By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Champlain Lennoxville has introduced a new Women’s Flag Football team this year, an initiative that has generated significant enthusiasm among students and staff. This marks the first time the CEGEP has fielded a women’s flag football team, a project spearheaded by retired Galt Vice Principal Jim LeMaitre, who now serves as the team’s head coach.
LeMaitre, who has a long history with football in the region, explained in an Aug. 28 interview that the idea for the team came naturally, given the growing interest in the sport among young women in the area. “When [it was] first posted on Champlain’s student messaging board, 62 girls signed up,” LeMaitre recalled. The overwhelming response highlighted the demand for such a team, but it also presented logistical challenges. “It kind of put the fear of God in me for a couple of days,” he admitted.
The enthusiasm for flag football in the Eastern Townships isn’t new. LeMaitre noted that many high school girls have long wanted a league of their own. However, opportunities were limited, with most leagues requiring extensive travel, particularly to the Montreal area. “A lot of the girls who played at local high schools like Galt, Triolet, and la Ruche ended up at Champlain but stopped playing because there was no team,” LeMaitre said. The introduction of the Champlain team now gives these players a chance to continue competing at a higher level.
