Swainsboro Lady Tigers gear up for exciting flag football season: A look ahead

Since the 2020-2021 school year, when the Georgia High School Association sanctioned girls’ flag football as an official sport, it has quickly become a staple at Swainsboro High School. In those early years, I had the privilege of serving as an assistant coach for the team, working alongside Head Coach Alexandria Walden. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Coach Walden to discuss her thoughts on the upcoming season and what the team looks forward to as they embark on this year’s journey.

Coach Walden reflected on how flag football has evolved at Swainsboro. “It’s been a fun sport to learn and coach over the past few years. It’s definitely been a learning experience for everyone involved,” she said. When asked about her expectations for the season, she emphasized the team’s youth and the ongoing process of rebuilding. “We’re a young team and still learning this new game, but I’m excited to see the growth. Adding eighth graders to the JV level this year is going to be huge for exposing them to the game early.”

She’s eager to work with the new talent on the roster and see how the team can compete in their newly competitive region. “I want to continue growing as a coach and help my athletes understand the opportunities this sport presents. Many don’t realize there are scholarships out there, and they could potentially turn this into a college career if we focus on fundamentals and improving across the board,” she added.

This year’s roster is a solid mix of juniors and freshmen, with some strong senior leadership. The varsity and junior varsity teams are shaping up with a roster of players ready to compete:

• Seniors: Tonia Ricks, Emma Blanford

• Juniors: Hayden Burke, Kylie Brown, Jalaya Freeman, Brittany Waters, Jordi Armstrong

• Freshmen: Sara Smith, Kali Brown, Bre McClendon, Treasure Phillips, Kandis Smith, Alayah Foots

• 8th Graders: Adalia Cloud, Destiny Harris, Paris Spann, Isis Trice, McKinley Walden

This Thursday, the Lady Tigers will kick off their season in a tournament against Jefferson County at 7 PM on their home turf at Tiger Field. Be sure to come out and show your support!

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Looking ahead, here’s the full schedule for the Swainsboro Lady Tigers’ flag football season:

• Thu 10/10 | 7:00 PM @ Jefferson County High School (Louisville) – Away (Non-Region)

• Thu 10/17 | 5:00 PM vs. Jenkins (Savannah) – Home (Non-Region)

• Thu 10/17 | 7:00 PM vs. Lakeside (Evans) – Home (Non-Region)

• Thu 10/31 | 5:00 PM vs. Claxton – Home (Region)

• Tue 11/5 | 5:00 PM vs. Southeast Bulloch High School (Brooklet) – Home (Region)

• Thu 11/7 | 5:00 PM @ Jenkins (Savannah) – Away (Non-Region)

• Tue 11/19 | 5:00 PM vs. Washington County High School (Sandersville) – Home (Region)

We’ll continue to provide ongoing coverage of the Swainsboro Lady Tigers flag football team throughout the season, so stay tuned for more updates and insights into their journey!