Maxwell Football Club Executive Director Mark Wolpert announced that the organization will be honoring 10 girls flag football players with Mini Max Awards at the Club’s high school awards event on Sunday, February 4, 2024. This will be the first time in the Maxwell Club’s 87-year history that female players are being formally recognized for their achievements on the gridiron, and Abington Senior High School's own Maya Johnson will be among the honorees.
Maya, a junior, also serves as the team's quarterback. The team went undefeated in their spring 2023 season, going on to win the state championship and recognition from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Interest in girls flag football has risen dramatically in recent years and it is a program that has garnered great support from the NFL, and which is strongly supported by NFL franchises. Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania state high school associations are working towards recognizing girls flag football as an officially approved sport and the Maxwell Football Club has always been on the forefront of supporting developing trends in the game.
“The opportunity to engage in the support and development of girl’s flag football is a wonderful avenue for the Maxwell Football Club. Our goal is, and always has been, to support football at all levels, so the chance to be on the forefront of these amazing opportunities for girls and young women is something that we value greatly. There are so many incredible female athletes that now have the chance to play the great game of football, and to benefit from the lessons the game teaches. We are honored to be a small part of the development of this game and look forward to offering our resources and support to the young women who are serving as the pioneers of this emerging sport.”
The following players will be recognized as Mini Max Award winners for the 2023 season.
First Name | Last Name | High School |
Kimberly | Donnelly | Archbishop Ryan High School |
Stefania | DiPalma | Lansdale Catholic High School |
Krista | Quinn | Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School |
Maya | Johnson | Abington Senior High School |
Natalie | Gordon | North Penn High School |
Elaysha | Vereen | Mastery High School of Camden |
Casey | Burden | Wissahickon High School |
Nilah | Thompson | Science Leadership Academy at Beeber |
Ruth | Duink | Academy at Palumbo |
Alexis | Sears | Cedar Creek High School |
The Maxwell Club’s Mini Max Award dinner will he held on Sunday February 4, 2024 at the Drexelbrook Catering and Events Center in Drexell Hill, PA.
ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB
The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. To learn more, visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org