Total Sports Development’s (TSD) high school girls flag football team fought to get back on track after going 1-3 since the team resumed action after Christmas break on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Last week, the girls defeated Olympia High School on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and the Bethel Bison on Friday, Jan. 24, to pick up some much needed momentum.
TSD high school girls flag football coach Daniel Caldwell said he’s been pleased to see the girls focused again after some hiccups during Christmas break. As the postseason continues to near, he believes the girls will find their stride at the right time.
“It always feels good to get a win. The girls have been battling since break to get back into the same rhythm,” Caldwell said, following the contest. “The opponents have also been different. We’ve faced some much more competitive teams, a lot more competition on the northern side of our league.”
In each of the two TSD matchups against Olympia, Caldwell said the contests were fun as a sense of familiarity was created between the two teams in the summertime when TSD hosted girls flag football camps.
“We know a lot of those girls on the Olympia team. There’s a lot of talented girls and a lot of really good athletes. We had them out at our summer camp during TSD flag last summer, and it’s always fun to compete against those girls that you do know. It makes for a fun contest for sure,” Caldwell said. “Like anything, we’ve had some injuries along the way. We’re pretty shallow when it comes to the depth anyways, and so that’s been something we’ve dealt with as girls got dinged up mid-season. They’re starting to get healthy now, and bumps and bruises are healing up. We’re hitting our stride when we need to.”
Caldwell, along with coaches Jason Ronquillo and Brandon Thompson, were happy to see the team’s defense give yet another stellar performance. In TSD’s two varsity games against the Olympia Bears, its defense allowed an average of just four points as TSD defeated its SPSL opponent 30-0 the last time they met.
“Hats off to all of the team’s we’ve played. Our girls are bouncing back, and they're getting back in rhythm at the right time,” Caldwell said. “We’re looking to peak at the end of this season, not halfway through. I like where we’re at, and I think our girls are heading in the right direction.”
As the season continues, Caldwell and the TSD high school girls flag football staff are thrilled to see the progress the girls have made. Caldwell said the team displayed grit in finishing the contest against Olympia. Despite leading just 7-0 at halftime, the team never let the contest get within reach.
“Girls are learning as we go. Their football IQ goes up every week. They start to learn the ‘why’ of what we’re doing as opposed to just the X’s and O’s and executing the plays,” Caldwell said. “They’re got a feel for the game and a feel for the field. The more we play, the better these girls get.”
TSD traveled to play Emerald Ridge Tuesday, Jan. 28, but results were not available before press time. The team will conclude its season playing Spanaway Lake on Friday, Jan. 31.