At their regular monthly school board meeting Shepherd School District approved the formation of a high school girls’ flag football team. Shepherd High School’s entrance into the sport marks a growing trend in Montana communities, with rivals Huntley Project High School partaking in their first girls’ flag football team this last year. Shepherd is set to begin their first season next fall with an interested student/parent informational meeting set for early spring to begin building a team.
SHS is set to receive free Nike uniforms as well as startup funds from the Arthur Blank Family Foundation (ABFF) totaling $45,000 over the next three years. The ABFF has been instrumental in growing the sport in Montana by contributing startup funds to many schools looking to expand programs, including Huntley Project. According to SHS Activities Director Tina Downing, “About 30 students have expressed interest in the team and a lot of the girls don’t participate in other sports.” Downing stated she is excited to see where the program goes as it will provide a fresh opportunity for students at SHS.
