Every year, without fail, our spring sports athletes give it their all, whether it be dominating on the pitch during lacrosse, rising to the challenge on the tennis courts, throwing heat on the mound, or running circles around competitors on the track. This year, a brand new team arrived on the spring sports scene: Girls’ Flag Football. When it was first announced that North Providence High School was going to be a pivotal element in the implementation of an established flag football program in Rhode Island, expectations were high. And our girls did not disappoint.
After capturing the Division IV state title earlier this year, Head Football Coach Michael Tuorto was not going to settle. He was hungry for more, and he wanted to build a program at NPHS that was going to have a long lasting impact. The team began hosting practices in early spring, and they were no easy feat. “He had big dreams for the team. It was hard work, and it paid off in the end. We had a really successful season, and I am excited to see where the team goes in the future,” said sophomore Ally Luna. Their roster was stacked with many talented athletes like soccer stars Ella Intrieri and Ava Sousa, and hoopers Arianna Lima and Makayla Marchand. Our girls competed in the Diamonds on the Gridiron Tournament on May 11th, and they achieved an outstanding 5-0 record over teams like St. Raphael Academy, Central Falls, Mount Hope, and Times 2 Academy, winning the championship in an exhilarating 14-12 triumph over Johnston in the final game, Catie Nicolo with the game-winning touchdown.
The school rallied in support of the team, acknowledging how truly monumental the achievement was. There are very few states that consider Girls’ Flag Football a varsity sport, but that fact did not slow them down. The Lady Cougars Flag Football team showed up, conquered, and proved they are here to stay. Sports enthusiasts and Cougar fans will have much to look forward to as this program continues to grow and take the flag football world by storm.
