It began with a bold idea: that girls in Linden deserved a place on the gridiron too.
What followed was a season of firsts, a surge of pride, and a team that refused to be defined by expectations.
On June 17, the ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ค๐๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ช๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฉโ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฉ-๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ก๐จ ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐๐ขโa squad that didnโt just compete but etched its name into school history. In a matter of weeks, they turned opportunity into action, games into momentum, and teammates into trailblazers.
โTonight, we make history,โ said Athletic Director Michael Firestone, as he welcomed players and coaches to the front of the room. โThis team did far more than play a sport โ they blazed a trail.โ
๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ
Each player and coach received an official certificate of appreciation, honoring their courage, commitment, and contributions to launching one of the districtโs most exciting new programs. Standing proudly with their team were Head Coach Al Chiola and assistant coaches Anthony Reynoso and Joe Russo, who guided the group through every snap of this historic journey.
โThese young women showed up with courage and competed with heart,โ Firestone said. โIn just one season, they built something that will last for years to come: a legacy of opportunity, empowerment, and pride.โ
Firestone praised the team for their resilience, noting, โStarting a new program is never easy. There were challenges, moments of doubt, and steep learning curves. But this team โ our team โ met every obstacle with unity and purpose.โ
๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐
In their debut season, the Tigers started 0โ3, but refused to be defined by early setbacks. Instead, they bounced back with five wins in their final six games, finishing with a 5โ4 record and making it clear: Linden girls flag football had arrived.
โYou wore the Linden colors with pride, inspired your classmates, and made our entire community proud,โ Firestone told the players. โYouโve opened doors for future generations of girls who now know that football is for them, too.โ