ALTON — Senior Charity Price said Alton High’s first-year girls flag football team is focused on improving, staying prepared and supporting one another as the Redbirds adjust to a new sport this season.
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Price, who plays quarterback, wide receiver and linebacker, spoke after Alton’s game against Edwardsville. The Redbirds continued to play through the end of the game despite a defeat to the Tigers, and Price said the team is trying to build around persistence and accountability.
“I'm feeling hopeful for the future,” Price said. “I have faith in the girls here. We have to set ourselves to the standard, we have to be ready, and stay prepared.”
Price is an Eardley Agency Female Athlete Of The Month for the Redbirds.
Price said the Redbirds are working through the challenges of their first season by emphasizing effort and a “next-play mentality.”
“We just keep trying,” Price said. “We practice every day, and we set ourselves to the standard; we always hold ourselves accountable, the next-play mentality, and we go forward. This is our first year ever playing in this sport; some girls have never even touched a football before, but we've got to keep trying, and just keep going out there.”
She said team morale remains strong as Alton faces adversity early in the program’s first season.
“Yes, we love to cheer each other on,” Price said. “Our favorite part is actually creating cheers to do for the team. We love cheering each other on; we have to hold ourselves to a high standard. We're out here, and we're facing a lot of adversity, but we have to cheer each other on, even if nobody else is going to cheer us on.”
Price said she believes girls flag football has a future at Alton as the sport continues to grow.
“I absolutely do,” Price said. “I have faith that the incoming freshmen and any other girls would want to join. This is a fast-growing sport all over the state, even in other states around us all over the country.”
As the Redbirds move forward in the season, Price said the team’s focus remains on preparation.
“I feel great, I feel ready,” Price said. “We have to stay ready and stay focused.”
