Last season, two Imhotep players made the Philadelphia Eagles Big 33 Flag Football Team, as well as the Mini Max Award. This year, Crystra Jenkins received a nod for both honors.<\/p>\n
Mack, who wanted to be a head coach before there was a team to actually coach, is proud of those achievements and of the growing intrigue in flag football at the school.<\/p>\n
“What makes me most proud is that I see more and more girls interested in the sport,” Mack said. “It surprises me, from year to year, the interest level of the girls who want to come out and just try. This is a sport that over the years was a male-dominated sport, and now we see a lot of talent that rise from, I guess, the ashes or the product of hard work and dedication.<\/p>\n
“And what I enjoy most about coaching is the fact that I’m helping more and more girls get to the next level, now that there are opportunities for them to go to college and play the sport. That’s kind of like what Miss Jones did for us, ensure that we not only graduated and got a high school diploma, but make sure that we can prepare ourselves for the next level with sports and scholarships and service.”<\/p>\n
While Mack sees an increase in girls strapping on the flags and taking the field, what does she hope they’ll take away from being on the team, not only now, but later?<\/p>\n
“I hope that they take away the fact that they learned a lot in regard to leadership, because a lot of the kids that I received, they weren’t on the basketball team, or they weren’t on any other sport. This is their first sport, and they really came out and gave it their all and see that they can accomplish anything if they practice at it,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I saw a lot of girls who were afraid to just try. And when they did go out there, the talent just bloomed. Not only on my team, but just seeing other teams and other girls around the league, how they are shining, as well.<\/p>\n
“My heart is warm for that because here’s yet another opportunity for them to showcase their talent without it being the typical basketball team, volleyball team. There’s something that’s really on the rise with flag football.”<\/p>\n