Making history: Buchholz girls flag football

BY CLIFF TUMETEL

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – High school baseball and softball seasons are just starting all over the district, but the Buchholz athletics program has a new spring sport this year: girls flag football. 

It’s the first time Buchholz High School has had a competitive girls flag football team, and you can bet the players are feeling proud to be pioneers. 

Junior Dunae Chappell is on the squad, and so far, she’s having a great time being part of history but also playing the sport. 

“It feels great. I’m enjoying it, it’s really fun,” said Chappell.

Sophomore Isabella Alexander was initially hesitant, but now she loves it.

“At first I didn’t want to join the team, but then Kam made me try out, and now I really like being on the team,” said Alexander. 

Being the first team in history can be challenging, but so far these Bobcats seem to be improving with each practice.

Junior Suzanna Byrne spoke about the team chemistry: “We all just work together, and everyone is so nice. If someone does something wrong, they’re not judging, they’re helping them out.” 

The team has played one game so far this season against Lake Weir, and they won 34-0. For the team, it’s a step in the right direction. 

“We’re going to keep getting better and better the more games we play. We’re going to work on what we need to work on,” said Chappell

The man leading the charge is Head Coach Scott Jamison, who is no stranger to flag football, having played the sport competitively for 17 years. He said it’s great being a part of history but also believes that this could go a long way. 

“I tried to tell these girls, if you’re in ninth or tenth grade it’s going to be a scholarship sport in the very near future,” said Jamison. “This isn’t just ‘Let’s play high school,’ this is sort of setting the tone for a possible–just like the boys play football, the girls are going to play, they’re going to get the same reward.” 

Expectations are always high at Buchholz, and senior Kamryn Harper is well aware of those expectations. Playing basketball and now flag football, she said it’s her job to set herself up for success. 

“As for having the expectation of winning, it’s something I have to set myself up for, so just going the extra mile. Not settling myself short, always working hard and knowing that people are going to come with high intensity,” said Harper. 

Last year, Santa Fe High School was the first high school in Alachua to form their girls flag football team and now Gainesville High and Buchholz have entered the chat. Who’s next? The Bobcats would love to see P.K. Yonge join the party. 

“It’s a little rivalry between P.K. and Buchholz for basketball, and I would just love to play P.K. just one more time,” said Harper. 

“We have a big basketball rivalry with them, and we also know a lot of the girls because we play summer basketball with them, and they wanted to come play with us, but it was too late in the season. I think it would be a really good game,” said Alexander 

While Chappell agreed that the Blue Wave would be a great addition, she said she would like to see the Eastside Rams.

“We played them in basketball season, and they’re really aggressive, so I want to see how they are with football,” Chappell said. 

The Bobcats play this Friday at home against the Atlantic Coast Stingrays.