Laurier Brantford girls’ flag football team has started the season strong and are determined to finish stronger
Resilient, positive, proud and one big happy family are words used by the Laurier Brantford Girl’s Flag Football team to describe their team and season this year.
“We’re coming for the gold,” said Julia Rallis, second year criminology student and nickelback on the team.
The Laurier Brantford Girl’s flag football team won a second-place medal in their most recent tournament and are looking forward to the upcoming tournament with hopes of winning first place.
This team, with the odds stacked against them, have come through and done amazing things.
Quarterback Kennedy Couture, a fourth year criminology student, has seen just how much improvement has happened in her time on the team. “Our tryout numbers were the largest numbers I have seen in two years,” she said.
First year rookie Hailey Glasier who plays as an O-line guard said that football practice is her favourite time of the week.
The team works hard to foster a welcoming environment and a place to come, learn the sport and grow as a person. Faith Powell, president, offensive wide receiver and fourth year criminology student shines a light on how the team has impacted her Laurier experience.
“This team has brought so much positivity in my personal life, from the friendships to the growth I have done personally in the sport. Bonding and winning our first metal, it has just been positive all around,”Powell said.
Students don’t need to have any experience in flag football to try out for the team as the girls on the team and their coaches are happy to show rookies the ropes and welcome them with open arms. “It really is like a second family in a lot of ways,” saidChloe Hung, third year UX student and defensive corner back.
The coaches, according to the team, are the backbone of the team. “Everybody has an essential role to play, but our coaches deserve a huge shoutout, we wouldn’t have a team without team,” Couture said.
The coaches drive from Hamilton to Brantford multiple times a week to oversee practices and even step in when there is not enough attendance at practice. The coaches also regularly send their players videos and tips on plays during the week to sharpen their skills.
Attendance is an issue for this team. Laurier Brantford is smaller in size so the challenge to get a full roster is felt by the team, but that doesn’t stop the dedicated players from trying their best,.“We have a lot of girls who make a lot of sacrifices and shift things around to make it [practice] work,” Couture said.
Another issue this team faces is finances as coming from a smaller school, is a challenge because the team has to work harder to put on fundraisers to support their efforts Powell said. An upcoming fundraiser put on by the team is going to be a raffle for four gold level Hamilton Tiger Cats tickets.
Despite the challenges this team faces, the coaches and players work hard to maintain a level of enthusiasm that radiates through the entire team. “I would be willing to bet that our team has one of the most positive environments fostered by our coaching staff, I’d bet my life on that,” Couture said.
The Laurier Brantford girls flag football team represents a much bigger community for female athletes. “I have always wanted to pay football and always thought as a woman I wouldn’t be able to that, but since coming to Laurier Brantford and learning I could play, it was really big,” Rallis said.
Keep an eye on this team as they tackle new tournaments in the next coming months and go for the gold.
This story was originally published in Volume 24, Issue 6 on February 6, 2025
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