This fall, Wakefield High School’s flag football team is looking to make a name for themselves. As of last year, the girls shined both on and off the field. The flag football team’s first season went astoundingly, as they won the county championship, blowing away the competition. They are now looking forward to another great season, and continuing their winning ways. 

In the team’s very first season, they achieved great things together, winning most of their games and growing as a team. The girls are working on being even better this season. Sydney Conti, a senior athlete at Wakefield, talks about the accomplishments of last season, and the incredible form athletes were in.

“We actually won the county championship and we only lost one game,” Conti said.  “We were a great team and we had a lot of great individuals last season.”

These individual strengths by the players only made the team grow. This season, the experienced players are trying to help the new athletes perform at a sufficient level. Brenna Colleran, a junior at Wakefield, speaks out about how she plans to assist new players to benefit the team. 

“I think we have a couple of returning players, but mostly we are going to restart with a new team,” Colleran said. “I’m looking forward to being able to lead and help the new players learn how to play.”

Not only are the players ready to give it their best, but so is their new head coach, Kyle Bayer. Bayer is trying to start off the season strong, and lead a new and exciting team to victory for the second year in a row, reaching new heights that have not yet been achieved. 

“What I’m trying to do this year is put together a talented team, based on the girls who are able and willing to go ahead and play,” Bayer said. “What I want to do is build off last year’s success, not repeat it, but put my own stamp on it as well.”

The whole team is getting excited about the chance to show their talents, and with flag football being a new sport at Wakefield, they are trying to leave a good impression. This impression can then get new students pumped about participating, and help grow the fanbase. Emma Heinrich, a senior at Wakefield, speaks about the new opportunities. 

“Now that it’s a North Carolina-sanctioned sport, I think that opens more opportunities, especially for incoming freshman or middle schoolers,” Heinrich said. 

This sport could have a long history at Wakefield, and the girls are only getting started. They are striving for greater things this season, and with the help of the new players, and the knowledge of the experienced ones, they can reach a new level of greatness. Bayer speaks out about the greatness they are trying to achieve.

“Last year’s team reached success early on and that’s hard to repeat,” Bayer said. “What I’m looking for is to go ahead and compete, every time we step on the field, and if we do that, then hopefully the rest takes care of itself.”