{"id":121344,"date":"2025-08-05T16:45:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T16:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/121344\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T16:45:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T16:45:11","slug":"triton-college-to-debut-womens-flag-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/121344\/","title":{"rendered":"Triton College to debut women\u2019s flag football\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the past few years, women\u2019s flag football has become one of the fastest growing sports in the country, with at least 65 colleges sponsoring it at the club or varsity level, according to the National Football League\u2019s FLAG program.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Locally, Oak Park and River Forest, Fenwick, and Lyons Township high schools made their IHSA debut last fall. And Triton College in nearby River Grove announced on July 31 that it will add women\u2019s flag football to the athletic program, with competition starting next spring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is exciting news for Triton Athletics,\u201d said Garrick Abezetian, Triton\u2019s associate vice president for athletics in a press release. \u201cFlag football has seen immense popularity recently, and this is an opportunity for us to contribute to that movement and offer more for Triton students and our community. I can\u2019t wait to see everyone out on the field.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decision supports strategic enrollment and athletic program growth for our institution,\u201d said Triton College President Mary-Rita Moore. \u201cEqually important is that this investment supports our community\u2019s passion for Trojan athletics and the growing interest nationwide in flag football as an emerging sport for women. This is how a public community college can make a positive difference in the lives of our students.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flag football has expanded at a rapid rate thanks to the backing of the NFL and other organizations that create accessible leagues for all. Further evidence of this growth will be on display at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where both men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams will compete.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association), expanding NFL FLAG opportunities for female student-athletes at member institutions, demonstrates clearly that football is for all,\u201d said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. \u201cIt is exciting to see junior colleges offer NFL FLAG as a varsity sport to female athletes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe NJCAA Foundation is passionate about the value women\u2019s flag football brings to institutions\u2019 overall growth, the student-athlete experience, and equality across playing fields,\u201d added Andrew Givens, the foundation\u2019s executive director. \u201cThis is an opportunity for women of the association to compete at the highest level, and we are fortunate to work hand in hand with NFL FLAG and RCX Sports during this exciting time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

RCX Sports is an organization that focuses on working with NFL, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer teams to create opportunities for youth to play the sports they enjoy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Izell Reese, who played seven seasons in the NFL and currently serves as RCX Sports chief executive officer and NFL FLAG executive director, said, \u201cRCX is dedicated to creating opportunities for all athletes to play so that every child can gain important life skills only learned through sports. Through NJCAA women\u2019s flag football, young women will not only be able to compete, they\u2019ll earn a valuable education that will set them up for success after college.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Triton competes in NCJAA Region Four and fields teams in baseball, men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball, men\u2019s and women\u2019s soccer, softball, men\u2019s and women\u2019s track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. This spring, three local student-athletes gained All-American status in track and field.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the women\u2019s side, Riverside-Brookfield alum Ava Connerty won the 100-meter hurdles at the NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, becoming the first Triton athlete to win an individual national women\u2019s track title. She and fellow RBHS alum Joaliz Rodriguez were members of the Trojans\u2019 4 x 400 relay team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the men\u2019s side, OPRF alum Anthony Beacham ran the leadoff leg on Triton\u2019s 4 x 100 relay team, which finished sixth at nationals, gaining All-American status.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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