A New Chapter for Ohio High School Sports
The inaugural Ohio High School Athletic Association Girls Flag Football state championship is set for Saturday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, bringing together eight teams for the first ever title contest.
Among the competitors is Midview High School, which fielded its first girls flag football squad earlier this year after the OHSAA officially sanctioned the sport in July 2025.
For junior Hunter Crum, the season represents the culmination of a lifelong relationship with the game, finally allowing her to take the field in a competitive setting.
Senior Leah DiFranco sees the tournament as a chance to extend her high school athletic career, while junior Jill Hubbard, who entered the season unsure how to throw a football, has already made strides under the guidance of Head Coach Seamus Higley.
Coach Higley acknowledges that his team is new to the sport but believes the squad possesses the chemistry and determination to compete for the championship.
Both Crum and DiFranco agree that flag football is opening doors for current players and future generations of female athletes across Ohio, signaling a broader shift in high school sports participation.