SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) -The newest sport on campus at Augustana is now officially underway after 2 weekend jamborees and 6 games the past 2 weekends.
They actually won 3 times which is amazing for a program that Kiley Coyne started from scratch.
And as Sam Tastad found out, the players are excited to make this work thanks to funding from the Minnesota Vikings.
STORY
“I asked all my friends and said, guys we need to do this. I feel very, very inspired to do this,” said Augustana sophomore Maddy Van Keulen. “I think it’s very important and I am so happy to be on this team.”
“I am a musician. A band director by trade, work in the school of music at Augustana,” said Augustana flag football coach Kiley Coyne. “I also play on a women’s semi-pro tackle football team called the Sioux Falls Snow Leopards. The Minnesota Vikings sent out kind of an all call.”
“We provided with help of the NFL, a $140,000 dollars that will be used to fund these programs through the seven institutions,” said Minnesota Vikings Youth and High School football coordinator Emily Weinberg.
“Me being a women’s tackle football player, they were like, hey do you want to do this, and I was like how do you say no to that,” said Coyne.
“There are those individual stories like maybe dad I am going to continue on this legacy,” said Weinberg.
“My dad played football at Augustana when he went to college here, and I thought it would be cool to continue on that tradition in a little different way,” said Augustana senior Olivia Klumper.
“Growing up I had to be my brother’s quarterback a lot. So I kind of knew what the rules included,” said Augustana freshman quarterback Brooklyn Sturm. “I’ve always loved football. Growing up with two brothers really got me into that environment.”
“You know I built a bunch of confidence playing this sport that I didn’t have before,” said Weinberg.
“I have never thrown a football before. It was all pretty new. Day one, I threw a football for first time, I caught a football for the first time,” said Klumper.
“I try to brag about it any chance I get with my family. I think it’s so cool and I think it’s so inspiring to have a women’s flag football and especially since we are first ones. We are the pioneers of the team and that’s really fun,” said Van Kuelen.
“There’s so many girls that loved football that wished they had this opportunity and we are really capitalizing on this moment and excitement and momentum surrounding women’s sports,” said Weinberg.
“In Minnesota and kind of around this area and pockets around the country from different NFL teams, they have started at high school level. They have like 40 high school teams that are going to compete in their high school leagues. Really the next step for them is let’s make this college,” said Coyne. “These high school girls want to be recruited and they want to go somewhere and keep playing in college especially because LA Olympic games, flag football will be there,” said Coyne.
“I am really hoping this takes flight,” said Van Kuelen.
“I know it’s just a club sport but maybe in future it will be something bigger,” said Sturm.
“We are hoping at Augustana it does become Division 2 sport, that we are in the NCAA, and long term goals we want girls from Augustana to go to Olympics and play on that flag football team,” said Coyne.
“I just am looking forward to inspiring new women,” said Van Kuelen.
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