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GilbertSunNews.com
GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 27, 2022
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Future of flag football bright in Arizona high schools BY DREW SCHOTT GSN Contributing Writer
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ear the end of the 2021 school year, Sierra Kuhn walked out of class at Hamilton High School and saw a flyer outside of head coach Matt Stone’s classroom. The flyer, headlined Girls Flag Football, led with three phrases: Full Season Sport, College Scholarships and No Experience Needed. The next day, Kuhn spoke with Stone and joined the program, excited to play football in high school and for an all-girls team. Today, she is one of the Huskies’ leaders as the team prepares to enter a season critical to the future of girls flag football in Arizona high schools. Starting in March, six teams from the Chandler Unified School District — Hamilton, Chandler, Basha, Arizona College Prep, Perry and Casteel — and
The future of flag football is bright in Arizona thanks in large part to clubs like Gilbert’s Lady Ghosts club team and the creation of teams at all five high schools in the Chandler Unified School District. (Courtesy Geoff Kane) Gilbert senior Brenna Ramirez, who became the first girl from Arizona to play flag football as a collegiate sport, believes that the sport’s approval by the AIA will allow girls to gain more exposure from colleges. (Dave Minton/GSN Staff)
Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee will play the first organized schedule for girls flag football in Arizona high school history. “I think it’s going to go really well,”
Kuhn said. “It’s a really necessary sport to have at the high school level.” With approval from athletic associa-
see FLAG page 32
Mesquite baseball eyes second straight title BY ZORA CARRIER GSN Contributing Writer
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fter winning a state championship last year, the Mesquite Wildcats are preparing for their upcoming season that will take place around the Valley and start on March 1. With tryouts just finalizing and preseason tournaments starting up, the Wildcats are trying to find that team dynamic and unity again that took them to the playoffs last year. Sophomore Jake Gorrell is excited about the look of this team and the possibilities they have for this season. “I like the talent we have, we have a lot of tools,” Gorrell said. Last season the Wildcats made it all the way to the championship, facing Salpointe Catholic. Mesquite played Sal-
Mesquite senior Keeton “KB” Bell is one of several returning players for this year’s team that is hungry to repeat as 4A state champions. (Zac BonDurant/GSN Contributor)
pointe for the title in 2019. The Lancers won. The championship team was young then and now goes into this season led by seniors with hunger and experience. Head coach Jeff Holland likes having a senior-led team as it comes with accountability and ownership from the boys themselves. “They got the leadership and it’s a process because they start feeling the ownership,” Holland said. “I’m just a spectator, I write the lineup and they go play. They hold each other accountable.” Senior center fielder Keeton ‘’KB’’ Bell is one of the leaders of the team. “Everybody has to buy in, everybody has to play their role, nothings easy, the
see MESQUITE page 33
