Old Westbury College now has women's flag football team

New York Post

27-06-2025

Flag football has touched down at Old Westbury College.
The Nassau County school is gearing up for its inaugural season of the women's sport, which first will be played at the club level in 2026 before transitioning to varsity the following year, starting with a grassroots campaign to recruit its first team.
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'Right now, we're relying on any accepted students who are attending Old Westbury who may have played in the past to be part of our team,' director of athletics Lenore Walsh told The Post.
Walsh added that the Panthers' new team, which was announced in April and will compete in the Skyline Conference, is already gaining significant traction on campus.
'There were a lot of people who were hearing it for the first time in our accepted students' day, and they were really excited,' she said of the program that is still to name a head coach.
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Nevertheless, when they fill that void, there will be numerous recruiting trips, as the game has boomed in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
'It seems to be very popular here on Long Island amongst the high schools and middle schools,' Walsh said — adding that programs such as Lindenhurst, Plainview-Old Bethpage, and Port Washington are on the watch list.
3 Old Westbury College is now going to have a women's flag football team.
Old Westbury College Athletics
The team's first tryouts will take place in the fall, with another wave scheduled to begin in the spring semester as well.
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Walsh stressed that the beauty of playing locally is walk-on opportunities also will be abundant.
'You don't necessarily need to be a recruited student-athlete … and sometimes, you never know, you can get a diamond-in-the-rough player,' Walsh said.
3 Plainview-Old Bethpage players run a drill during practice this past April.
Heather Khalifa for New York Post
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Draft this into your calendar.
The Islanders will host a draft party at UBS Arena on Friday night, as the Nassau hockey team will be on the clock for the first pick.
New general manager Mathieu Darche will speak to fans at 5:30 p.m. as several Isles, including Ryan Pulock and Casey Cizikas, will be perusing the concourse — along with team alums such as John Tonelli, Butch Goring, Steve Webb, Shawn Bates and Benoit Hogue.
On-air host Shannon Hogan and actor Kevin Connolly, director of the Islanders documentary 'Big Shot,' also will be in attendance at the party — which will have a Ferris wheel, human jousting and a giant slide.
3 Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche
NHLI via Getty Images
Season ticket holders pay nothing, and general admission is $5, with proceeds benefiting the Islanders Children's Foundation.
Long Island's annual 'Run Around the Lake,' in honor of slain Navy SEAL Michael Murphy, is a go for Saturday morning.
The event, held at Lake Ronkonkoma where the 'Lone Survivor' hero was a lifeguard before enlisting, begins with a 7 a.m. half-marathon, followed by an 8:30 a.m. fun run and a 9 a.m. 4-mile event.
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Registration fees vary.
Parking can be found at Easton Street & Railroad Avenue in Ronkonkoma.