PEABODY — Just four years ago, Peabody High didn’t have a girls flag football team. Today, the program is growing rapidly, fueled by player commitment and led by head coach Christopher Lanning, who stepped in when the opportunity first emerged.

“A parent had approached Principal (Brooke) Randall with the opportunity” Lanning said. “My daughter Mia really wanted to play and my wife Amy convinced me to coach and take on the program.”

In 2021, there was no established high school league for girls flag football. In the program’s first year, there were only eight teams in Massachusetts. Now, there are more than 90 as the sport continues to gain recognition.

The program has also seen steady growth on the field. The team finished 8-8 during its first regular season and lost in the playoffs, followed by a 12-4 season the next year, despite losing its starting quarterback to injury during the final game of the regular season. 

Last year, Peabody went 14-2, won its sectional championship, and advanced in the state tournament before losing to eventual champion St. Mary’s.

This season, the team is off to a 9-1 start (by press time).

Interest in the program has also grown. The team started with 15 players and now supports both varsity and junior varsity teams, with 10 players on varsity and 15 on junior varsity. 

A junior varsity team was introduced this year, currently holding a 5-1 record.

Lanning also manages much of the program’s logistics, including scheduling, communication, transportation coordination, and organizing referees.

“Right now, the biggest challenge for me is balancing the coaching, teaching the girls the game, and also the administrative side,” Lanning said.

Despite those obstacles, he has focused on building a strong team culture centered around accountability and teamwork.

“Everyone’s got to be bought in to the same thing” he said. “Sometimes, your role may not be glamorous, but if you don’t do your job right, somebody else can’t do theirs.”

That mindset has shaped the team’s identity. Senior captain and quarterback Mia Riley Norton, who is also Lanning’s daughter, said leadership and responsibility have defined her final season.

“As this is my last season, I’ve tried to put my best foot forward as a leader on and off the field,” Norton said.

As the team’s quarterback, she feels the weight of that responsibility.

“If I’m having a bad game, it makes it extremely difficult for the team to do well as a whole,” she said.

Still, Norton believes the team’s growth extends beyond performance.

“Freshman year, I took charge and was named captain, so I had to take a teaching approach to my leadership,” she said. “Now, we’ve become a family.”

That sense of connection is echoed by her teammates. Second-year player Ella Walsh, who was named Most Valuable Player last season, said her development has come from both experience and the people around her.

“I’ve learned a lot from the girls around me — not just athletically, but mentally as well,” Walsh said.

Her role has also grown as the team has improved.

“I feel my role, this year, has shifted more into a leader,” Walsh said. “I have a lot to prove.”

Walsh credits Norton for helping elevate her game.

“She’s shown me how much progress you can make if you put in the work” Walsh said.

For four-year starter Evelyn Lafond, the relationships built through the program stand out most.

“In the past four years, having my teammates’ support and friendship has motivated me to stay committed,” Lafond said.

She said her confidence and perspective have grown along with the team.

“My perspective on the game has shifted drastically since I was a freshman,” she said. “I’m more confident in my abilities and our team chemistry is unmatched.”

Looking ahead, Norton has a simple goal for her final season.

“I want to win,” she said. “I want to win it all.”

For Lanning, however, success is about more than wins. His focus remains on expanding opportunities and continuing to grow the game.

“My goal is just to keep teaching girls the game, especially ones who have never played before,” he said.

Courtney Walker is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This story was published in partnership with the Massachusetts News Service.