Brooke Patterson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover St. John Paul II Catholic High School for AZPreps365.com

When Lauren Gwazdauskas first attended summer flag football workouts at St. John Paul II Catholic High School, she was not looking for a new sport. She was looking to make friends.

After transferring from a public school, Gwazdauskas was entering an environment where many classmates already knew one another. Her mother encouraged her to attend summer workouts to meet people before the school year began.

“I went to the summer workouts, did a couple of tournaments with the team and really liked it,” Gwazdauskas said. “So I stuck with it for the last three years.”

Now a junior and team captain, Gwazdauskas has found close friendships through flag football. She has also become part of a growing program at JP2, where girls are discovering new opportunities in the sport.

For junior Jaylynn German, joining the team this season meant trying something new after seven years of playing volleyball. She was drawn to flag football because of the opportunity to be part of something bigger.

“I think a part of me wanted to play flag football, and then a part of me wanted to be part of something bigger,” German said.

When the Arizona Interscholastic Association first sanctioned girls flag football in 2023, JP2 was among the few 3A schools to establish a program. As a result, the Lions spent their first season competing against 5A and 6A schools with larger student bodies.

JP2 flag football began with only 12 players. Participation doubled to 24 the following year before reaching 34 last season. This year, 25 girls are on the roster.

Despite fluctuations in participation, JP2 coach Danny Segoviano remains focused on the program’s future.

“I’m trying to build this team for the long haul, not just for one year,” Segoviano said.

As one of the program’s returning players, Gwazdauskas has watched girls from different athletic backgrounds discover flag football.

“We have a couple of former volleyball players and cross-country runners,” Gwazdauskas said. “We’re having a lot of fun out here and I think people are starting to see it.”

The program’s development has also translated into success on the field.

JP2 finished 12-3 last year and reached the state quarterfinals. The Lions entered the playoffs ranked fourth.

The departure of eight seniors created challenges heading into this season.

With just one senior currently on the roster, Segoviano is focused on developing his younger athletes and preparing them for future seasons.

He has enjoyed watching players gain confidence on the field. Some had never played an organized sport, while others knew little to nothing about football before joining.

“I’m more about the development of the players,” Segoviano said. “Seeing them grow from when they first start until they leave.”

Segoviano also emphasized the importance of supporting one another, a value he has encouraged since the program began. He wants his players to know they can rely on their teammates beyond practices and games.

“When you play football, there’s a brotherhood,” Segoviano said. “And so we kind of built that with them, a sisterhood.”

German has experienced that sisterhood firsthand.

She described teammates who look out for one another through injuries, struggles at school and difficult moments during games.

“The community has been so loving,” German said. “We’re all there for one another.”

Gwazdauskas and German joined flag football at different points in high school and for different reasons, but both have found a love for the sport and a sisterhood they can lean on.

For Segoviano, the bonds his players have built are something he wants them to carry beyond the field.

“I always tell them, on and off the field, be there for each other,” Segoviano said.