She’s the Bomb

At the conclusion of season three of the D.C. Gay Flag Football League, the women players decided to play a little more football on their own. In an effort to recruit more female players into the primarily male league and to get to know one another better, the women formed the D.C. Cherry Bombs.

The League operates under National Gay Flag Football League sanctions which dictate seven-on-seven play on the football field.

“After we started practicing last December, we realized there was potential for creating a team to play at tournaments,” says founder Kristin Horgen. “We came up a little short with funding to compete in the inaugural women’s division at Gay Bowl XII held in Denver last weekend.”

In between their league play and practices with their League teammates, the Cherry Bombs find time to practice on their own either Tuesday nights or Saturday mornings at Garrison Elementary School on Vermont and 11^th streets.

“We have had a few scrimmages with other women’s teams from another league that plays under eight-on-eight rules,” Horgen says.  “We are hoping to play at the Kelly McGillis Classic in February 2013 in Cocoa Beach.”

That tournament, which operates under the International Women’s Flag Football Association, has drawn teams from Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas and all over the United States.

“Over the past few seasons, the talent of the women players has increased along with their numbers,” says JJ Johnson, League president. “We are currently in season five and some of the women players were selected in the draft over the male players.”

When Johnson describes the women players he uses words such as “superstar” and “great hands.”

For 2013, the Cherry Bombs are looking to add some more players to their roster.

“We will be organizing some football clinics for women,” Horgen says, “and hope to attract players of all skill levels.”

Anyone interested in playing with the D.C. Cherry Bombs can reach them at dccherrybombs@gmail.com. They can also be found on Facebook under D.C. Cherry Bombs.

Congratulations to the two men’s travel teams from the League who traveled to Denver last weekend to compete against teams from across the United States in Gay Bowl XII.  The Washington Generals finished fifth and the Washington Admirals finished ninth in the A Division Playoffs.