Flag football was the newest spring sport in the state last year, and it will only grow in its second year in Section 9, and the Highland Huskies struggled heavily during a winless inaugural season.

There will be some changes this season as Jaliyl Yearwood will take over the coaching duties from Samantha Valentino. Yearwood also is Highland’s modified A football coach and has coached youth tackle football and travel flag football for more than seven years.

Matthew Nielson will assist him.

In their second season, the Huskies are still hunting for their first win. They will head into the season without Grace Nielson, Gabby Coates, Danica Childs, Ava Mazzetti and Joziah Hall.
Returning to the team this year will be seniors Aaliyah Ghafoor, Payton Urbank, Gabriella Acosta, and Amani Earley; junior Bethany Childs; and sophomore Magdalena Diaz. New to the team this year will be Adrianna Almodovar, Keira Bishop, Diana Calderon, Madison Chaffee, Alyssa Fritche, Madison Hughes, Emelia Mitchell, Nicolene Nielson, Belen Ocampo-Quiroz, Elizabeth Petrosoff, Arryana Robinson, Lalia Roper, Lauren Roper, Alyssa Schoonmaker, and Madeline Violaris.

Yearwood said the Huskies’ goal is to work better together as one unit, build team morale, and have more confidence.

“The girls, this year, plan to compete,” Yearwood said. “I, as the first-year coach, plan to bring excitement and fun to the sport. I plan to give every game my all.”

The Huskies didn’t participate in last year’s Section 9 tournament, but the sectional landscape will be different as the New York State Public High School Athletic Association will hold championships this season and has split schools into large- and small-school classifications.

Highland will play in the small-school division.