Willowbrook Flag Football Team qualifies for second annual IHSA Girls Flag Football State Championship

On Oct. 17 and 18, Willowbrook will host the second annual Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Girls Flag Football State Championship. And the Warriors will compete on their home field, as the team qualified for the Quarterfinals!

The girls qualified after winning their second straight IHSA Regional and Sectional competitions. The student-athletes were recognized during a State send-off celebration on Oct. 17. They are: Junior Janell Adams, senior Leigh Bernardo, freshman Aubrie Bernero, senior Lily Carine, junior Honey Castillo, senior Denesha Craddock, senior Kimora Dawkins, junior McKenzie Edison, senior Jazilah Gatlin, junior Mia Grochowski, sophomore Jada Johnson, freshman Belle Knudtson, sophomore Taylor Koziol, junior Jada Langston, junior Lillian Macias, junior Jessica Mora, junior Elizabeth Pettinger, junior Carson Rieger, freshman Kennedy Rieger, junior Allyson Rovansek, junior Kaitlyn Santos, senior Marli Smrz, senior Alex Suggs, freshman Meara Sutton and sophomore Dream Walker. Head coach of the Flag Football Team is Rachel Karos, and assistant coaches are Nick Hildreth, Terrence Miller, D’Amonte Ellis, Rimon Kari, Bianca Neff, Nicole Matheson and Nicki Griffith.

Willowbrook invites all students, parents/guardians, alumni, staff, community members and friends to attend the state tournament, and below is the schedule.

Friday, Oct. 17:

  • 4:30 p.m. – Glenview Glenbrook South vs. Park Ridge Maine South

  • 6 p.m. – Chicago Perspectives/Leadership vs. Edwardsville

  • 7:30 p.m. – Willowbrook vs. Chicago Kenwood

  • 9 p.m. – Chicago Whitney Young vs. Antioch

* EXCITING UPDATE: The Warriors won against Kenwood and advance to the Semifinals! They will play at noon on Oct. 18!

Saturday, Oct. 18:

  • 10 a.m. – Semifinal: Winners 1 & 2

  • Noon – Semifinal: Winners 3 & 4

  • 2:30 p.m. – Semifinal: Losing teams

  • 5 p.m. – Title game: Semifinal winners

Tickets to the games can be bought online at https://tinyurl.com/IHSAFlagFootballTickets. Concessions and IHSA merchandise will be available to buy.

Willowbrook students with a District 88 ID will receive free admission to the game, as well as a free T-shirt! The theme will be a BLACKOUT!