Over the past few years, women’s flag football has become one of the fastest growing sports in the country, with at least 65 colleges sponsoring it at the club or varsity level, according to the National Football League’s FLAG program.
Locally, Oak Park and River Forest, Fenwick, and Lyons Township high schools made their IHSA debut last fall. And Triton College in nearby River Grove announced on July 31 that it will add women’s flag football to the athletic program, with competition starting next spring.
“This is exciting news for Triton Athletics,” said Garrick Abezetian, Triton’s associate vice president for athletics in a press release. “Flag football has seen immense popularity recently, and this is an opportunity for us to contribute to that movement and offer more for Triton students and our community. I can’t wait to see everyone out on the field.”
“The decision supports strategic enrollment and athletic program growth for our institution,” said Triton College President Mary-Rita Moore. “Equally important is that this investment supports our community’s passion for Trojan athletics and the growing interest nationwide in flag football as an emerging sport for women. This is how a public community college can make a positive difference in the lives of our students.”
Flag football has expanded at a rapid rate thanks to the backing of the NFL and other organizations that create accessible leagues for all. Further evidence of this growth will be on display at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where both men’s and women’s teams will compete.
“The NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association), expanding NFL FLAG opportunities for female student-athletes at member institutions, demonstrates clearly that football is for all,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. “It is exciting to see junior colleges offer NFL FLAG as a varsity sport to female athletes.”
“The NJCAA Foundation is passionate about the value women’s flag football brings to institutions’ overall growth, the student-athlete experience, and equality across playing fields,” added Andrew Givens, the foundation’s executive director. “This is an opportunity for women of the association to compete at the highest level, and we are fortunate to work hand in hand with NFL FLAG and RCX Sports during this exciting time.”
RCX Sports is an organization that focuses on working with NFL, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer teams to create opportunities for youth to play the sports they enjoy.
Izell Reese, who played seven seasons in the NFL and currently serves as RCX Sports chief executive officer and NFL FLAG executive director, said, “RCX is dedicated to creating opportunities for all athletes to play so that every child can gain important life skills only learned through sports. Through NJCAA women’s flag football, young women will not only be able to compete, they’ll earn a valuable education that will set them up for success after college.”
Triton competes in NCJAA Region Four and fields teams in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. This spring, three local student-athletes gained All-American status in track and field.
On the women’s side, Riverside-Brookfield alum Ava Connerty won the 100-meter hurdles at the NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, becoming the first Triton athlete to win an individual national women’s track title. She and fellow RBHS alum Joaliz Rodriguez were members of the Trojans’ 4 x 400 relay team.
On the men’s side, OPRF alum Anthony Beacham ran the leadoff leg on Triton’s 4 x 100 relay team, which finished sixth at nationals, gaining All-American status.
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