PHOENIX - For the first time in school history, Bourgade Catholic will take the field with a girls flag football team, launching a program built around athleticism, accountability and the belief that the Golden Eagles can compete at a high level.
The inaugural season is the culmination of a push from the student body to bring the growing sport to campus. Senior quarterback and safety Makayla Velasquez said she was among the students advocating for the program after seeing the enthusiasm surrounding the school's annual Powder Puff games during homecoming spirit week.
"I fought so hard because I knew we could do it," Velasquez said. "I knew we had talent and the athleticism to represent the program."
The addition of girls flag football also represents a broader effort to expand Bourgade Catholic athletics. The decision came after a genuine interest from female students, as well as the recognition that other Catholic schools already offered the sport. The program gives BCHS another opportunity to attract student-athletes while continuing to build a competitive athletic culture.
Head coach Freddie Quihuis, who also leads the girls softball program, embraced the challenge because he wanted the new team to establish a high standard from its first snap.
"I want to set the bar high," Quihuis said. "I care about this school so much and I want every sport to be at a high level."
Quihuis has brought the same emphasis on accountability and mental toughness that has defined his softball program. His staff includes head track and field coach KiAndre Whitmore and girls basketball assistant coach Blake Mort, giving the team a staff shaped by different athletic backgrounds but a shared expectation of commitment and discipline.
That approach has been especially important as the program works through the challenges of building a team with no previous history, including learning the rules, developing positions and installing an entirely new offensive and defensive system. With no established depth chart to rely on, players and coaches have spent the preseason figuring out where each athlete can make the biggest impact.
The team's leadership has quickly taken shape. Velasquez, who played flag football throughout middle school, stepped forward almost immediately. Senior Olivia Quihuis, who plays wide receiver and corner, has also emerged as a leader despite entering the sport with no previous experience.
"This is exciting because I'm one of the first to ever play flag football here," Olivia said. "Of all the sports I've played before, this is something different. This is a sport I've never played in my life."
Both seniors have helped establish the standard for a team made up of athletes from multiple sports. Their familiarity with Quihuis' coaching style has also allowed them to help younger teammates adjust to the expectations.
Being part of the first team carries a responsibility beyond simply playing a new sport.
"We're the start of the expectations," Velasquez said. "We want to reach not just the school's expectations but our families and all the students because we want to make it exciting and worthwhile."
"Organized, hard working, and attention to the details. These truly describe what the team is like," Olivia said.
That sense of responsibility is shared by head coach Quihuis, who wants the Golden Eagles to be known for their intensity.
"We're a bunch of dogs," he said. "I want us to be known as aggressive. We're passionate. We're taking everything serious. We're OCT about the little things."
The team also brings athleticism to the field and Quihuis believes speed is one of the group's biggest strengths heading into its first game, while acknowledging that football IQ remains an area for growth as players continue learning the nuances of the sport.
For Olivia, that learning process has been one of the most rewarding parts of the preseason. After initially struggling to understand her position, she has become more comfortable through practices and the support of her coaches and teammates. She's also found skills in tracking the ball and attacking plays from her position at corner familiar to what she does in softball.
The team's ability to grow together could be just as important as its athletic ability. Many of the players already compete together in other sports.
Flag football will compete on an independent schedule in 3A and will be eligible for the postseason. The schedule places the Lady Golden Eagles among a group of a dozen independent programs while giving the first-year team an opportunity to establish itself against a variety of opponents.
The expectations extend beyond the first season. The goal is to build a foundation that can be carried forward by future BCHS athletes.
For this year's seniors, that means helping create something they will not have the opportunity to inherit. Both Makayla and Olivia want the inaugural team to make the playoffs and compete for a title.
Success will be measured by more than wins and loses. A playoff berth would be an accomplishment, but so would seeing the players embrace the sport.
"The girls loving it (flag football," coach Quihuis said. "The having fun and learning accountability, that's everything. Yes, it's about the sport, but as long as they can come and learn life lessons, that's what it's all about."
Bourgade Catholic flag football opens its historic first season on the road against ALA-Mesa North in Mesa on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at 5901 E. Thomas Rd.