Newly-Sanctioned Flag Football Has Strong Turnout

Last spring, Girls Flag Football was approved by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), as an official high school sport in Washington State, starting this school year. In response to this exciting decision, 95 Wildcats signed up initially for the Mount Si High School teams – a sign of growing interest in this fun sport that remains a no-cut opportunity. Now there are about 70 on the team, tapering off a bit as players learned that becoming a WIAA sport brings additional rules. Some interested athletes, for example, had to make tough decisions between basketball and flag football.

For a little history, Mount Si High School’s Flag Football team has continued to grow in numbers each year, since starting five years. Isabel Phalen (Class of 2024) explained there were just 12 team members the first year. When she was a sophomore (circa 2021), a coach asked her if she’d be interested in playing and helping start a competitive team. She reached out to friends and fellow athletes, and the first MSHS Flag Football team was born! They played teams in the South Puget Sound League (Tacoma schools mostly) since neighboring schools did not have teams at that time.

“It was so new and so fun to learn. I was honored to get to start the sport at Mount Si, since most women my age never had this opportunity in high school,” said Phalen, who is now helping as an assistant coach.

Since then, more schools have added Flag Football teams, and last year Mount Si’s team won the equivalent of the King Co title!

Flag Football Head Coach Don Bartell explained “These girls are incredible competitors and even better teammates. They are a team that we can all be proud of!”

“They also understand what they're doing is not only important in building something meaningful for the girls who will come after them, but they are also making the absolute most of this for the women who came before them and were not given the same opportunities. That makes every moment of this a privilege—for all of us!”

Our Wildcats are off to a great start. Go ‘Cats!

All student clubs and athletics, including flag football, are funded by our District’s Educational Programs & Operations levy. We are grateful to our community for its support of Snoqualmie Valley students.