Rochester universities add women's flag football as varsity sport
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Flag football has rapidly grown in popularity over the past few year, both here at home, with 30 different high schools in Section V offered girls flag football last Spring, and even nationally, as flag football has been named an event for the 2028 Summer Olympic games in Los Angeles.
Now, many Rochester area college and universities are introducing women's flag football, not only as a club, but as a varsity sport.
Roberts Wesleyan University, a Division II program, is one of the latest to announce their newest women's sport.
'This is a great sport for women,' said Bob Segave, the Executive Director of Athletics at Roberts Wesleyan. 'It's one of the biggest growing sports. Having this opportunity to offer another program for women, and give then another opportunity to get on the field and compete while showing off all the gifts a talents that they have, its a priority here at Roberts.'
Right up the road, SUNY Brockport is also in the process of creating their own program, all lead by one student-athlete, Kat Althouse, who was at the forefront of putting together the universities club team.
Now, with the help of her teammates, she will have the opportunity to participate in the varsity sport during her senior year.
'Getting to play football after loving it and watching if for so long felt really good,' Kat says. ' Being able to be on the field again, and really being able to be part of something great has been more than extraordinary.'
For Kat though, creating this program goes far beyond playing football with her teammates.
'Everything we do is to grow the game,' she explains. 'But also to grow women's sports and break barriers, and end stigmas for women.'
She hopes that her example will show the younger generations of female athletes to stand up for themselves, and prove themselves both on and off the field.
'To any little girl who wants to play football,' Kay said. 'Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. I've been there done that when being told I don't know this or that. Prove them wrong. Don't be hateful;, or do it in spite, but do it for yourself, and do it for others.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Local Special Olympics torch run marks 39 years
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Special Olympics athletes know most events have a start and finish. A torch run Friday started at Cobbs Hill Park. 'I know it's a little rain, but we got through it,' Special Olympic athlete Jacob Babcock said. At the run, Babcock reconnected with some of the members of local law enforcement who ran with him during the pandemic. 'So me, Erin, John 'Pre,' and all them and Brett Sobrieraski and Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, we all came together, it was such an amazing process,' Babcock said. He's talking about Rochester Police Detective Erin Rogers. She helps with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. 'As soon as you see the athletes and see how excited they are to see you and how they're supportive of you, there's nothing better than that and you just want to support them back,' Rogers said. Cori Piels, also an athlete, will tell you that relationship means a lot. 'It's so nice to have the support of law enforcement. If we didn't have them, we wouldn't be doing this,' Piels said. The two groups have been doing the torch run together for 39 years. The event gives Chris Teich and everyone else a chance to celebrate all things Special Olympics. 'It embodies family, friendship, leadership and so much more,' athlete Chris Teich said. This year's course took them through Park Ave and all the way to Parcel 5 where they stopped running, making it look like this event is one of those that has a finish, but because of the bond between all of them, there's no end in sight. Friday's torch run is part of a series happening across the state. That series will end in Ithaca where the Special Olympics summer games will later in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Primetime 585 Shining Star: AJ Morgan
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — For Friday's Primetime 585 Shining Star Spotlight — where we introduce you to some student athletes who are brightening up our community — we're highlighting AJ Morgan! AJ is a sophomore track star at Webster Schroeder High School. In her second season of outdoor varsity track, she decided to take on the pentathlon. She made first team all-county in Pentathlon and second team all-county in hurdles and high jump. AJ was the Section Five Class-A and Monroe County Public School Athletic Conference pentathlon champion. She was also the pentathlon champion in the His and Hers Invite where she was named MVP. She went on to break Webster's Girls Pentathlon record at the State Qualifier meet. Now she's headed to states next weekend. On top of all that, she won the Devin Snyder Outstanding Female Athlete Award. A big congratulations to AJ, from all of us here at News 8 — and thank you for brightening up our community! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Scott Metcalfe, Amerks Hall of Famer and Calder Cup champion, dies at 56
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Scott Metcalfe, a former Rochester Amerks player and Calder Cup champion, has passed away. He was 58 years old. The Amerks confirmed Metcalfe's passing, which happened Friday morning. They expressed their sympathies in a statement. Metcalfe, a native of Toronto, played in Rochester for nine seasons, from 1987 through 1991 and 1993 through 1998. He was a three-time 20-goal scorer. Metcalfe was a member of the Amerks' last Calder Cup championship team in 1996, was inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame in 2006, and won multiple awards, including the McCulloch Trophy three times for community service. Metcalfe leaves behind his wife, two sons, and a daughter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
