These Patriots are still playing football
BY MIKE HAMSON
Special Correspondent
TBO.com
Published: February 17, 2016
Updated: February 18, 2016 at 02:11 PM
Mark Krieger never expected to be watching his children play football.
You see, the Dover resident and retired health and physical education teacher doesn’t have any sons, having been blessed with three daughters.
Then came Independence Academy and flag football.
Krieger’s daughter Kay, 12, is a seventh-grader at the school and a member of the Independence Academy Patriots flag football team.
“I think it’s great,” said father Krieger. “I did not have any boys. I wound up with three girls. Kay likes to compete. She likes being with her girlfriends, and she likes to be in shape. She likes being on a team.”
With flag football season kicking off in February, Krieger watched his daughter play at William Owens Pass Sports Complex, 1350 Sydney Dover Road.
He said Independence Academy, 12902 E. U.S. 92, Dover, is about 3 miles from his home. A charter school, the academy’s new building opened in 2015.
Jim Johnson, the assistant coach for girls’ flag football, said the school is fairly new and plays in areas like Dover, Brandon, Valrico and Progress Village.
Johnson said he is getting the girls ready for the Central Florida Charter Athletic League Championship game on March 3. The boys’ flag football team will play the same day at Progress Village with teams to be announced.
“I care about the kids a lot,” Johnson said. “I know the number of boys competing in football normally outweighs the girls. It’s great for them to have an opportunity to learn, grow and play at the next level. They may play high school or college. It keeps them active; anything to get them outside.”
The girls’ flag football team just started in the league last year.
Matty Waldrop, 13, a seventh-grader at the academy, plays wide receiver for the Patriots.
“I like hanging out with all of my friends,” she said. “We all work together good.”
Matty plays a number of different sports throughout the year including softball, volleyball, baseball, gymnastics, cross country, basketball and flag football.
“It’s easier compared to tackle football,” Matty said. “It’s easier for us girls to play.”
Although she has fun with flag football, her main passion is basketball. She hopes to get a basketball scholarship for college.
“I like defense,” Matty said. “I’m good at getting the ball. For this sport, you have to pull the flag and be good at eye-hand coordination. You have to watch the quarterback and see where her eyes are going. You stay on the player but watch the quarterback at the same time.”
Emily Little, 13, also a seventh-grader at Independence Academy, is another team member.
“The coaches are very nice,” Emily said. “The parents volunteer. They want to help the school and encourage us to do better. It is a close-knit school and since it’s a charter school, we get more opportunities for sports.”
Seventh-grader Bailee Kidwell, 12, said she likes having the chance to make new friends, have fun and work out.
For sixth-grader Emily Johnson, 11, it is her first year playing the sport.
“I like playing football,” Johnson said. “I like to try to catch the ball and the running. I get to hang out with my friends. I like it because it’s not tackling where you would get hurt. It’s a challenge to pull the flags.”
Special Correspondent
TBO.com
Published: February 17, 2016
Updated: February 18, 2016 at 02:11 PM
Mark Krieger never expected to be watching his children play football.
You see, the Dover resident and retired health and physical education teacher doesn’t have any sons, having been blessed with three daughters.
Then came Independence Academy and flag football.
Krieger’s daughter Kay, 12, is a seventh-grader at the school and a member of the Independence Academy Patriots flag football team.
“I think it’s great,” said father Krieger. “I did not have any boys. I wound up with three girls. Kay likes to compete. She likes being with her girlfriends, and she likes to be in shape. She likes being on a team.”
With flag football season kicking off in February, Krieger watched his daughter play at William Owens Pass Sports Complex, 1350 Sydney Dover Road.
He said Independence Academy, 12902 E. U.S. 92, Dover, is about 3 miles from his home. A charter school, the academy’s new building opened in 2015.
Jim Johnson, the assistant coach for girls’ flag football, said the school is fairly new and plays in areas like Dover, Brandon, Valrico and Progress Village.
Johnson said he is getting the girls ready for the Central Florida Charter Athletic League Championship game on March 3. The boys’ flag football team will play the same day at Progress Village with teams to be announced.
“I care about the kids a lot,” Johnson said. “I know the number of boys competing in football normally outweighs the girls. It’s great for them to have an opportunity to learn, grow and play at the next level. They may play high school or college. It keeps them active; anything to get them outside.”
The girls’ flag football team just started in the league last year.
Matty Waldrop, 13, a seventh-grader at the academy, plays wide receiver for the Patriots.
“I like hanging out with all of my friends,” she said. “We all work together good.”
Matty plays a number of different sports throughout the year including softball, volleyball, baseball, gymnastics, cross country, basketball and flag football.
“It’s easier compared to tackle football,” Matty said. “It’s easier for us girls to play.”
Although she has fun with flag football, her main passion is basketball. She hopes to get a basketball scholarship for college.
“I like defense,” Matty said. “I’m good at getting the ball. For this sport, you have to pull the flag and be good at eye-hand coordination. You have to watch the quarterback and see where her eyes are going. You stay on the player but watch the quarterback at the same time.”
Emily Little, 13, also a seventh-grader at Independence Academy, is another team member.
“The coaches are very nice,” Emily said. “The parents volunteer. They want to help the school and encourage us to do better. It is a close-knit school and since it’s a charter school, we get more opportunities for sports.”
Seventh-grader Bailee Kidwell, 12, said she likes having the chance to make new friends, have fun and work out.
For sixth-grader Emily Johnson, 11, it is her first year playing the sport.
“I like playing football,” Johnson said. “I like to try to catch the ball and the running. I get to hang out with my friends. I like it because it’s not tackling where you would get hurt. It’s a challenge to pull the flags.”
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