Raising the flag on Cincinnati's fastest

A: “I believe that we will be a balanced team on offense. With Cheyenne at our QB spot, we will be able to run and pass the ball. We are going to very fast with a few players that are on the track team as well.”Head coach: Jabreel Moton

Aiken

Q: What style will your team play this season? What do you expect will be its identity?Head coach: Anthony Mussari

A: Some top players for Aiken’s 2025 team include: Heaven Lewis, who demonstrates exceptional skill and athleticism, allowing her to play most positions on the field; Kennedy Woods, also known as “Speedy One,” who lives by the quote “Every champion was once a contender that didn’t give up,” and exemplifies remarkable leadership qualities; and Destinee Kelly, whose strategic thinking and quick decision-making abilities make her a strong quarterback and a great leader.Q: What style will your team play this season? What do you expect will be its identity?A: “Fast paced, attacking.”Q: What are some key strengths and weaknesses you see in your team?A: “Our team is quite cohesive, and we share a deep bond that resembles that of sisters. This strong connection allows us to support each other in both challenges and successes. We collaborate effectively, guiding one another with encouragement and constructive feedback, which helps us all stay on the right path. Because of this supportive culture, we don’t view our differences as weaknesses; instead, we see them as opportunities for growth. Together, we strive to achieve our goals while uplifting one another every step of the way.”McCall lists other strengths of his team as speed, agility and strategic thinking.BadinHead coach: Mike SebastianQ: Who are you expecting to be your top players this season, and what do they bring to your team?A: “With this being the first year of flag football at Badin, I am looking for the seniors to take an active leadership role, and they have done a great job. We have good athletes, and the seniors have helped lead as we all learn.” Q: What style will your team play this season? What do you expect will be its identity?A: “We are going to play fast and be aggressive. Offensively, we want to get to the line quickly and use our athleticism. Defensively, we want to be aggressive and play a lot of man defense. I think our identity is going to be our ability to play fast”Q: What are some key strengths and weaknesses you see in your team?A: “As I said, our strengths are going to be our athletic ability. Most of our athletes play multiple sports, so they all bring a good understanding of what it means to compete. Our weakness is going to be our experience. Everyone, from coaches to athletes are learning along the way. This has been challenging, really starting a program from the ground up, learning everything from rules to how to catch a football.”Cincinnati College Preparatory AcademyHead coaches: Robert Davis and Daniel Goodwin (quoted).Q: Who are you expecting to be your top players this season, and what do they bring to your team?A: “We are expecting all of our players to show up and show out,” Goodwin said. “But we are excited to see Kamiyah Higgins, Syasia Rogers and Marianna Behanan bring some great leadership and new flavor to the CCPA team”Q: What style will your team play this season? What do you expect will be its identity?A: “Our team is still learning as this is their first season, but we can’t wait to see them bring out the swag and bring out the downtown team flavor. Their identity will be their Lion Pride. Our team stands out among most teams, because being a public charter school we are always considered the underdogs. Even though in the end we tend to dominate our conference.” Q: What are some key strengths and weaknesses you see in your team?A: “Our strengths would be the hard work that our young ladies put in during practices and games. Their willingness to work together and have fun at the same time.  Our weakness would be that we are still learning, so in the beginning stages we may not be great. But in the end, our young ladies will pull it out and learn at the same time.”Clark MontessoriHead coach: Crystal BeckerQ: Who are you expecting to be your top players this season, and what do they bring to your team?A: “This is our first year, and we have a lot of talent. I expect all of our players to be a key part of our success.”Gamble MontessoriHead coach: Terrill ByrdQ: Who are you expecting to be your top players this season, and what do they bring to your team?A: “I think the girls are all having fun and going with the flow, but Markayla Gray and Mackenzie Clark are both natural-born leaders and are showing great leadership on both sides of the field.”Q: What style will your team play this season? What do you expect will be its identity?A: “I like that the girls get into the defense of side of the ball, they all can attack and defend the end zone. I think the identity would be defense, but we are loving getting better on the offensive side of the ball.”Q: What are some key strengths and weaknesses you see in your team?A: “I believe that our defense is our strength. Our weakness would be offense. I think on defense we can get better at contesting the ball when it’s in the air. On offense, we can get better at running the plays efficiently.”HughesHead coach: Lorenzo EnglemanQ: Who are you expecting to be your top players this season, and what do they bring to your team?A: “I am expecting a lot from my juniors Abriyel Opoku, Jael Ratney, Amiyah Foster and Bailey Gross Brown. They are all dual-sport athletes who have competed on the high level in other sports.”Q: What style will your team play this season? What do you expect will be its identity?A: “I think we will be well suited running the ball this year. Our plan is to play fast and understand the game.”Q: What are some key strengths and weaknesses you see in your team?A: “Our key strength will be our speed, but one thing we have tried to continue to work on has been distributing the ball accurately through the air.”Mercy McAuleyHead coach: Nick SchrothQ: Who are you expecting to be your top players this season, and what do they bring to your team?A: “We graduated some key players from last year’s team, including our star quarterback Nour