First Season Of High School Girls Flag Football Kicks Off In Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — When she learned that other schools in New Jersey have started their own girls flag football teams, Bridget Martens – a junior at Montclair High School – knew she had to get in on the action.

“I had the idea to start a team while playing football with a group of guys from the MHS football team and some other friends,” Martens recalled. “I decided that I wanted to create this opportunity for myself and any other girl who has shared my love of playing.”

And so was born the Montclair High School’s girls flag football team.

Martens reached out to Interim Athletic Director Ron Anello and Principal Jeff Freeman, who didn’t take much convincing, district administrators reported. Martens focused on outreach to the student body, setting up an interest meeting to recruit members. Meanwhile, Anello brought the proposal to a Montclair Board of Education meeting, where he got approval and funding for coaches.

Anello then tapped Head Coach Philip Dorch, a former Montclair High School player who recently coached the JV boys basketball team, and Assistant Coach Cecil Stinson, the head varsity boys basketball coach.

“Everything fell into place just in time for the season,” Martens said.

The team now includes nearly 20 girls at the high school, who have been practicing since March. Last month, the team participated in a jamboree hosted by the Jets at the organization’s Atlantic Health Training Center in Florham Park. More than 30 teams from New Jersey and New York scrimmaged against each other and had the opportunity to work with Jets’ strength coaches.

The Montclair High School’s girls flag football team will play its first official game Thursday against Montville.

The MHS club is part of the state girls flag football program, now in its third year, underwritten by the New York Jets and Nike. Read More: NJ Girls Flag Football League Includes Schools In Essex County

“Coach Dorch and Coach Stinson are truly the best coaches we could have hoped for and combined with a motivated group of girls, I can’t wait to see what this season has in store,” Martens said.

MHS will play six regular season games, two home at Woodman Field, two away and one at the Jets facility. The schedule follows below:

• April 13 at Montville, 6 pm
• April 20 at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, vs. Nutley, 5:30 pm
• April 27, home vs. Irvington, 5:30 pm
• May 1 at Orange, TBD
• May 8 at West Orange, 5:30 pm
• May 18, home vs. West Orange, 5:30 pm

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