Girls Flag Football team has successful first season

The varsity team after winning their game against Fremd 36-16

What does it take to build a team from the ground up? As Conant’s new Girl’s Flag Football team reflects on their first season, which concluded after their game against Willowbrook High School on October 9, the answer lies in strong teamwork and leadership. 

In February of 2024, the IHSA Board of Directors announced that they would be adding Girls Flag Football as an official IHSA sport for the 2024 fall season. Conant became one of 154 Illinois schools participating in the inaugural State Series championship this year, and with a school record-setting win-loss ratio of 6-7 overall and 4-2 conference, the Cougars ended the season on a high note.

With this season being the first in Conant history, it was difficult for the team to find their groove at first. Coach Lorel Cunningham said, “We had girls on the team that had never played a team sport before…Learning new positions, strategies, and the strengths and weaknesses of our teammates really was tough.”

In order to overcome this challenge, Cunningham and her team had to work extra hard in order to set a pace for their season. Quarterback Arianna Dugo, ‘27, said, “Going into the season we knew it wasn’t going to be easy and would require a lot of hard work and dedication. Yet we worked as a team every day and accomplished our goals.”

Right receiver Anna Warbington, ‘25, said she thought the joint struggle brought the team closer together. “We were all learning and struggling together, so when we worked together and got better during the season, it was one of the biggest things we overcame,” Warbington said.

Dugo said she looks back on the season with fondness, which she credits to the welcoming environment Cunningham created for her team. “I love being able to learn new things from others and sharing my knowledge of the game. Coach Cunningham is always a supportive and encouraging coach. I loved being a part of the first flag football team at Conant.”

Warbington also enjoyed the team’s atmosphere and credits it to her fellow teammates. “I got to meet and become friends with so many girls that I probably would’ve never met without flag. I loved the bond we had and the fun practice environment.”

Dugo, Warbington, and Cunningham all said that flag football is a great sport for girls to join, even without any prior football experience. “A lot of people are new to this sport, [but] you don’t have to be phenomenal at it in order to play. It’s a super easy sport to pick up and learn, especially if you are already an athlete in other sports,” Dugo said.

The team is also welcoming to players of all grade levels. “A majority of our team was underclassmen, sophomores, which is exciting because we have at least two more years with a solid core of players,” Cunningham said.

Following the recent end of their season, the team is looking forward to the future. “I hope that the program can keep thriving and growing. It’s an amazing opportunity and privilege to play on the flag football team,” Warbington said.

If you are interested in joining the team for the 2025 fall season, Cunningham encourages prospective players to consider coming to this year’s flag football summer camp and trying out next fall. Reach out to Cunningham at [email protected] with any questions.

Five senior members (from left to right) Anna Warbington, Michelle Shaw, Keilyn Navarro-Pena, Dori Lee, Maria Guzman Rodriguez celebrate the team’s first senior night.

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