The Timothy Christian girls flag football team got its 2026 season started in impressive fashion with a 53-0 non-conference victory over Elmwood Park.
“We were able to play our entire roster, getting valuable experience for many of the freshmen,” Trojans coach Bill Ridder said. “Our veteran players got us off to an early lead and handed the reins to the newcomers, and we saw some great first performances all around.”
Timothy is in the second year of its flag football program and is coming off a 2025 season where it went 7-5 and won two IHSA playoff games before losing to Chicago Kenwood Academy in the regional final.
“We are looking forward to picking up where we left off last season,” Ridder said. “We had a great turnout, enough to field a varsity and a JV squad with nearly 30 girls playing, including 11 freshmen.”
Ridder noted flag football was not a Chicagoland Christian Conference sport last year, but will be this year. Timothy went 1-3 last season against CCC squads.
Ridder pointed out Timothy graduated its top two quarterbacks from last season and lost its top two productive running backs (one to injury and one to a transfer).
Timothy’s starting quarterbacks this season are returning junior and dual-threat Chloe Granger, along with junior newcomer Mia Foy, who Ridder noted has a strong arm.
Sophomore Kylee Zielke will play on both sides of the ball, including being the featured back. Zielke was Timothy’s quarterback sacks leader last year “and should be very involved on both sides once again,” Ridder said.
Returning senior Jaida Augustus will help out in the backfield.
New seniors Gabriella Fisher, Lydia Kwak and Bri Pasek are all expected to step into major roles and assume leadership positions, along with returning senior Sadie Tameling.
Ridder said two more players to keep an eye on are returning sophomores Olivia White (center and linebacker) and Norah Brehm (outside receiver and cornerback). Both played meaningful minutes as freshmen.
Timothy returned to action earlier this week for the start of CCC play in Kankakee against Bishop McNamara.
