By John Knebels • Posted March 27, 2025

After area collegiate student athletes discovered in February that the Atlantic East Conference had officially added flag football as an officially recognized NCAA sport, celebrations commenced.

Imagining the possibilities of participating in a sanctioned college sport, players from the seven schools that comprise the Division III conference – including Catholic universities Immaculata, Neumann, and Holy Family (Chestnut Hill College is slated to begin in 2026) – quickly and excitedly prepared to learn everything about the game, although some had already played in high school.

“I wanted to play flag football when it first started in high school, but since I played softball, it was not possible,” said Immaculata freshman Eliana Szatkowski, who also played basketball and volleyball at Archbishop Ryan. “Once I found out it was starting as a college sport at Immaculata, I was so excited to be able to play.

“I am so excited to be a part of the first season. I always loved watching football growing up, and I think it’s great that women’s flag football is becoming so popular.”

On Wednesday night, March 26, Szatkowski starred in the Mighty Macs’ 19-7 victory at Neumann. After having earlier made a key interception, Szatkowski’s 10-yard touchdown catch with 2:20 remaining in regulation clinched the outcome and improved Immaculata’s record to 2-5 while dropping the Knights to 2-3.

Szatkowski has already established herself as one of the conference’s standout performers. She was earlier named “defensive player of the week” and has already tallied five touchdowns.

Also a volleyball player at Immaculata, the Our Lady of Calvary Catholic School product and current nursing major said her experience as a student-athlete at Ryan significantly aided her ability to adapt to the pressures of high expectations and time management.

“It got me used to balancing school work with practice every day and staying disciplined,” said Szatkowski. “Also, it helped me become a better teammate and leader.”

One of Szatkowski’s teammates, Immaculata sophomore Natalie Dodd, also played three sports at Archbishop Ryan – field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. Also a field hockey player at Immaculata, Dodd plays either quarterback or wide receiver.

While at Ryan, Dodd played club flag football, but had already graduated before the Philadelphia Catholic League formally adopted the game as an official sport this past spring.

Last May, Archbishop Wood captured the inaugural PCL title.

“I am extremely excited for it to be a collegiate sport,” said Dodd, a St. Martha Catholic School alum who majors in elementary and special education. “Having the opportunity to continue playing the sport I love at a higher level means so much to me.”

Other flag football players with PCL roots include Holy Family juniors Sabrina Krumenacker-DeJesus and Grace Bergmark, both from Archbishop Ryan; Neumann University senior Ty’onna Wright and junior Haley Price, both from Bonner-Prendergast; and Neumann sophomore Yanashia Thomas of Cardinal O’Hara, who recently scored her first touchdown.

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Szatkowski. “I have four years to learn the game better and make new friendships and memories. I have always wanted to play and never thought it would be at the college level. So, I am very excited and have been having a lot of fun so far.”

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Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X” @johnknebels.