Saturday, June 14, 2025
Oceanside’s newest athletic program is one that has soared throughout Long Island since 2023: girls’ flag football, and it’s probably one of the most unique facets of the school.
“It’s our first year as a program so we’re trying to establish strong fundamental skills and understanding of the game, both rules and strategy,” said head coach Luke Gagstetter.
From new to the sport to varsity athletes from other sports, flag football welcomes all.
“We have around 20 girls and we have a pretty wide range of experience in terms of just athletics,” Gagstetter said. “We’re trying to get our athletes in position to make plays on our field and we’re also trying to help girls that area interested in playing a sport they never have played before, really start to gain an understanding and develop their skills so that when they stick around for the next couple of years, they’re become some feature athletes within the school building.”
It's not too different than regular football; other than different names for similar positions, the only main differences are 7 on 7 and no tackle or contact, tells Amanda Vitelli. Iona-bound this upcoming fall, Vitelli is a senior wide receiver and the reason Oceanside has a flag football team in the first place.
Vitelli played on a co-ed team outside of school, but in reality she was the only girl on that team, and after doing research of girls’ flag football in other districts, realized that she wanted to see the same in her school. A program proposal and some administrative meetings later, approval came through.
Gagstetter said Vitelli was playing flag football in private leagues and saw the sport pop up in other districts, so naturally wanted to bring it home to Oceanside. Last year it was an intra-mural team, this the status was elevated to varsity.
“[The transition] has been really hard,” Vitelli said. “It’s a really fast-paced sport, especially for girls who have never played before.”
There’s also Joanna Palumbo, a senior running back and one of the co-captains, who Gagstetter says spearheads as a leader alongside Vitelli, especially, “for a program that’s trying to find its feet.”
It’s been a tough first season for Oceanside, Gagstetter does not hide that. The Sailors are winless through seven games. “We’ve struggled in terms of wins and losses,” he said, but knowing that the team has been pushing no matter what to improve day in and day out despite being so green.
One such example is sophomore wide receiver/linebacker Gianna Ward, who Gagstetter says has is incredibly dedicated to the sport.
“The experience that she brings, playing hard, playing every play to the whistle, keeping her head up when things get tough and getting through that diversity,” he highlighted.
Other key contributors for the Sailors thus far include receiver/linebacker Sophia Bravo, receiver/safety Madison Brennan, quarterback/safety Camryn Weinberg and running back/defensive line Janelle Orellana.
What keeps Gagstetter’s hopes alive is the fact that he has time on his side for the long haul.
“This sport is not going away, it’s only growing every year,” he explained. “I think soon this sport will be competing in popularity with girls’ lacrosse and softball and track programs that are already out there.”
