The six new teams participated in a pilot Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division which competed every Sunday with the host school changing each week. At the end of the season it was Fredonia defeating Jamestown 14-12 at Strider Field to claim the league title.

“Last season, I thought for the first time to play the sport and learn the sport it was a very exciting and awesome experience for everybody,” Fredonia head coach Nick Bertrando stated. “For these ladies and young women to come in and learn a new sport from scratch, for them to pick up the nuances and skills necessary to be successful was awesome.”

Girls flag football has continued to grow across the state and at the beginning of June the first state championship will be held at Cortland High School with a champion being crowned in Division 1 and in Division 2.

“Just in Western New York and New York State it’s the third year in general,” Bertrando said about the growth of the sport. “In the first year they had around 10 teams with the big time BED population, then last year we had six compete in our league and in the state the road ended at regionals. This year as the sport continues to emerge it has allowed for a state tournament with a Division 1 and Division 2 format. Across the state you’re going to see more schools come about and I could see in the next couple of years it goes to the classification model like other sports.”

Janelle Burchanowski, left, and the Clymer/Sherman/Panama girls flag football team are one of the smaller programs not fielding a team this season. P-J file photo

However, while the sport continues to make strides, several of the teams that competed in the CCAA Division last year are not fielding a squad this season. As it worked out, the smaller schools that competed last year have not returned with the elimination of Clymer/Sherman/Panama, Chautauqua Lake and Cassadaga Valley.

“I think the decision on our school’s part is a numbers standpoint,” stated Ty Harper who coached Clymer/Sherman/Panama last season. “We have a lot of talented athletes who play many sports, sharing with softball and track we ended up where we were only practicing one day a week. It put us at a competitive disadvantage with the decision the girls would have had to choose a sport.”

Last year’s schedule was convenient for CCAA Division teams with athletes participating in multiple sports, but with the more involved schedule in Section VI’s three leagues the flag football programs at Clymer/Sherman/Panama, Chautauqua Lake and Cassadaga Valley did not survive. With the demands necessary to have a competitive team it was not feasible for teams to have players practice and play multiple games throughout the week for two sports.

“I think the talent is definitely there,” Harper added about flag football at Clymer/Sherman/Panama. “I thought our team was as talented, just the problem was competitively when you’re only practicing one day a week it’s difficult to compete. Had they only been playing flag football we would have been a lot better. Ultimately they’re going to do what’s best for our district and I don’t want to disadvantage the other sports programs.”

Only schools normally in Class B or higher have fielded a flag football team with the exception of Holland which does not have a softball program. The smallest local school competing this year is Southwestern with a BEDS number of 317 compared to Holland’s 195, while Cassadaga Valley is 182, Chautauqua Lake at 176 and Clymer/Sherman/Panama combines for 296.

While Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s numbers appear to be able to field a flag football it would have to share athletes with two softball teams unlike Chautauqua Lake and Cassadaga Valley.

It goes further than just the numbers with the commitment being much greater in this year’s Section VI flag football format. The 30 schools competing are split into three divisions with Division 1 being composed of the 10 schools like Jamestown that have a BEDS number greater than 788, then Division 2 North consists of 11 teams with a BEDS number below 787 and Division 2 South rounds out the last nine teams with numbers below 787.

With the increase in opponents the number of games went up from last year with the occasional week that has three contests scheduled. The more intense schedule means more preparation is needed for opponents, especially since the CCAA teams will now have to go out of their way to scout the other teams.

“This year it’s more of a challenge since the turnaround is a little over 24 hours,” Bertrando said about the schedule. “That’s where coach Kachelmeyer and I have stressed the fundamentals and game prep the day before our next game. It’s a full commitment, they’re dedicated active learners on and off the field with film study, being able to look at film and break it down. It’s a challenge when you have only one day to prepare for a team, it comes back to resting on those fundamentals.”

In Division 2 South, the remaining local teams will compete against each other as it includes Dunkirk, Fredonia and Southwestern. Fredonia has already played its first league game of the season when it traveled to Pioneer for a 26-0 loss, but a game it has circled on the schedule will be this Tuesday against rival Dunkirk at the Orange Bowl in Fredonia.

“We’re excited to have our first home game ever,” Bertrando said about Tuesday’s game. “I’m most excited for these girls being pioneers in the sport. Very rarely do you get to be the first to do anything and for them to be the first girls to play at the Orange Bowl is awesome. It’s two very proud communities and these girls get to be a part of it now.”

The Dunkirk-Fredonia game at the Orange Bowl was originally scheduled for last Friday, but it was rescheduled for Tuesday due to poor weather. The Marauders will also be seeking their first having lost 46-12 to Hamburg on Wednesday.

Jamestown also fell victim to poor weather this past week with its trip to Niagara Wheatfield on Thursday postponed. The 0-1 Red & Green are back in action today at 6:30 p.m. against Sweet Home at Strider Field, while Southwestern doesn’t play its first game until Friday when it hosts Lackawanna at 5 p.m.

While the schools with the student population capable of keeping girls flag football going continue on with the young season, the smaller schools will miss out this year at least, but the rigorous schedule will likely always prove a barrier with already established sports such as softball and track and field.