July 6, 2024

LSR7’s three high school flag football teams completed their inaugural season this May. For the athletes, being founding members of a brand new sport in the district has been a rewarding experience that has taught them new athletic skills and sparked lasting friendships.

“I just feel so cool,” said Bailey Wirth, a player at Lee’s Summit North. “We’re the first team in the first year, so I could be in the history books.”

In September, the Kansas City Chiefs helped the LSR7 School District announce that girls flag football was coming to Lee’s Summit R-7 Schools. The Ottawa University Women’s National Flag Football Champion team ran a clinic for students to introduce them to the sport.

The season ran from March until May. LSR7 teams played against each other and other area high schools, even culminating in Lee’s Summit West winning a Chiefs-sponsored Missouri high school flag football tournament.

“I love football,” said Mary Kate Keller, student at Lee’s Summit High School. “I’ve played football with my brothers ever since I was a kid. I’ve never really played it on a competitive level until now, really taking it seriously.”

Even with previous athletic experience, players and coaches alike had to learn the skills and strategies for flag football in particular, meaning everyone joined the team on an even playing field. Many players say that has enhanced their team’s camaraderie.

“It’s grown us closer together,” said Keller. “None of us really knew what we were doing in the beginning so we’re all learning together. It helps us bond.”

The bonds formed in the early days of flag football practice quickly became friendships off the field as well. Girls from different grade levels and social circles found things they had in common. Now, they sit together at lunch, wave to each other in the hallways, and have dozens more connections within their school communities.

Dakota Fraase transferred to Lee’s Summit West as a freshman last year after being homeschooled for most of her life. The flag football team was a significant influence that helped her come out of her shell.

“It makes me really happy and feel really good,” she said. “I thought I was going to come here and be shy and not know anyone, but this makes me get out there. I have random people coming up to me asking about the football team. I’m on the flag football page in the yearbook too!”

Players from all three high schools enthusiastically agreed that they’d love to see more students joining flag football next season.

“There’s a bunch of people that probably never played football before, or even thought of it as an opportunity,” said Brecklyn Johnson, student at Lee’s Summit High School. If you’re thinking about it, but don’t know if you should, or if you’d be any good at it, just go for it. It’s so much fun.”