This past year, Brewster High School was thrilled to have the opportunity to add Unified Flag Football to their list of qualifying sports. While there’s already Unified Basketball and Bowling teams, the Unified Flag Football team gives students a chance to collaborate with others in a new way. Coaches Donna Schneider and Rob Daly were able to give their insights for a great season. Practices began on Thursday September 4th and carried all the way to Monday October 6th. Then, games against other schools could begin.
Before games started though, these athletes had an amazing opportunity to take part in an unforgettable experience which would lead to a great momentum for them to carry over the course of their season.
On September 30th, the flag football team, along with fans and parents, got a chance to visit MetLife Stadium. All the Unified flag football teams from across the state of New York were invited to take part in this experience, as well. The team left Brewster High School around 10 a.m. and arrived at 12 p.m. Upon arrival, the team walked into the stadium and got to experience sitting in the Giants team lounge. They were amazed. They were given lunches such as various sandwiches, chips of all kinds, and water. There was something there for everyone to enjoy, all courtesy of the New York Giants.
After lunch the team got to walk through the hallways to the team locker room where the athletes got to meet Eli Manning, Elijah Garcia, and Jordan Humphrey, who were waiting for them. Everyone was in complete shock thanks to this great surprise. It was a truly exciting moment for everyone, and not just for the athletes! After getting to take some pictures with all the stars, the teams, coaches, and Giants players got a chance to walk through the tunnel together. Our athletes got to experience how to enter the stadium as if they were going into an actual game on the field. The crowds of parents were roaring as the athletes stepped onto the turf.
Following this magical moment, players got to take part in different activities to help improve their abilities. The first one of these activities was having a catch with NFL star Eli Manning, one of the best quarterbacks in Giants’ history. The players would run into the end zone, catch the ball from Eli, then do a dance! The Bears kept up well with the former NFL star, and they caught every ball! The groups had tons of fun getting to catch the throw from Eli, and making up their own dance moves to practice for when they make their own touchdowns in the future. The next activity included pulling flags and working on defensive plays to sharpen abilities. Elijah Garcia gave his insight and help, giving the point of view from a professional standpoint which could give the students a new perspective. The third and final activity had the players working on catching and technique with one of the best girls flag football players in the country, Allison Gandlin.
By getting to work with some of the best players, the students got to visualize how they can adjust their playing abilities to be their best, and what they want their season to look like. Regarding some of the students’ experiences, athlete Matthew Donofrio said, “It was great. I got a touchdown there, because I caught a throw from Eli Manning.” Longtime Giants fan, Justin P said: “I loved it. It was super cool to get to run out onto the field and see the locker room.” To say the least, this once in a lifetime experience was something that each Brewster student will cherish for the rest of their lives.
The Unified Flag Football team went on to take this momentum into their regular season going one for three. The season was filled with fun, action, and plenty of highlights to go around! The team’s hard work and enthusiasm made it a successful and memorable season for all players on and off the field. The players are excited to go back to MetLife next year and see what else they can accomplish next season!
