Grain Valley Flag Football Team Emerges as a Dominant Force on the Field

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

Jason Fenstermaker had no idea what to expect when he was asked to coach the first-year Grain Valley High School flag football team.

"I'll be honest with you," said Fenstermaker, a graduate of Grain Valley High School who has led the Eagles to a 3-0 start where they have outscored their opponents 144-6. "I knew we had some of the best athletes in the school coming out for the team. And I was familiar with 7-on-7 football because we played that with the guys in summer leagues."

Despite allowing their first touchdown of the season last Friday, the Eagles scored on each of their offensive series to claim a 52-6 victory. 

"When we started practicing with the girls," the coach said, "I was like, 'WOW!' We had girls who could throw the ball accurately for 30 or 40 yards, we had great runners and great defensive players. And they all know about the game. This has been a great experience for me and I can't wait to see what we do this season."

Madison Rust and Addy Seyfert, two basketball teammates who earned an array of postseason honors, share the quarterbacking duties. They each three three touchdowns in the victory over Liberty.

Soccer player Radleigh Childers, who scored 11 goals last week in two games for the Eagles, had a touchdown reception, two touchdown runs and a 1-point run (extra points are scored on runs, not kicks).

Callie Fenstermaker, Aspen Reed and Addy Fox each picked off a pass and Eva Oehlke pulled three opponents flags behind the line of scrimmage.

"I call Radleigh my 'cheat code' because every time she touches the ball something big happens," Fenstermaker added. "And our girls love to play defense. In fact, we had so many girls - talented, athletic girls - come out for the team, we have an offensive group and a defensive group. And while offense is important, the name of the game is pulling flags, and our girls can do that!"

Rust, a sophomore, is thrilled to share this early success with her sister, Mackenzie, a freshman.

"We have so much fun playing together," said Rust, who throws the javelin and a standout basketball player. "We were talking the other night and we were thinking, 'Are we this good?' We've only played three games, but we've won them all and we've done well offensively and defensively.

"We have a lot of games left and I can't wait to see what we do."

Mackenzie shares her sister's sentiment.

"I'm having so much fun, and all the girls on our team are having fun," said Mackenzie, who had two touchdown receptions in the game. "This is a new sport at our school and I'm just a freshman so I'm looking forward to playing all four years and seeing how many games we can win."

This year, flag football is a club sport at Grain Valley, but it is expected to soon be a Missouri State High School Activities Association sport in the near future.

"We're winning, we're having fun, we have a lot of people coming out to watch our girls play," Fenstermaker said. "And we're keeping it simple. We have 27 offensive plays and the girls know them, and know where to be on the field. And I just sit back and watch them play. I'm having a lot of fun, too."

Sisters Madison and Mackenzie Rust, from left, and Addy Seyfert contributed to the Grain Valley flag football team’s offense in a 52-6 victory over Liberty Friday night at home. Photo credit: Bill Althaus

Coach Jason Fenstermaker talks to his Grain Valley flag football team Friday night before a 52-6 victory over Liberty. Photo credit: Bill Althaus