April 27, 2024

By Fred Liggett
sports.lstribune08@gmail.com

Over 200 athletes from local Missouri high schools got a chance to visit the home of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Apr. 21 for a girls flag football luncheon, a panel discussion with area sports dignitaries and concluded by watching the KCAC Women’s Flag Football championship game.

The event was held for area high schools that launched a girls flag football pilot program this spring. One of those high school teams present was from Lee’s Summit North. Following lunch, the Broncos got to hear from Vanita Krouch who is a three-time gold medalist as a quarterback for team USA. A pair of Chiefs front office members participated in the panel as well as 2008 Women’s Super Bowl Champion and 2010 Team USA gold medalist Dani Welniak. Welniak, now vice president of communications for the KC Current, moderated the panel that discussed women working in sports and the growth of women’s sports today.

Welniak felt, “It was so incredible to see so many young women in attendance who love the game of football and now have the ability to play it at the high school and collegiate level.” On the day at Arrowhead Welniak says, “It’s a blessing to be able to be a part of a panel with so many inspiring and incredible women who have paved the way in football, the front office and women’s sports.”

After the luncheon and panel discussion it was time to watch a game, a championship game. The Ottawa Braves played Kansas Wesleyan for the KCAC Flag Football Championship. Ottawa Braves came away with the title thanks to 27-8 victory. Before going home all attendees participated in a college flag football showcase. The showcase lasted two hours which included time for area NAIA and NJCAA schools to visit with the student athletes. The visit to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium was made more memorable when three-time Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones surprised the teams with gifts.