Blazing trails under bright football lights

South Lakes girls launch Fairfax County’s first flag football team

by Matt Reider, Staff Writer

South Lakes' flag football team includes (L to R) Lila Jaster, Emily Brown, Isla Eckhardt, Grace Gibbens, Nyla Heard. Photo by Matt Reider

On a crisp fall evening in early October, a group of trailblazers were getting their reps in at the South Lakes High School stadium under the big lights. About 30 girls sprinted and cut across the gridiron, each with yellow or light green flags at their sides. Girls’ flag football is a brand-new club sport in Fairfax County, sponsored by the Washington Commanders NFL team. This year, the Commanders have backed teams in Virginia’s Richmond, Henrico, and Fairfax counties, as well as Prince George’s County in Maryland.

In late summer, Spenser Alston was named head coach of the South Lakes team, just a few weeks before the first interest meeting and tryouts. Alston, founder and CEO of Neuroform DMV, a company that helps athletes optimize mental, cognitive, and physical performance, jumped at the opportunity. “It fits perfectly with what I love—helping athletes reach their potential,” he said.

Photo by Isadora Guerreiro

Because girls’ flag football is a winter sport, Alston had to move quickly. The first meeting on Aug. 23 drew strong interest, followed by a Commanders-hosted coaches’ clinic on Sept. 27. Tryouts and practices began almost immediately after.

Despite being new, the team quickly found its leaders. Senior Lila Jaster spent three years as a kicker for the boys’ football team and joined as soon as she heard about the program from South Lakes Activities Director Andrew Duggan. She’s joined by senior Emily Brown, who also played tackle football, and junior Isla Eckhardt, who had played girls’ flag football through middle school and kept checking athletic websites until the new team appeared. Senior Grace Gibbens, a soccer player recruited by Lila, is new to the sport, while senior Nyla Heard brings experience from both youth flag football in Vienna and elite rugby.

Duggan is thrilled to see the new program take shape. He hopes girls’ flag football will attract students who haven’t participated in traditional sports, expanding opportunities for more South Lakes athletes. “It’s exciting to watch something new take root,” he said.

Girls’ flag football’s momentum extends far beyond Reston. The sport has grown rapidly from Florida and Texas into schools nationwide. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), more than half a million girls participated across the country in 2023. By 2026, over 35 club teams will compete in NCAA Division I women’s flag football, and the sport is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Photo by Isadora Guerreiro

For the Seahawks who began practice in late September, the season is about more than competition; it’s about camaraderie, confidence, and paving the way for others. They’re building a new tradition at South Lakes, one sprint, pass, and touchdown at a time, and they hope the community will come out and cheer them on.