New Trier’s intramural flag football season concluded October 23, capping off a season that, according to Winnetka intramurals director Matt Koulentes, was marked by healthy competition and participation. Along with co-ed soccer and lunchtime basketball, Koulentes claimed that flag football received such avid participation because of its laid-back nature.
“Varsity sports require much more commitment. You have a coach, daily practice, and high expectations. Intramurals provides a different experience,” Koulentes said. “Here students can play a sport without the time commitment of a varsity sport. It also allows friends to play on teams together or against each other who wouldn’t normally get the chance.”
For some students, the league provides a way to stay a part of the game he loves. “It’s my first year not playing for New Trier Football, so it’s a great way to stay involved in the game,” observes junior Michael Roeser. “It’s super-competitive and even the teams that aren’t very good try hard, so it’s a lot of fun.”
According to Koulentes, part of the success of the league can be attributed to the renovations at New Trier Stadium. Prior to the 2012 fall athletics season, the New Trier Booster Club raised over $500,000 to fund a new synthetic turf field.
“We can’t play until after the varsity sports finish with their practices or competitions,” said Koulentes. “The lights make outdoor intramurals possible, and the turf allows us to play when the fields would normally be too muddy or wet.”
Koulentes also credited the timing of the league, saying, “It’s a chance to gather your friends, play in a competitive environment, and then go grab some food and recap the game. It’s nice to have a reason to get out of the house on a weeknight. It gives you something to look forward to in the middle of the week.”
Consisting of 14 teams of junior and senior boys, the league is separated into two divisions, one of which met on Monday nights and the other on Wednesdays. At the end of the regular season, the top teams from each division met in the playoffs to determine a league champion.
Roeser predicted highly competitive games, while also expressing confidence in his team heading into the playoffs. “We’re a clean squad, we play by the rules, and we have an all-around team attitude,” Roeser said. “It’s all about the team.”
After a season in which Roeser’s team achieved a record of 6-1 with the lone loss due a costly turnover in crunch time against the first place team- he offered an optimistic prediction for the playoffs. “I don’t think we can be stopped. We’re going to be a force to be reckoned with. I can see us going all the way,” said Roeser.
This year’s playoffs ended on Wednesday, October 23.