Girls flag football could be coming to Penn-Trafford

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, May 4, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Is flag football coming to Penn-Trafford?

If the powder puff games April 25 were an indication, there is a chance the sport will be sponsored by the school district in the future.

It was a test run that was a complete success.

“It was a big hit,” Penn-Trafford athletic director Kerry Hetrick said. “We sure had a lot of great athletes participating, and it just wasn’t girls on athletic teams. We did have girls who play soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball, track, lacrosse and tennis playing. I was impressed with how atheltic the girls were.”

There were two games. The sophomore class defeated the freshman class, 22-0, and the senior class rallied to defeat the junior class, 20-14.

English teacher Brittney Falk and social studies teacher Josh Bujakowski were the organizers of the games. Junior Mia Williams picked the charity as the game raised $1,400 for Beverly’s, a nonprofit organization in North Huntingdon that benefits underprivileged families in Western Pennsylvania.

Falk said each team had a roster of 15 except for the senior class, which had 20.

“We were pleased how well things turned out,” Falk said. “I’m excited to do it again next year.

“The girls loved it. The games were exciting. Things came together.”

The teams were coached by members of the football team.

Football coach John Ruane selected the coaches based on who he felt would fit well in the role.

There were food trucks and other activities.

Hetrick said the only damper of the night was that the game was delayed an hour by lightning. Falk said the girls did not mind the rain.

The PIAA will begin sanctioning girls flag football as a state-sanctioned sport in the 2025-26 school year, with PIAA championships starting in the 2026-27 school year.

This means that girls flag football will be an official sport for high school teams in the state, with the potential for state championships.

The first PIAA championship season for girls flag football will be in the spring of 2027.

There are more than 72 schools across the state sponsoring flag football, including 13 from the WPIAL.

Jeannette and Latrobe have club teams.

Hetrick said he will now gauge the interest and proceed from there.

Flag football is a spring sport. Penn-Trafford sponsors softball, lacrosse and track and field for girls in the spring.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Penn-Trafford