The Sto-Rox Girls Flag Football team closed second, successful season in May, under the direction of head coach Lauren Ferragonio. The team finished 5-5, third in its division, landing in the playoffs for the second straight year. While Sto-Rox lost in the first round to eventual runner-up North Allegheny, there was much to celebrate both on and off the field.
The PIAA Board of Directors recently approved - by unanimous vote - a first reading that would make girls flag football a PIAA-sanctioned sport, the same as football, basketball, and a host of other athletic endeavors.
RELATED: Girls Flag Football Returns For Second Year
For Ferragonio and her team, the good times have kept on going even after the season ended. On May 21, Sto-Rox and all of the girls flag football teams in the area were invited to Acrisure Stadium for the “Resilience Bowl, a celebrity flag football game,organized by Troy and Theodora Polamalu to benefit the Neighborhood Resilience Project.
“The girls enjoyed themselves, and it was a ton of fun seeing old Steeler greats on the field, in addition to other Pittsburgh stars,” said Ferragonio in a message to district staff.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in integral part of getting high school girls flag football off the ground in Western Pennsylvania, providing funding, organization and promotion to Sto-Rox and other local teams.
“June 1st, the Steelers are hosting a skills camp for flag football that will have a ton of college scouts here,” said Ferragonio. “A few of our girls are attending, and I am very excited for them considering this can be a vehicle to furthering their education!
LINK: Sto-Rox Girls Flag Football Webpage
Ferragonio would like to thank everyone who supported her team, especially Football Head Coach Brendan Blair for bringing his boys to see the girls play.
“The kids would get super excited every time they saw a teacher, staff member, principal, etc. in the stands,” said Ferragonio, who is a security guard and teaching presence in the Jr./Sr. High School along with her “other job” as a member of the Pittsburgh Passion Womens Football team.
She also shouted out Jr./Sr. High School teacher Meghan Muye “and company” for coming to every game and making signs.
“The kids appreciated it more than you know,” said Ferragonio.