Photo courtesy of Krista Quinn
Krista Quinn is one of five finalists for the NFL Flag Player of the Year award
A local football star is a finalist in an National Football League (NFL) competition. But you may not have seen her play yet. Yes … her …
When Krista Quinn transferred to Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School her junior year, she was excited to hear that the school was launching into its inaugural season of a flag football sport. In a traditionally male sport, Quinn, a Lansdale resident, was excited to test her abilities out when she played in the NFL’s flag tournaments, starting in 2019.
“They were the only tournament-hosting organization we knew at the time that allowed girls to play,” said Quinn, a 2024 graduate of GMAHS.
But the NFL’s programs weren’t where this athlete got her start. It was actually her own family that offered that opportunity.
“Since then, we haven’t stopped going to their tournaments,” she said. “But I started playing in 2018, when my family started my program, Athena Athletics.”
Photo courtesy of Krista QuinnAthena Girls’ Flag Football is the largest and most-recognized all-girl recreational and travel flag football team in the state of Pennsylvania.
Quinn plans to attend Milligan University in Tennessee in the fall, where she will go on a flag football scholarship, majoring in nursing.
“From there, I hope to get to the Olympics,” said Quinn.
Though her family was very much into sports, Quinn said she got into football when she followed her sisters into the sport. And it wasn’t all for the love of the game, at the very beginning, at least.
“When I started playing, it was not about the athletic portion of it at all,” explained Quinn. “My three sisters and I wanted to play in Disney, and this was our ‘way in.’”
She said tagging along with her sisters helped her to get the trip she’d hoped for, but something about the sport’s camaraderie kept her coming back for more.
“I was the least athletic out of my four siblings, and played less than my younger sister in our first tournament,” said Quinn. “I am very introverted so making friends was always difficult for me, especially when I had four built-in best friends at home. Through football, I really found myself and surrounded myself with people who accepted me for who I am.”
Having solid friendships with teammates helped Quinn become more involved with flag football.
“Now, after a lot of hard work, I do play more than I did when I started,” she said. “The athletic aspect keeps me motivated and energized, but everything else will always be the reason in my mind.
Perhaps it was a tiny bit of sibling jealousy that got Quinn and her sisters interested in football in the first place.
“My brother and cousin played flag football when they were younger,” said Quinn. “My sisters and I watched them go to Disney to play at Nationals.”
The Quinn girls wanted the same opportunities as their brother and cousin, but options were limited.
“At the time, we were either cheerleaders or basketball players,” she said. “But we wanted to go to Disney, too. So, we started our program, Athena Athletics, for the sole purpose of earning our spot to go to Disney World.”
Siblings aside, Quinn said she has grown a passion for the sport that keeps her coming back for more.
“I learned to love the sport after a year or two of wanting to be ‘the one’ but never did anything about it at the time,” said the soon-to-be college freshman. “I realized I needed to put some serious work in if I wanted to get on the field. Now I can’t ever see myself not playing.”
Quinn said she is happy to see sports opening up to give all girls more opportunities, including flag football.
“To any girls considering playing this sport, do it!” she said. “You will not regret it. Flag football is unlike any other sport I’ve played (volleyball, track, basketball, etc). The amount of opportunities being offered right now are endless. And it is so new that you’re only competing with thousands of girls compared to other sports where it’s hundreds of thousands of girls.”
Athena Athletics has fall travel tryouts running from Aug. 13 to 14, while a rec team will play September and October at the GMA high school fields. The sport is open from those in Pre-K through 12th grades. With registration, players receive a jersey, flag belt, flags, and offered a “fun, low-commitment opportunity to play football in a great community,” per the organization’s site.
Quinn said she is thankful to her family for giving her the motivation, not to mention the outlet, to spread her wings.
“I give all the credit to my family and the original girls of Athena Athletics,” she said. “My mom and dad heard we had a dream, and they made it come true.”
She said that, when she started her journey, excited for a simple trip to the “happiest place on earth,” she had never thought of it continuing as it has. She credits her family and early supporters of the Athena Athletics program with much of her success.
“We never imagined it to be like this, the fastest growing female sports along with wrestling,” said Quinn. “My sisters, brother, and I would stay up late every night and get up early every morning to keep the quality of our program to where we wanted it to be. Some of our original girls and their parents, including Bridget Keyser, Ewa Kraynak, and Giada Viola, stood by our side through tough losses and great victories. I can never thank any of them enough because, without all of their support, I would not be where I am right now.”
All of that hard work is certainly paying off, well beyond trips to Disney. Quinn has been named one of five finalists for the NFL Flag Player of the Year, a sport that has grown nearly as quickly as Quinn’s own career. Now with 1,800 teams, with over 700,000 athletes playing in all 50 states, the NFL now operates the largest youth flag football league in the country.
“The NFL Flag Player of the Year Awards recognize the extraordinary achievements of young athletes who exemplify excellence both on and off the field,” explained the NFL’s website. “These prestigious awards are presented to the top 18u-female and 15u-male players who have demonstrated outstanding performances in flag football, maintained excellence in academics, and embodied the core values of the NFL (respect, integrity, responsibility to team, and resiliency).”
Quinn was selected by her local program and has now advanced to the finals.
“I was nominated by my program and selected by a committee who reviewed the nominations,” she said.
The winner will be announced at the NFL Honors Award show in New Orleans, in February 2025. There are five female finalists including Quinn, Addie Chilek, Sarah Colchamiro, Josie Clayton, and Serenity Simon.
Image Credit: NFL FlagQuinn said, to win the award, would be an amazing step in her continuing career with flag football
“I would absolutely love to win NFL Flag Player of the Year because I have worked hard to be a good player, and I believe it shows,” she said. “But either way, win or lose, I know I have put the work in. I know I am a good player, and an award won’t prove that any more than I do by just going out and playing.”
Quinn said she wouldn’t turn down the “bling” though.
“It would be really cool to have a trophy that says it though” she joked.
In addition to a trophy, the named NFL Flag Players of the Year winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip for themselves and a parent or guardian to the NFL Honors award show in New Orleans, February 2025. There, the NFL site says they will be able to “walk the red carpet at the NFL Honors alongside NFL players.”
In addition to her NFL honors, Quinn has already been the recipient of the Inaugural Mini Max Award Recipient, Inaugural Philadelphia Eagles Pilot Champion, Inaugural Big 33 Flag Football Champion, and MVP, 2024 GMAHS Outstanding Senior Athlete Award, as well as the GMAHS Flag Football Christian F. Bockrath Memorial Award for Desire, Dedication, and Determination.
In such a short amount of time, the athlete has truly found her niche. Watch WissNow.com for additional updates on Quinn’s finals, including which of the five remaining will win the Player of the Year.
