Flag Football Starts Fresh with Big Ambitions

Jada Lin ‘24 scored her first touchdown April 2 against John Jay. *Photo: Brendan McDermid*

By SOPHIA WONG

As the Flag Football Team’s season kicks off, physical education teacher Mr. Adam Arbuse has stepped up, eager to embrace the demanding role of being a coach.

His goal? To guide the team to the playoffs for the first time in five years and ignite a new era of success for the girls.

“I want to create a good team atmosphere,” said Mr. Arbuse.

Serena Li ‘25, a cornerback, said, “The goals of this year are obviously to win and get further than we have ever before, but more importantly, to have so, so, so much fun.”

Last season presented the girls with a series of daunting obstacles. After a promising start, when the team won their first two games against Tilden Educational Campus and Frank J. Macchiarola High School, their fortunes quickly changed. Their quarterback was injured during the season, and they ended with a final record of 3-6. But now, the girls are determined to regain the championship title that Midwood lost after the pandemic hit.

This season’s schedule is stacked with tough opponents, including James Madison, John Jay, and Fort Hamilton. The Battle of Bedford (against Madison) is taken seriously because they’re one of the highest-ranked teams in the division. This year, the matchup was Midwood’s season opener.

Yu Ting (Maddie) Pan ‘26, a wide receiver, said, “Madison is a tough team, but I believe that we’re going to win against them this year. Or if not, get close.”

Jada Lin ‘24, a triathlete and wide receiver, said, “It's exciting especially because it's my first year playing, but it's also nerve-wracking since I don’t know what I'm going against.”

On March 27, the Battle of Bedford began. James Madison was up 27-0 until the last minute, when quarterback Kiana Dayes ‘24 saved the team from a potential shutout. Kailin Gordon ‘26, a wide receiver, caught a pass from Dayes, scoring a touchdown to bring the final score to 27-6.

Gordon, a new player, said, “I was mad that we were losing and that we weren’t scoring, so I put my anger towards the game the right way and made the touchdown. The whole team was jumping with joy.”

Dayes said, “When the touchdown was scored, everyone on the team was ecstatic. We left the game morally stronger than we had entered it."

Next up, the girls faced John Jay on April 2 in the heavy rain. With the ball and flags slipping out of their hands, they ultimately lost a close one, 13-7.

Chairyn Cardenas ‘26, a center/linebacker, said, “We kept thinking we grabbed the flag but it kept slipping. The ball was wet but our team continued trying to push through, scoring a touchdown and keeping the energy alive. This time we were not able to win, but next time we will come back harder and stronger for any weather.”

However, for Lin, this game was special as she was able to sprint over 25 yards to score her first touchdown.

“I got the ball and just ran as fast as I could to the end zone,” Lin said. “I was able to outrun five of their players. When I reached the end zone, I was so excited. I looked over at my teammates on the sideline and celebrated with Jo (Captain Joanna Lin ‘25).”

The determination to continue striving comes from their team practices, where the girls form friendships and learn to trust each other, on and off the field.

“The new team is full of fresh players and plays, and I’m so excited to work with a completely new group of girls,” said Li.

“New coach, new team dynamic,” she added. “These changes will help our team build from where we left off last year and become better.”

Dayes said, “Our team’s chemistry is so amazing that we’re never truly down and out.”

The team got their first win of the year on April 17 with a 12-0 shutout against Franklin Roosevelt. With a victory under their belt, they hope to carry this momentum forward and establish a culture of success for the future.