By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– Holland Lineburger has seen the development of the Sprague Girls Flag Football program first hand.
As a sophomore, she joined the first year program and saw the team score maybe 14 points in four games that inaugural season. Then last year, the Olympians took that next step, winning ten games in the process.
“I don’t even know how to describe it, it’s so incredible. The girls and the bond that we’ve created, most of us has been here since Day 1. It’s really cool and I’m excited to see where we get to go this year and how many points we scored compared to those first four,” laughs Lineburger. “I think we have a good team so far.”
Lineburger is one of a handful of returners from that ten win squad as they slowly march to their first game of the season next week. And they’re looking to that experience to help lead them to a possible playoff berth later this season.
“We only graduated four starters from last year. We have a lot of returners coming back. Our quarterback, second year under her belt. She was a starting freshman and led the team to ten wins. Defensively, we’re stout. I’m pretty excited to see them compete. I want them to compete and have fun and the more it’ll trickle down to the younger kids,” said Sprague Head Coach Efrain Guzman.
And with the development of the program, came the turnout. Roughly 40 athlete’s are out and 22 of them are freshmen. Speaking to not only for the depth they’ll have, but for now, but hopefully the later development of the program for years to come.
And for those who are returners, like a Lineburger, it gives them more of an opportunity to lead and leave a lasting mark on the program as they’ll kick off the season March 17 with a jamboree against North Salem and McKay.
“I’m really excited to give them the opportunity to have this be their team since it’s been ours for three years now. It’s really exciting to hand over the torch and teach them the new skills and teach them the new sport that’s becoming big,” said Lineburger.
“I love it because these freshmen girls and all of these girls really. Everyone here on the team is coming from all walks of life. And having a sport like football and flag football for the girls and how much it’s exploding throughout the nation. It’s phenomenal to give them somewhere to represent their athletic ability and play at a high level,” adds Guzman.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
