Last year, New Trier High School added girls flag football to its sports program, an exciting addition to the over 150 diverse clubs and sports the school offers. This year, the game has become a sanctioned sport of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), helping the sport spark both popularity and competitiveness within the league.

“I’d say that everyone throughout the whole program has been very kind, very supportive, and very engaged in our games and our team,” senior and second-year player Tala Tabahi said. “I’d say it’s fairly similar [to last year], just more organized, and we all know what we’re doing more because we’re more experienced.”

The 2024-2025 varsity team, consisting of 20 girls, with two more from the junior varsity team moving up to play during playoffs, currently stands at eight wins and eight losses. 

Competition has been quickly growing as the new IHSA sport has been added to many schools’ athletics programs, creating a fairly large and aggressive league. The team has been successful, beating Lane Tech College Prep High School, last year’s state champs, 20-8 on Sept. 13, and Willowbrook High School, who won state two years ago, 28-6 on Sept. 20. 

“The feeling of wanting to win is there, and it has gotten a lot more competitive,” Colegrove said. “I’m hoping that the girls still are just trying to have fun with it, though. You can still do all of that and still have fun.”

The motto of “having fun” is an idea that has carried through from last season. Although winning is important and a great experience for the athletes, the bonding moments make the group a team.

“I really like how we represent our team through eye black and our jerseys,” junior and second-year player Stowe Singer said. “I really like the positivity and sideline cheering.”

With flag football’s growing popularity, players on both varsity and junior varsity range from freshman to senior players. However, despite the age gaps, the team stays close. 

“There is an adjustment piece,” Colegrove said. “Having good seniors really helps, and just good kids…I think the dynamic has been really really positive, and that’s credit to the kids.”

For many, this year has been the first time playing and trying the sport.

“Last season, I think our teamwork was very important,” Singer said. “This year, we are definitely a closer team because the people from last season now know each other and have more of a leadership role for the newbies, able to teach them skills that they need to acquire.”

As a coach, Colegrove said that he has watched his players go out of their way to help each other grow more comfortable with the game, building a positive environment and closer community amongst the team.

“I think our girls do a great job of being humble and recognizing that everyone has different experiences with this sport, and they are very open-minded to help,” Colegrove said. “Again, I feel very fortunate that our girls are really supportive and positive. That is what I’m most proud of.

Especially for new starting players, the encouraging environment has been a welcoming opportunity to ask the upperclassmen and returning players questions about, not only the game, but life in general. 

“I’ll understand it more [if I ask questions] because they were in my shoes and my perspective before,” Carlton said.

Although returning athletes are mentors for the newer players on the team, the more experienced players are still taking this season as a learning experience to improve their game. 

“Every year, there’s always new people trying to learn, so we always start fresh and warm up with our knowledge of the game,” Tabahi said. 

Team bonding moments and learning how to improve together are what, for many of the girls, make the team so successful. Because of their solid team chemistry and wins on the field, their overall goal remains to win more games and potentially go to state the weekend of Oct. 19.

“That’s a big goal that; as soon as I joined, Colegrove’s mindset was we are going to get to state, we’re going to work hard as a team, we’re going to be competitive, but we’re also going to have fun,” Carlton said. “That’s kind of our mindset right now; our training is important, but we want to stay present.”

Colegrove’s biggest goal is to ensure each player gains confidence on and off the field while adjusting to a new sport.  

“I hope that individually, they’ve all gotten a little bit more confident in themselves. I think that’s what sport does for individuals,” Colegrove said. “Having a good, supportive team allows you to build a little more self-confidence.”

Overall, the team is looking to continue winning games and growing together. The athletes believe that in just two seasons, they have created a welcoming and home-like environment. 

“I really like how our team hypes each other up,” Carlton said. “I like how when you’re on the field, there’s parents cheering and stuff, but all you can hear is your teammates screaming your name to get the ball and get the tackle or grab the flag.”

The team encourages new players to come out and try the sport, even if they haven’t played before.

“It’s the past student-athletes and the coach’s responsibility to make sure it’s fun for you. But, they need to have an open mind,” Colegrove said. “Take a leap of faith.”