Squalicum Girls wins the first championship of the flag football league championship

Squalicum Girls achieved the opening flag -football League championship of the Northwest Conference with a home victory against remote, and Bellingham took second place after he had hit Sehome on Wednesday, February 26th.

“It was so much fun,” said Squalicum coach Reed Richardson. “I've been training football for 27 years and this is one of the most fun I have ever had. I look back on January 6th to our first practice and said I should “go into the goal line”, and nobody knew what that was. The improvement we saw was amazing. “

After the Sturm Ferndale 28-6 defeated the Squalicum High School, he won the first league title with a 5-0 record. The senior of Squalicum, Jazmin Berola, caught two touchdowns, while Archer Burns and Gwen Foy caught one. Audrey Kallin from Ferndale also achieved a touchdown.

Gallery: Squalicum Girls Clinch Flag Football Title

“I enjoyed playing football this season,” said Berola. “We saw the boys doing their things for that long, and there were so many girls who wanted to do that but not. It doesn't even feel real. “

Bellingham took second place with a 4-1-1 record, while Sehome and Ferndale stood with 1-5 records. In the last game of the season, the seniors were honored a few hundred people to support the teams.

“It exceeded all expectations,” said Emily Horst, Senior of Squalicum,. “It was so much fun to be with this group of girls, and the love for this team was like any other team with which I have ever played.”

Since Squalicum led the conference throughout the season, the storm Whatcom County represented at the third regional tournament. The tournament's two best teams fought for a state title.

“I expected it to be difficult because I saw some of these teams,” said Richardson. “We were a bit with big eyes, but our girls fought. It is proof of the character of our team. We were handed over and overall, but we fought. “

The storm looked Woodinville, who had already played over 30 games in her program history and lost 29-0. Then Squalicum opposed the defending champion Skyline and lost 23-7. Although the storm had to struggle at the regional level, they were able to earn respect from their colleagues.

“One of the coolest moments is that I teach a” story through Sport “class and that Emily is in there with a few football players,” said Richardson. “In the remote game she got a pick-six and I showed her the video. All boys washed around and see that they are going crazy. As a football coach, I was almost in tears because I saw real respect between the football player. “

Although the first season in Whatcom County has come to an end, the future in the entire county and in the state is bright. In April, flag football will be one of 16 proposed changes for Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association for the state -sanctioned sport.

Before the vote takes place, the four coaches of the Northwest conference will meet and discuss how sport drove into the second season and hopefully include new players and teams.

“It makes me so excited for the future of this sport and the opportunity to get these girls in Washington,” said Horst.

Nick Zeller-Singh is CDNS sports reporter. Reach it at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 Ext. 104.