Green Hope High School has a new addition to its athletics program with the addition of the women’s varsity flag football. Ms. Erica Grunder, one of the PE teachers, is the head coach of the team with Mr. Nathaniel Denton, another PE teacher, is the Assistant Coach. Green Hope is one of 25 Wake County schools to participate in this school affiliated sport this year.
Being a fall sport, the season began with games against Holly Springs and Green Level on October 14th. For games, four teams go to the same location and each team plays two games. The last official game is on Nov 5.
With a win for the Falcons yesterday, their record is 4-4 overall and 4-2 in conference. Rachael Baldyga (‘26) plays Quarterback and Receiver and has accounted for six passing touchdowns and six receiving touchdowns. Sam Cowen (‘28) has added eight passing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. Kate Bell (‘26), Bella Reeves-Bauman (‘28), Prudence Stohr (‘28), Ainsley Campbell (‘28) and Renee McClernon (‘25) have also scored touchdowns.
Campbell and Cowen are two freshman players seen as driving future success for the team.
Baldyga, one of the captains of the new Green Hope flag football team, says “So far I love flag football, it’s been so fun and we have a great team. I think flag football adds another athletic opportunity for girls at Green Hope, and we get to be part of the inaugural season.” Also, one of Rachaels closest friends and the other captain of the team, McClernon, shares “Flag football has been super fun and I’ve enjoyed getting to learn about a new sport alongside my friends and coaches. As a new sport at Green Hope there is a lot of opportunity to improve and every member of the team is valuable. The sport itself is very engaging and easy to learn because when playing you only have to focus on one thing at a time which makes it easier to do that one thing well and be successful.”
At the start of the season, the team got fully new equipment including jerseys which was the players favorite part.
The team is made of mostly younger players, who plan on success not just this year but in the coming years as well. McClernon says, “I think that Green Hope is going to have a really strong program in the future because the team is already doing really well together and we have a good number of underclassmen that have a lot of potential.”
The girls on the team have had aspirations to play flag football and are glad there is now an opportunity to play. McClernon expressed “Growing up I’ve always enjoyed playing catch with my Dad and I can catch the ball pretty well so I figured that because it’s my senior year and it’s my last chance to play that I might as well try it out and I’m glad I did because I really enjoy it.” Baldyga then shares that “I love being a part of another sport at Green Hope and have always enjoyed football so I love that I get to be on the field instead of the stands. Flag football is a new challenge for me because I’ve never played organized football, and it allows me to participate in a fall sport.”
As the season reaches its halfway point, the team hopes to finish strong and make a run at the conference title.
