EMILY COFFEY: History was made as Sayville and Bishop Kearney High School warmed up for the inaugural New York State Flag Football Championship Game.
As the teams lined up for the national anthem one thing was clear Bishop Kearney was out numbered.
With just 13 players to Sayville’s 47 one might’ve assume they knew the outcome even before the game began.
There is only one way to describe Bishop Kearney and that is small but mighty. Out numbered but not out matched. This was true iron woman football.
Coach of the year Stephanie Strassner says this journey began two and a half months ago with a team where most had never played flag football.
She had one message for her players.
STEPHANIE STRASSNER: I told the girls I said, “We’re here for the same reason they are, because we earned this, and it’s not necessarily about the quantity that we have but we’ve got quality players and they are just relentless in their ability to not give up.”
COFFEY: And the girls did just that, making history as the first ever Division II New York state champions.
It’s safe to say quarterback and safety Greta Brezenski was happy.
GRETA BREZENSKI: Absolutely ecstatic! This is everything to me! I’ve been waiting three years for this. I was there when it started at Highmark Stadium with the Bills and now I’m a state champion first time ever! It’s the best!
COFFEY: To coach Strassner this is just the beginning.
STRASSNER: Being a part of a sport that is providing so many opportunities for young female athletes, and it’s growing and it’s evolving and it’s really exciting to be a part of. So I hope that it just continues to let this sport grow.
COFFEY: And Brezenski would have to agree.
BREZENSKI: I’m so excited for it to be in the Olympics, 2028 in LA on home soil in the US. So I’m really excited for that I think its gonna sky rocket from there.
COFFEY: It just might be true what they say, everyone watches women’s sports. Reporting from the New York State Championships I’m Emily Coffey for NCC Sports.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — History was made as No. 11 Sayville faced off again No. 5 Bishop Kearney in the inaugural New York State Flag Football Division II Championship Game.
One thing was clear in this matchup, Bishop Kearney was outnumbered. With just 13 players to Sayville’s 47 one might’ve assumed they knew the outcome even before the game began.
Bishop Kearney proved to be small but mighty winning the first Division II New York State Championship Game 39-20.
Coach of the year Stephanie Strassner is proud of how far her team has come.
“This journey began just over two months ago with a team where most had never played flag football,” said Strassner.
Bishop Kearney might have been outnumbered but Strassner wanted to make one thing clear to her team.
“I told the girls I said, ‘We’re here for the same reason they are because we earned this, and it’s not necessarily about the quantity that we have but we’ve got quality players and they are just relentless in their ability to not give up,'” said Strassner.
The girls heard that message loud and clear, making history as the first ever Division II New York state champions. It’s safe to say quarterback and safety Greta Brezenski was happy.
“Absolutely ecstatic! This is everything to me! I’ve been waiting three years for this. I was there when it started at Highmark Stadium with the Bills and now, I’m a state champion first time ever! It’s the best,” said Brezenski.
For Strassner, she hopes this is only the beginning.
“Being a part of a sport that is providing so many opportunities for young female athletes, and it’s growing and evolving and it’s really exciting to be a part of. So, I hope that it just continues to let this sport grow,” said Strassner.
Brezenski agrees with her coach’s sentiment.
“I’m so excited for it to be in the Olympics, 2028 in LA on home soil in the U.S. So, I’m really excited for that I think it’s gonna skyrocket from there,” said Brezenski.
It just might be true what they say, everyone watches women’s sports.
