This year, the Paradise Valley School District (PVSchools) introduced a new sport for girls to partake in: flag football. Pinnacle High School (PHS) took advantage and started a girls’ flag football team, with Special Education teacher and assistant coach for the PHS varsity football and girls’ basketball teams Sergio Gilliam launching the team. Gilliam hosted tryouts and created a team of seventeen girls who soon entered their inaugural season filled with a combination of excitement and nerves for having practiced so little in such a short period of time.
“I thought we were underprepared and I had a lot of doubt,” Freshman Wide Reciever/Rusher Taylor Morris said. “But it turns out we were the best team in the league.”
The PHS girls’ flag football team ended up dominating other neighboring schools in the district, having only lost one out of 12 games in their regular season. They even beat rival school Horizon in a closeout, 44-0. Surprised by their record, Gilliam and his team started the season without expectations. Everything ended up more successful than imagined when the team made it to the 2024 AIA Girls Flag Football Championship. PHS played a tough game against Paradise Valley High School (PVHS) but, unfortunately, lost with a final score of 0-3.
“It was sad losing 0-3, but I had a lot of fun with my teammates and fun during the games,“ sophomore Hannah Galon, quarterback, said.
Alongside their extraordinary record, Gilliam won Coach of the Year, by PVSchools. Gilliam showed appreciation for the award and his team.
“I have a fun, loving, respectful group of young ladies who grasped the knowledge of the game quickly and have showcased what they learned,” Gilliam said.
Overall, the Pinnacle girl’s flag football team scored an amazing first season filled with passion for learning more about the game and love for one another. Next year promises exciting things for this remarkable team.
