Chugiak girls’ flag football dynasty comes to an end
Photo Credit: W. Rabung
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November 9, 2009 • Wesley Rabung, Guest Contributor
Filed under 2009-2010
For the first time in the history of the Anchorage School District, the girls flag football team from Chugiak High School was not in the championship game thanks to a 22-0 beat down from the Bartlett Golden Bears.
“I’m disappointed in the way we played,” said Mustang coach, Jon Schroeder, “We are better than how we played.”
Disappointing was a good word to use for how the Mustangs preformed; they looked surprised by every action the Bears made.
“It sucked. I felt like I let my team down,” said Kendra Bulawa, the team’s quarterback.
This is not the first time the Golden Bears and the Mustangs have met in a big game. Just three years ago–in the first championship game–it was both these teams. The Golden Bears won the title.
“Bartlett is a great program. We [both Chugiak and Bartlett] have always been there,” said Chugiak coach, Tom Huffer Sr.
Coach Huffer, one could say, was one of the originators of the sport. While serving on the Board of Directors, the district had hired him to try and balance out the ratio of girl and boy sports in the Anchorage School District.
“Alaska Football and Coach Tom Huffer Sr. go hand in hand,” said Schroeder, “He started the flag football game.”
The sport of flag football may be a silly concept to the outside world looking in but it has provided some well needed balance in sports in the state of Alaska.
“I thought it would be good for the girls to see what the boys are always talking about,” said Huffer Sr.
But it is more than just a game that they are being taught, “Like any sport you make a commitment to a team. That teaches you about life,” said Schroeder, “Sports are so much more than a game.”
You can definitely see the effect of the game on the girls, as it transitions to successes in other sports; the girls Varsity Basketball team won the 2008-2009 state championship.
Tasha Schwenne, one of two members that has played all four years that the flag football program has been around, was simply grateful for the chance to play.
It was truly upsetting in the way the Mustangs went out after having won two straight conference championships, but don’t count them out for long.
“[It’s been a] Great experience. I like doing this and I plan on doing it for a while,” exclaimed Coach Huffer, “We’ll be back!”
