FLAG FOOTBALL HAS GROWN IN POPULARITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY SENIOR IS BENEFITING FROM THAT. EMANI CERTA FIRST STARTED PLAYING ON AN ALL BOYS TEAM AS A HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN. SHE ADMITS IT WAS INTIMIDATING TO COMPETE WITH BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER PLAYERS. BUT SINCE THEN, SHE’S EARNED A FLAG FOOTBALL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP. SHE TELLS US SHE DIDN’T GET MUCH PLAYING TIME ON THE BOYS TEAM BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE, SHE WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT SHE KEPT PRACTICING, EVEN WITH HER BROTHERS AND HER DAD, AND SHE GOT BETTER, EVENTUALLY JOINING AN ALL GIRLS TEAM AND HER GAME TOOK OFF. THAT WAS SPRING OF 2024. THAT WAS I WAS ABLE TO BE A PART OF THE FIRST ALL GIRLS TEAM CALLED THE TWISTED SISTERS. AND THEN IN FALL OF 2024, I, ME AND MY DAD STARTED OUR OWN GIRLS TEAM AND THAT WAS LIKE WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AT A COLLEGE LEVEL, LIKE CAME A POSSIBILITY. THAT POSSIBILITY BECAME REAL. WHEN SHE COMPETED AT A SHOWCASE IN HOUSTON AND GOT OFFERS FROM SIX SCHOOLS. THIS IS HER WITH THE COACH. SHE SIGNED TO PLAY QUARTERBACK FOR AT MORRIS HILL UNIVERSITY, IN NORTH CAROLINA. HER JOURNEY AS A GIRL PLAYING A PREDOMINANTLY BOYS SPORT, INSPIRING OTHERS AROUND HER TO DO THE SAME. ONCE I LIKE, YOU KNOW, TOLD EVERYBODY I GOT OFFERS AND THIS WAS LIKE A REAL THING. AND I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE FOR IT. LIKE THAT’S WHEN EVERYBODY WAS LIKE, OH WOW. LIKE, THIS IS THIS IS A REAL THING. LIKE, WE CAN GO TO COLLEGE FOR THIS. LIKE, EVERYBODY IS REALLY EXCITED AND REALLY SUPPORTIVE. AND A LOT OF MY YOUNGER TEAMMATES WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE FOR FLAG FOOTBALL. AND IMANI ALSO HAS CHOSEN HER COLLEGE FIELD OF STUDY THANKS TO FLAG FOOTBALL, SHE’LL STUDY PHYSICAL THERAPY, SOMETHING SHE BECAME INTERESTED IN WHEN SHE FRACTURED HER ELB
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New Mexico girl set to play collegiate flag football
Albuquerque Academy senior set to play collegiate flag football in the fall
Flag football across the country has grown in popularity, including right here in New Mexico. For one Albuquerque Academy senior, Emanee Cerda, her talents will eventually be on display with a scholarship to play the sport she loves at Mars Hill University in North Carolina. Emanee said she always grew up watching football and said she would watch her brothers play flag football."I would go and watch the older groups play," Emanee said. "I always thought it was interesting, so one day I was like, why not do it?" Emanee said she would then join a flag football team in her freshman year, 2021, with all boys. "So I didn't have a position I wanted to play, I was actually playing with older kids cause I was 14 and I was playing in the 17-U," Emanee said. "The main position I played was running back. I did have a few plays where I threw the ball, they were like surprise or trick plays."Follow us on social: Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeRecently, Emanee said saw a post on Instagram about a showcase for women's flag football in Houston, Texas. She said she would invite her teammates join her and once she and her family got there, Emanee said would end up being the only girl from New Mexico to participate. "At the showcase, it was mainly girls from Texas, like Dallas or Houston," Emanee said. "I was the only one who traveled out of state to participate because in New Mexico, there's not a lot of opportunities to get that exposure here in New Mexico. It was really scary and intimidating, but once I got there, everyone was really welcoming and supportive. It really got me to feel comfortable, and once that happened, I was able to show out."She said when she was out there she received six officials offers from schools including, Mars Hill University, Cumberland University, Neuman University, Marymount University, Heston College and Bethel College. Emanee says once the showcase was over the head coach for Mars Hill came over with her mother by her side and would officially offer her a scholarship to play for their school."Couple of weeks ago, I ended up traveling to North Carolina to go visit the school and immediately fell in love with the campus," Emanee said. Coach Max was very welcoming, everybody was so nice and made we wanted to choose Mars Hill."Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for freeFlag football is expected to be happening in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Emanee said her goal is to one day play for the National Team and win gold for the U.S."Every flag football girl who plays football wants to go to the Olympics," Emanee said. She says girls all their lives have been told football is a boys' sport, but believes the sport has helped her grow and empower herself. "I wouldn't trade it for the world," Emanee said. "To girls who are interested in it, I would say go for it because it's a decision you won't regret, and now that it's getting more popular, there are more girls' teams starting to form all around Albuquerque. It's such a new sport and it's easier to get recognition for it an exposure for it, it's a really fun experience." Emanee was also apart of the first ever New Mexico Flag Football team the, 'Twisted Sisters,' in 2024.Share with us: Upload your photos and videos via uLocal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Flag football across the country has grown in popularity, including right here in New Mexico. For one Albuquerque Academy senior, Emanee Cerda, her talents will eventually be on display with a scholarship to play the sport she loves at Mars Hill University in North Carolina.
Emanee said she always grew up watching football and said she would watch her brothers play flag football.
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"I would go and watch the older groups play," Emanee said. "I always thought it was interesting, so one day I was like, why not do it?" Emanee said she would then join a flag football team in her freshman year, 2021, with all boys.
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"So I didn't have a position I wanted to play, I was actually playing with older kids cause I was 14 and I was playing in the 17-U," Emanee said. "The main position I played was running back. I did have a few plays where I threw the ball, they were like surprise or trick plays."
Follow us on social: Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Recently, Emanee said saw a post on Instagram about a showcase for women's flag football in Houston, Texas. She said she would invite her teammates join her and once she and her family got there, Emanee said would end up being the only girl from New Mexico to participate.
"At the showcase, it was mainly girls from Texas, like Dallas or Houston," Emanee said. "I was the only one who traveled out of state to participate because in New Mexico, there's not a lot of opportunities to get that exposure here in New Mexico. It was really scary and intimidating, but once I got there, everyone was really welcoming and supportive. It really got me to feel comfortable, and once that happened, I was able to show out."
She said when she was out there she received six officials offers from schools including, Mars Hill University, Cumberland University, Neuman University, Marymount University, Heston College and Bethel College. Emanee says once the showcase was over the head coach for Mars Hill came over with her mother by her side and would officially offer her a scholarship to play for their school.
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"Couple of weeks ago, I ended up traveling to North Carolina to go visit the school and immediately fell in love with the campus," Emanee said. Coach Max was very welcoming, everybody was so nice and made we wanted to choose Mars Hill."
Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free
Flag football is expected to be happening in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Emanee said her goal is to one day play for the National Team and win gold for the U.S.
"Every flag football girl who plays football wants to go to the Olympics," Emanee said. She says girls all their lives have been told football is a boys' sport, but believes the sport has helped her grow and empower herself.
"I wouldn't trade it for the world," Emanee said. "To girls who are interested in it, I would say go for it because it's a decision you won't regret, and now that it's getting more popular, there are more girls' teams starting to form all around Albuquerque. It's such a new sport and it's easier to get recognition for it an exposure for it, it's a really fun experience."
Hearst Owned
Emanee was also apart of the first ever New Mexico Flag Football team the, 'Twisted Sisters,' in 2024.
Share with us: Upload your photos and videos via uLocal
