BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) The sound of competition and the excitement of game day are helping fuel a growing movement in Kern County: girls flag football.
Bakersfield Christian High School capped its season with a championship win Thursday night against Redwood High School; a milestone players and coaches hope will help expand the sport locally.
Bakersfield Christian wins girls flag football title as sport grows in Kern County (KBAK/KBFX)
BCHS head coach Nathan Munson said the program has been waiting for broader growth in Kern County, noting that travel was once required to find competition.
“We’re waiting for Kern County to really do something. We started last year, we had to go to LA, down to the coast, up north but now here locally it’s a big deal. Girls want to play this sport,” Munson said.
Players said they want more schools in the area to offer girls flag football, so more athletes have the chance to compete.
Bakersfield Christian wins girls flag football title as sport grows in Kern County (KBAK/KBFX)
“I hope that everyone, like the big school like Liberty, Centennial and all those schools they really see how much it means to every community and how much it means to all the girls,” said BCHS player Abby Alizalde.
Some players also want opportunities beyond a single season and beyond high school.
“Yeah, it’s very fun. I think it should be all year around,” said Tia Nichols.
Bakersfield Christian wins girls flag football title as sport grows in Kern County (KBAK/KBFX)
Munson said BCHS plans to keep pushing for the sport’s continued growth in Kern County. “We have to keep fighting to get it in Kern County because I don’t want to travel to LA every day,” he said.