Steven FalkAsbury Park Press
Girls flag football continued its growth in the Shore Conference this spring.
The number of schools who had a team increased to 18 from 14, 10 and eight in the first three seasons of the league in 2021.
There is optimism grls flag football, which completed its first of two seasons as an NJSIAA pilot program this spring, will become an NJSIAA-sanctioned sport beginning 2026.
Another example of the growth of the sport is this: The Asbury Park Press All-Shore team being unveiled for the second straight season.
The Shore Conference coaches supplied the players who they felt were worthy of recogniztion. The Asbury Park Press broke it down into first, second and third team based on statistics supplied by the head coaches and how their teams did during the season.
Here is the second Asbury Park Press All-Shore girls flag football team
FIRST TEAM CAPSULES
Ellia Mason
School:Rumson-Fair Haven
Year:Senior.
Positions:Quarterback/defensive back
Highlights: Mason threw 44 TD passes, including five in the Bulldogs' 37-18 win over Neptune in the Shore Conference championship game. Rumson-Fair Haven went unbeaten and repeated as Shore Conference champions. Rumson-Fair Haven has only had a team for two seasons. Mason also ran for two TDs, had six interceptions on defense and only threw three interceptions.
More: Ella Mason sparks Rumson-Fair Haven to second straight Shore Conference flag football title
Kate Hennen
School: Rumson-Fair Haven
Year: Senior
Positions: Wide receiver/linebacker
Highlights: Hennen had 13 receiving TDs, including two in the Shore Conference championship game, ran for two TDs, including one in the conference championship game and had eight PATs, with five of them being two-pointers. She also had three interceptions.
Katie Walls
School: Rumson-Fair Haven
Year: Senior.
Position: Running back/linebacker.
Highlights: Walls accounted for 14 TDs - nine receiving and five rushing. She also had one PAT and one interception.
Kaitlyn Hankins
School: Neptune
Year: Senior
Positions: Slot receiver/defensive back
Highlights: Hankins had 18 TDs, including two in the Scarlet Fliers' 37-18 defeat to two-time champion Rumson-Fair Haven in the Shore Conference championship game. She also threw a TD pass in the conference championship game. Hankins also had five interceptions on defense.
Lana Ellington
School: Neptune
Year: Freshman
Position: Wide receiver/defensive back.
Highlights: Ellington had 16 TDs and 116 points. She also threw two TD passes to Hankins in the conference championship game and had five intercetions on the season.
Kadidja Braxton
School: Neptune
Year: Junior
Position: Linebacker.
Highlights: Braxton had 49 flag pulls, 23 of which were for a loss and 13 of which were sacks.
Emily Minarik
School: Pinelands
Year: Senior.
Position: Quarterback
Highlights: Minarik threw for 1,663 yards with 37 TD passes and one interception as the Wildcats went unbeaten during the regular season and won the South Division regular season championship.
Ava Slinchak
School: Pinelands
Year: Senior
Position: Tight end
Highlights: Slinchak had 39 receptions for 635 yards and 15 TDs.
Jayla Kline
School: Pinelands
Year: Sophom*ore.
Positions: Running back/linebacker.
Highlights: Kline ran for 365 yards and four TDs on 24 carries, had four carries for 34 yards and a TD and 65 tackles, 27 of which were sacks.
Isa Geoghan
School: Raritan
Year: Junior
Positions: Quarterback/secondary
Highlights: Geoghan led the Rockets into the North Division championship game, where they lost to Rumson-Fair Haven 42-40 in overtime.
Alexis Amoedo
School: Raritan
Year: Senior
Positions: Wide receiver/defensive back
Highlights: Amoedo was another key player in the Rockets' drive to the North Division championship game.
Alayah Vincent
School: Long Branch
Year: Senior.
Positions: Wide receiver/defensive back
Highlights: Vincent had 36 receptions for 350 yards and 12 TDs and four interceptions.
Julia Jenson
School: Middletown North
Year: Senior.
Positions: Tight end/linebacker.
Highlights: A three-year starter, Jenson scored six TDs and led the Lions in flag pulls.
Lauren Cuervels
School: Middletown South
Year: Senior
Position: Defensive back.
Highlights: A three-year starter, Cuervels had two interceptions and 25 flag pulls.
Emma Lombardo
School: Trinity Hall
Year: Senior.
Positions: Tight end/defensive back.
Highlights: Lonardo had 27 receptions, three TDs and five interceptions.
Second Team
Leiliani Andrews, Long Branch, Senior
Emmaleigh Raymond, Long Branch, Senior
Adriana Sicliano, Neptune, Junior
Kimi Sayson, Shore, Junior
Maddie Rigney, Trinity Hall, Sophom*ore
Lizzy McCarthy, Trinity Hall, Junior
Antonette Russo, Shore, Senior
Nicolette Schreiber, Middletown South, Senior
Cam Czwakiel, Middletown South, Sophom*ore
Izzy Dyas, Middletown South, Junior
Kaitlyn McNarmara, Middletown North, Senior
Princess Graves, Keansburg, Sophom*ore
Zaire Carballo, Matawan, Sophom*ore
Celia Grecco, Raritan, Junior
Alexandra Veltri, Central, Junior
Tess Beams, Red Bank Catholic, Junior
Third Team
Gabriella Flanzbaum, Keansburg, Sophom*ore
Gianna Bettinger, Keansburg, Freshman
Avyanna Perin, Keansburg, Freshman
Grace Koenig, Holmdel, Senior
Rachel Yasnowski, Holmdel, Sophom*ore
Leah Bollettinno, Central, Sophom*ore
Breyanna Sullivan, Central, Sophom*ore
Jordyn Buccos, Central, Sophom*ore
Lizzy McCarthy, Trinity Hall, Junior
Jolice Reyes, Manchester, Junior
Addison Vincelli, Shore, Freshman
Shannon Kenny, Henry Hudson, Senior
Reilly Brobeck, Henry Hudson, Senior
Rylie Eldridge, Manasquan, Senior
Kiera Berlin, Manasquan, Senior
Gabby Restivo, Manasquan, Senior
Addi Gunnell, Manasquan, Junior
Katherine Bauman, Red Bank Catholic, Junior
Mackenzie Ketchow, Red Bank Catholic, Junior
Lila O'Neal, Red Bank Catholic, Freshman.
