The 2022 Norwich Girls Flag Football Team, along with Senior Addyson Whaley (submitted photo from Coach Tom Rose)

NORWICH – Coach Tom Rose and the 2022 Norwich girls flag football team look back at its inaugural season in the NYS flag football pilot program. With a brand-new sport introduced to Section IV schools, including Norwich, it was a learning curve for many girls as they had never played before. However, Norwich came out of its first ever season with a championship.

Coach Rose was very impressed with his first season coaching the team.

“We were competitive each week. We started off slow, losing our first four games, but rebounded and won our last three to end the season and win the silver bracket championship game,” he said. “Going into the season we knew that in order to be successful, we needed to learn from each experience, good or bad, or improve from week to week. The group of 13 girls on the team were very dedicated and wanted to learn and get better, which they did.”

Each team in Section IV made the playoffs this year and were placed into two different brackets, gold and silver. Norwich played in the silver bracket against Horseheads, Union-Endicott, and Chenango Valley, teams they had played previously in the regular season. After defeating Horseheads at home in the final game of the regular season, they won 38-12 in the first round of playoffs before taking on Chenango Valley in the finals.

Chenango Valley defeated Norwich earlier in the year 19-7. Coach Rose knew the championship would be tough, but Norwich came back from a 20-6 deficit to win it 24-20.

“We knew it would be a hard-fought game, but the girls never gave up,” he said. “The girls were extremely excited to win but also disappointed that our season had come to a close. The way that they had been playing the last four games, they knew that they were playing at a high level and were finally playing to their best abilities.”

Rose also appreciates senior Addyson Whaley for her efforts this season. She played an important role in the center position where Quarterback Cameron VanHouten could trust her.

“She volunteered at the beginning of the year and I explained to her that without her good snaps, we wouldn't be successful,” Rose said. “She worked really hard throughout the season to perfect her snaps. She was also able to catch a couple passes from her position to get us some conversion points as well. Without her dedication to her position, we wouldn't have been as successful as we were.”

With just one senior leaving, the Norwich flag football program is set to have its 12 underclassmen players return next season along with more interested players.

Rose shares his excitement for the next few years of the program and is looking forward to returning next year.

“​Girls flag football in NY looks like it is here to stay for future seasons,” he said. “At the NYSPHSAA meeting in July, the sport is going to be presented to be recognized as the next emerging sport in New York. Over the next few years, it could get phased into a fully sanctioned sport with a culminating NYS championship like every other sport that the state offers. With the success that we had and the sport had, I am confident that there will be more girls coming out to play for each school, section, and all of New York State.”

Congratulations to the 2022 Norwich Girls Flag Football team and best of luck to Addyson Whaley.