(KNSI) – Members of the Sartell Sabres girls’ flag football squad shared the field recently with some of the Minnesota Vikings’ best players to promote a new league.
While not yet officially part of the MSHSL, 51 schools in Minnesota will field a team after a trial run was held last year. The Purple and Gold are backing the effort, contributing $600,000. Girls’ flag football is undergoing a boom in Minnesota. The Vikings first tested it with middle schoolers in 2022. Last year was the first to involve the high school level.
As impressive as Minnesota’s numbers are, it’s behind 14 states that already sanction school leagues. Flag football for men and women will be an Olympic sport for the first time when Los Angeles hosts the Games in 2028.
Sartell’s players toured the Vikings training facility and met CJ Ham and Harrison Philips. Sartell is one of two teams in central Minnesota. St. Cloud Tech will also play on the gridiron later this spring.
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