Yorktown Flag Football’s remarkable inaugural season came to an end on May 15, when the Huskers fell to New Rochelle in the Section 1 Semifinals.
“Our game against New Rochelle did not go the way we anticipated. Circumstantially, the game got the best of us on the scoreboard after a couple of unlucky breaks. We were down early by 3 scores and came all the way back to lose by 2 pts,” said Coach Rescigno (House).
This was the Huskers’ first loss of the season. Highlighted by their undefeated regular season and League Champs title, the pioneering flag football team had a lot to be proud of, even in their sectional loss.
“Our last game was symbolic of the no quit and forget about me attitude that has become our backbone,” said House.
For the seniors, their first and last flag football season was one they will never forget.
“ Being a senior on the first year of the flag football team really brings into perspective how much I wished that I got to spend much more time with the sport. It taught me so much, yet I wasn’t able to play for very long because it was the only year I was able to play,” said senior Kaitlin Meola.
“Our season this year has been nothing short of memorable. Establishing a flag football team for Yorktown High School was one of the best things I’ve been a part of in my years here,” said senior captain and quarterback Kaitlyn Judge.
For her outstanding contributions to the team, Judge became the first flag football player ever to be named the ConEd Scholar-Athlete of the Week. She was also named All-League, All-Section, and Offensive Player of the Year, with 2,276 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns.
“The conEd award, along with All-Section and All-League, is a significant highlight of my high school career, symbolizing my dedication and success in sports and academics. It has been incredibly rewarding to see my efforts recognized by both my coaches and teammates,” said Judge.
Even so, Judge looks beyond these individual achievements, crediting the rest of the team for her success.
“I couldn’t have done it without the help of my incredible teammates and coaches,” said Judge.
Judge is a natural leader who doesn’t see leadership as a chore.
“I truly love supporting my team and helping others succeed. I always offer a helping hand during practice and encourage everyone to perform their best. We were all dedicated to the collective success of our team and by working together, we all won,” said Judge.
Ciara O’Brien, another senior captain on the team (who House attests is “one of the most natural leaders [he has] coached”) also reflects this selfless attitude.
“It was never really about winning…it was about being able to see this FAMILY every day,” said O’Brien.
This idea of “family” is what the coaching staff aimed to instill in the team and is one of their greatest accomplishments of the season.
“More impressive than a 14-game undefeated run was the characteristic of selflessness. It was this characteristic that came through even in our final loss. What a feeling to know that the girls received the most important lesson to be learned,” said House.
“This season was special beyond words. Record-wise and advancement in the playoffs was an incredible accomplishment, but more than that was the bond this team established. Every player had a role, and every player was part of our family. The coaching staff preaches ‘family,’ and these girls took it to heart,” echoed Coach Cerar.
House believes the team’s incredible 14-1-2 record was a product of their family-first mentality.
“When the season began, we had very high hopes and expectations set. Our goals were lofty, and every single player on our team believed in them. As weeks went on, our team became closer and closer… A true family. Every person cared about each other in a way that you don’t always get in sports. This carried our season right up to the section semifinal,” said House.
Because of the success of this team-first mentality, House asserts that “this has been one of the better coaching experiences of my career.”
Judge credits her coaches for the team’s success, as they gave the initially inexperienced flag football players the skills necessary to excel.
“Coach Rescigno, Coach Cerar, and Coach Nardone had the difficult task of teaching all 22 of us a brand new sport. With some setbacks, we were able to pick up the sport with ease and excelled,” said Judge.
House is proud of the team for taking on the challenge of learning a new sport.
“The challenge was very real and to be honest the odds were stacked against us having only weeks to get ready. These girls took hard work and commitment to another level,” said House.
Both the players and coaches alike feel that this inaugural season was deeply rewarding, not just with their record and post-season awards, but with the life lessons and relationships gained.
“The biggest takeaway from this experience has come from the relationships and memories built through the sport. Being part of a team has taught me invaluable life lessons about leadership, cooperation, and resilience. It was incredible to see how our hard work translated into achievements on the field,” said Judge.
“[It was] [t]ruly an amazing experience, one that has made me better as an individual,” affirmed Coach Cerar.
“It is hard to describe to people how special this sport is. It’s also equally hard to describe the fulfillment this sport gave me as a coach. The relationships forged during this season are a far greater reward for this first harvest than even our 14 wins. As a coach of 24 years this may have been one of the most gratifying to be a part of for a simple reason,” attested House.
With an amazing season setting the groundwork for a strong program, the future is bright for Yorktown Flag Football.
“I hope to see in the future many more girls playing the sport and having the best time ever playing such a fun and exciting sport. I fully believe that flag football will grow in popularity and that the future of the program is in good hands,” said Meola.