Shalash, and the Maxwell Football Club Girls National Flag Football Player of the Year Nominee & Regional Player of the Year Recipient, Sarah Enginger. Fortunately, for us, we have some capable replacements, including Sarah’s younger sister, Lauren Enginger.”Some specific players to watch, according to Schroth:Lauren Enginger ‒ She’s an athlete and a competitor.McKenna Rischmann ‒ She will give us her best every single play.Macy Lohbeck ‒ Key contributor to our success last season as a freshman.Shelby Binder ‒ She can play any position and all over the field on either side of the ball.Bianca Gonzalez ‒ Speed. “She can absolutely pick ‘em up and put ‘em down.”Q: What style will your team play this season? What do you expect will be its identity?A: “Like a Pack of Wolves, we will be flexible and fast, moving key players all over the field and giving them opportunities to make athletic plays.”Q: What are some key strengths and weaknesses you see in your team?A: “Strengths are depth and athleticism. We have seen tremendous interest in the sport and will be carrying 34 girls on our two teams. A lot of girls are coming to us from other sports and bring a tremendous amount of athleticism.As for weaknesses, We lost six key starters from last year’s team that reached the regional championship. Half of our girls are freshmen including 10 on the varsity roster. While there may be a learning curve because of this, we fully expect to be competing for a championship at the end of the season.”Mount Notre DameHead coach: Desmon GaultQ: Who are you expecting to be your top players this season, and what do they bring to your team?A: “… With a strong core of returning players and a talented group of newcomers, we are eager for the upcoming season and the chance to build on last year’s championship success. Our returning players bring invaluable experience and a championship mindset to this year’s squad. They include Maria Shade, Tess Braun, Evie Schoolfield, Hayden Elmlinger, Addy Vaughan, Caitlyn Wood, Grace Bodkin, Samantha Freese, Megan Sicking, and Peyton Farkas.Each of these players has already proven they can compete at the highest level, and their leadership will be key in helping us set the tone for the season. We’ve also added some exciting new talent, including Kaylee Watson, Elizabeth Herzner, and eight additional players who we expect to make a big impact.”Q: What style will your team play this season? What do you expect will be its identity?A: “Our style of play and identity is simple: WEOVERME.”WEOVERME is more than just a slogan ‒ it’s the foundation of how we play and grow together. It reminds us that teamwork, selflessness and faith are at the core of our success. We compete with the understanding that we are stronger as a unit, that we are called to lift each other up, and that God’s purpose is greater than individual achievement. Through discipline, encouragement, and trust, we strive to embody Christ’s example ‒ playing not just for ourselves, but for something greater than the game.”On the field, we focus on playing fast, disciplined, and intelligent football. We want to be relentless on defense, dynamic on offense, and prepared to adapt to any challenge.”Q: What are some key strengths and weaknesses you see in your team?A: “One of our biggest strengths is our experience and depth. We have a great mix of championship-tested veterans and new players who are eager to contribute. Our chemistry and discipline allow us to stay composed and execute in high-pressure situations.As for areas of growth, our biggest focus will be integrating our new players and continuing to refine our execution. With so much talent, making sure everyone gets comfortable in their roles will be key. The more we trust each other and commit to the process, the better we’ll be.”Notre Dame AcademyHead coach: Patrick StrickleyQ: Who are you expecting to be your top players this season, and what do they bring to your team?A: “This year, we have a good mix of returning players as well as some new blood. On the defensive side, we have several seniors ready to end their high school careers strong. Marisa Bloemer and Kylie Durik are ready to play up front, and Leah Young will be our main safety if picks are more your thing. We have some promising freshmen coming in, with Ashley Mendez Quino and Maria Hauber, along with several other very great players. “On the offensive side, we have a wealth of quarterback talent. Lydia Timmerding is returning from last year’s team, and Maya Tully is a soccer senior who is joining for the first time and can throw, catch and run with the best of them. Our future looks bright with freshman Noelle Earls learning the position for a time when we’ll be without Maya and Lydia. Our offense is mostly new elsewhere. Our center Reese McGonigal and RB/WR Emma Strotman are our other returning players. New players like senior Riley Herald and freshmen Ellie Fesmire and Stella McKinley are looking to keep us threatening on offense this season.”Q: What style will your team play this season? What do you expect will be its identity?A: “Our plan is to have a balanced offense, as we have several dynamic runners and several girls with great hands, as well as quarterbacks who can get the ball to them. Last year we focused a lot on the deep ball, and our running game was on the backburner. “Defensively, we play man-to-man as well as various zone looks. We try to play some situational football. With no field goal chances, we have a somewhat bend, but don’t break attitude. Admittedly we did break once at the Jamboree event at Paycor hosted by the Bengals with the help of the Cincinnati Cougars (women’s tackle football), but it was only once.”

Head coach: Anthony MussariHead coach: Anthony MussariHead coach: Anthony MussariHead coach: Anthony MussariHead coach: Anthony MussariHead coach: Anthony MussariQ: What are some key strengths and weaknesses you see in your team?Q: Who are you expecting to be your top players this season, and what do they bring to your team?

Other Cincinnati schools with flag football teams in 2025

A: “I would describe our style of play as fast and aggressive. We need to rely on our quickness and sure hands-on offense and our ability to close so we don’t get beat on defense.”