In the second year of girls’ flag football, the Spartans, are making the most of the season as more and more girls participate on the gridiron. With funding from the NFL, season two has grown across eight districts in El Paso. The grant is part of a three-year deal.
With several more girls trying out, the Spartans were able to make two teams. One for varsity and one for JV. The girls have been working with coaches Melvin Sherbet, Elizabeth Duran and Arturo Velez.
Currently, the varsity has a 4-6 record, and JV has an 0-3 record.
With two new teams there are more challenges to battle as compared with handling one team, coach Elizabeth Duran shares the experience of the new teams and how it has gone this year.
“This year we were able to have two full teams represent Sparta,” Duran said. “Our athletes all play multiple sports so right now our biggest struggle has been having consistent full-team practices because most [athletes] are part of other school or city league teams. The thing I am most proud of is how much their skill level has grown in just one year. Our returning players have been tremendous leaders to our new players and all three of us coaches have seen a huge change from our inaugural season to this year.”
Despite having a bigger team and more girls to play in games, the girls still need to compete against other teams, coach Duran additionally shares her years so far with the girls and the progress made. Of course, with the team’s biggest supporters are the coaches as they give help and advice to improve the team.
“I’m beyond proud of our athletes who came out to try flag football,” Duran said. “Some have played before, but the majority are learning from our fantastic staff.”
According to Duran, coach Sherbert helps with the offense and coach Velez is assigned to defense.
“Both get here early in the morning and work with our Spartan football team and then stay late to work with our flag football girls,” Duran said. “They have been putting in long days, but you can tell they both love the sport and are bringing their positivity to each practice,” Duran said.
With the coaches working long hours, they do have their concerns, but never give up.
The team’s main hope is to share their image more and convince female students to join the team and bring more support.
Freshman Jayda Romero found the team through a mutual friend and has joined; hoping to make a difference.
“It feels good, you know, we get to, like, see other schools, and go against them and stuff like that, and we get to meet new people, ” Romero said.
The Spartans season continues Monday afternoon, May 4.
All Photos by Emily Ortiz
