Holmdel High School Pioneers
Girls’ Flag Football Movement
10 JUNE 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
BY TIM MORRIS
Holmdel High School’s female athletes are getting
to experience something their coach, Me-
The Hornets are making history this spring as part of
to the Shore Conference. Holmdel is one of eight
schools in the conference taking part in program. The
others are Middletown North, Middletown South,
a combined Middletown team, Shore, Matawan,
Pinelands and Mater Dei Prep. The New York Giants
and Nike are sponsoring the teams. There will be a
seven-week season with pod championship games
slated for Monday, June 14. There is a possibility that
those games will be played at MetLife Stadium.
Menges, who comes from a football family, is
making up for the opportunity she didn’t have in
high school by coaching the Hornet girls with Scott
Cannon. She jumped at the chance to coach the
team when the program was announced.
“When I heard about the program, it sparked
my interest,” said Menges, who is also the varsity
cheerleading coach. “I’ve always been a big football fan, but I never had
the chance to play or coach it.”
Menges’ father Lou Menges played high school football at Keyport
and coached her older brother, Matt, in youth football. She grew
up watching her father coach and brother play, wishing she could be
along with Cannon, who played college football at Murray State.
“I am enjoying being on the sidelines and coaching the team with
Scott Cannon,” said Menges.
Just as Menges jumped at the opportunity to participate in a
ground-breaking sport as a coach, so have the Hornet girls as participants.
Lindsay Cannon – who played soccer, basketball, lacrosse at Holmdel and
added volleyball this year when the NJSIAA allowed for a fourth season – is
one of those driven to be a part of history. Like her coach, she came from a
football family; her father is coach Scott Cannon and always liked the sport.
“It was something new. I had never played it before,” said Cannon.
“I saw it as a new opportunity and wanted to give it a try. It’s very exciting.
I wish I had gotten to play it sooner. We all just love playing it and learning
it. Honestly, it’s the most thrilling experience I’ve ever had. There’s
no other feeling like it being in the end zone getting chest pumps from
your teammates.”
One those teammates is her sister, freshman Allison Cannon, who
plays quarterback. They started practicing together as soon as they
learned about the pilot program.
“She’s the best,” said Lindsay of her younger sister, who also played
soccer, basketball and lacrosse.
Cannon said she and her teammates looked at themselves as pioneers
blazing a trail that others will follow, opening new athletic doors
for the girls.
The Hornets may be novices to the sport, but they’ve caught on fast,
against Middletown North.
“They’ve been good exciting games,” said Menges. “Our defense
really stepped up. Our offense has looked good running the ball with a
little passing.”
from other spring sport athletes such as the Cannons, who play lacrosse.
“We’ve gotten multi-sport athletes,” said Menges. “Competition is
in their blood. They’re very serious.”
The Hornets practice twice a week and play their games and practices
at 6:30 pm, which allows the multi-sport athletes time to compete in
their spring sport. Menges said that she and Cannon “started off with the
basics, throwing and catching the ball and letting the girls experience all
the different positions.”
“Interest is already picking up,” said Menges.
-
swer to the boys’ football.
“This is the start of something that could be huge,” remarked Cannon.
“I really think this is going to pick up and become a varsity sport.”
If and when it does, this year’s pioneers created new opportunities
for future high school girls and maybe even college women to compete
in another sport.
The 2021 pioneering Hornets are: Kayla Bielan, Grace Koenig, Allison
Cannon, Taylor Thomas, Taylor Bielan, Lindsay Cannon, Julianna
Aiello, Sarah Friedman, Sophia Fanzini, Angelina Nadi, Kayla Nastasi,
Katrina Walier, Alex Bauman, Fiona Ceka, Tianna Mickens, Lainie Doran,
Adrianna Morales, Julia Saporito, Elisa Gunawardana, Emma Lionette,
Ava Ruabno and Kate Koval.
/TheJournalNJ.com