Girls football took its growth to the Highland Park High School gymnasium in Feburary.

The Park District of Highland Park joined forces with the schools’ football programs (girls and boys) to host a free flag football clinic on Monday, Feb. 17. This is the second year the park district has offered the program, and Athletic Supervisor Troy Hoffman said it is meant to build interest in the sport and get young players “early exposure to the high school program.”

Several Giants students-athletes helped lead drills and scrimmages for approximately 40 local girls.

Starting this past fall, high school girls flag football competed under the IHSA umbrella. Highland Park was one of the 200 or so teams across the state that played in the inaugural season.

Senior Lucy Compher joined the HPHS team as a first-time football player and said it was meaningful for her and her teammates to show up Monday.

“I feel like it’s so important for the younger generation of girls,” she said. “… It’s important for us to represent we are in the program and it’s an opportunity for them now.”

Junior and fellow Giants football player Emery Duenow also wanted to support the youth players in the community, as well as the growth of the game.

Another Giant, Lydia Rowe, said the sport really began to feel like a community this year, and event’s like Monday’s build on that and “empower” younger players to “participate in something new.”

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