing coaches we did the best we possibly could as a starter team and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.”
Afife George (Freshman) – “As [being a part of] the first year of Cardinal Newman girls flag football, the team and I have achieved so many milestones together. One we will always remember is Alysha pick 6 in the suncoast game which led us into triple overtime. The season is coming to an end but it is so filled with memories and laughs.” Alana Maraboto Perez (Freshman) – “For me flag football is all about dedication and having fun. We have amazing athletes on the team. Everyone is always laughing and having fun even when we are losing. The amount of team spirit when someone makes a touchdown is crazy, we all scream and run and it feels amazing. This team is a very special team.”
Palmer Rooney (Junior) – “For the first year of having flag football it’s been great knowing how to play with teams that have been playing for years and teams that have just started. Overall it’s been really fun.”
Our girls brought their first win home on February 27 against Inlet Grove with a whopping 26-0. Although the season is ending with more losses than wins in the book, the girls are motivated to strive forward and are sure that the team will prosper in the future!