Mount Notre Dame among leaders in fast-growing girls sport
CINCINNATI — One local high school has firmly planted its flag at the top of the mountain in a new sport that is among the fastest growing in Southwest Ohio.
Mount Notre Dame High School, in Reading, is a two-time champion of the Cincinnati Bengals Girls Flag Football Showcase at Paycor Stadium, winning in 2024 and again this year. The Cougars defeated Badin in the finals May 10; then lost in the state tournament May 18 in Massillon.
Fourteen states have sanctioned flag football as a varsity sport for girls, according to Cincinnati Bengals Director of Community Engagement Taylor Conklin. “We hope Ohio is next,” Conklin said.
“Our goal is to increase opportunities for women in football and continue to add more local high schools in Ohio in spring 2026.”
The growth has already been impressive. Six teams fielded teams in 2024; 20 are doing so this year. Both the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference and Girls Greater Catholic League sponsor the sport. The CMAC includes Cincinnati Public Schools Aiken, Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, Gamble Montessori, Hughes, Riverview East, Shroder, Spencer, Taft, Western Hills, Withrow and Woodward.
GGCL schools are Mercy McAuley, Mount Notre Dame, St. Ursula, Seton and Ursuline. CPS schools Clark Montessori, which is a member of the Miami Valley Conference, and Walnut Hills, which is a member of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, also play the sport, as does Badin, a member of the Greater Catholic League Co-Ed Division. Notre Dame Academy, in Kentucky, also competes.
More than 300 student-athletes and 40 coaches participated in the preseason jamboree at Paycor March 8.
Desmon Gault is Mount Notre Dame’s head coach. The Green Township resident coached nine years of youth football and one year of flag football at Loveland Middle School before taking over the fledgling Mount Notre Dame program, which this season has 21 players and two student-managers. Abby Renneker is the Cougars’ offensive coordinator and Eric Ogletree the defensive coordinator. The team practices and plays its home games at Sister Dorothy Stang Memorial Stadium, it’s on-campus turf field.
Mount Notre Dame’s success, Gault said, is grounded in the team’s principal, “WEOVERME.”
“This is more than a slogan; it’s a mindset and mission that emphasizes teamwork, humility and faith. We believe in playing for each other, striving for excellence through discipline and unity, and living out our values both on and off the field,” Gault said. “We play with purpose, guided by the understanding that our journey is bigger than ourselves, and anchored in God’s greater plan.”
Flag football is played with five players a side on the field. Evie Schoolfield is Mount Notre Dame’s quarterback; Hayden Elmlinger, Megan Sicking and Addy Vaughan are the receivers. Defenders include Grace Bodkin, Tess Braun, Payton Farkas, Samantha Freese, Maria Shade and Caitlyn Wood.
The sport is a way to introduce girls to football, with participation the main goal. Winning, though, is also a priority – and Mount Notre Dame has a history of that.
“With (more than) 30 state championships across multiple sports, MND has a long-standing legacy of excellence, teamwork and competitive success. The introduction of flag football continues that tradition, giving student-athletes another opportunity to showcase their skills, determination and school pride,” Gault said. “As MND continues to expand its athletic offerings, flag football stands as a testament to the school’s commitment to providing top-tier opportunities for its athletes.”
There is even a state championship on the line this season; teams from Cincinnati and Cleveland will compete.
“But it’s about more than just the trophy. We’re building on the strong foundation we laid last season, pushing ourselves every day to grow in skill, character and unity,” Gault said. “Every practice is intentional. Every game is an opportunity. We want to dominate the field through discipline, teamwork, and faith. If we stay committed to that process, we believe the results will follow, and if that ends in another title, then to God be the glory!”
Mount Notre Dame flag football roster
Seniors – Tess Braun (captain), Alyson Beckenhaupt, Maria Shade (captain), Aaliyah Smedley.
Juniors – Grace Bodkin, Hayden Elmlinger (captain), Samantha Freese, Addy McFadden, Evie Schoolfield (captain), Addy Vaughan, Caitlyn Wood.
Sophomores – Addison Busemeyer (Montgomery resident, manager), Dee Davis (manager), Peyton Farkas, Elizabeth Herzner, Lea Johnson, Lydia Sanders, Megan Sicking.
Freshmen – Alexa Sackenheim, Isabel Shade, Kate Shade, Kaylee Watson, Natalie Sands.
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