Sports

LHS introduces girls flag football

Taylor Thorsness and Abby Drobnic

February 26, 2026

Two teams line up for play during the annual “Powder Puff” flag football game.

Recently announced in the Lemont High School newsletter, it has been confirmed that for the 2026-27 school year that girls flag football will be an official sport offered at LHS. Following the District 210 Board of Education meeting on Jan. 20, the girls flag football agreement was passed.

Overall, girls flag football teams in schools have been increasing in popularity, with a 25% increase in participation over the last year, and a 60% increase in the 2024-25 school year.

Sunday Funday Sports recently published an article about the rising popularity in total, highlighting the increase in girls flag teams throughout the nation.

“Just a few years ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a varsity girls team in most states. Now, there are thousands of girls competing nationally, with new high school teams forming each season,” Michael Ockrim of Sunday Funday Sports said.

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Girls flag football as an official LHS sport was just released recently, but the annual homecoming junior-senior “Powder Puff” game has been a popular tradition for a few years now. This annual game shows the interest in this sport among girls of all grades, even the underclassmen, who can’t participate just yet. Many who participate in “Powder Puff” might decide to try the team sport, which will offer them a more competitive aspect of the same, exciting sport, while then being able to progress into a state series.

“I’m so excited about girls flag football next year! My friend from a different school plays, and I was always so jealous that they had a team. I can’t wait to learn more about the sport and possibly play next year,” freshman Ella Myslinski said.

Because of the limited information offered right now, it is unclear who will coach this team, as LHS is currently taking applications and conducting interviews. These details, along with what the schedule is going to look like for the 2026-27 year, is expected to come out before next semester.

Looking forward to next school year, the Lemont community is excited to see how our historic first girls’ flag football team will perform.

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About the Contributors

Taylor Thorsness, Staff Writer

Taylor Thorsness is a freshman at Lemont High School and is starting her first-year on the Tom-Tom staff. During the summer, she loves hanging out with friends and going downtown to the soirees. She is also planning on joining the track team once the season starts. Taylor enjoys spending time with her family, whether that be by going swimming or binging a show. She is very excited to start writing and can’t wait to see what will happen this year.

Abby Drobnic, Staff Writer

Abby Drobnic is a freshman at Lemont High School and a first-year Tom-Tom staff member. She is super excited to have the opportunity to write more and be able to express herself through journalism. Her favorite sport is volleyball. She plays club, school and sand. In her free time she enjoys traveling, spending time with family, listening to music, thrifting/antiquing and watching chick flicks. She is looking forward to spending the next four years at LHS!

Julia Macari, Co-Editor-In-Chief

Going into her senior year, Julia is ready to make every moment count. This being her third year in Journalism (and first time taking on the position of Co-Editor-In-Chief), she is so excited to get back to writing and having fun with her classmates. Outside of Journalism, Julia is heavily involved in Lemont’s Drama Club and theatrical productions. If she’s not cranking out a story, chances are she’s practicing in the Performing Arts Center. This year, she also holds many titles throughout the school as the President of the Thespian Society, Vice President of the National Honors Society, Vice President of Drama Club and Publicity Chair of Rho Kappa. Despite having a lot on her plate, Julia still wants to spend a lot of time with her friends and make long lasting memories during her final year at LHS. As for her time after high school, she plans on pursuing musical theater at any college that lets her in.