Front row – left to right:
Ayden Klaiber, Payton Ward, Devon Miller, Blaylin Blalock, Shelby Fulse. Back row – left to right: Coach Robert Blalock, Sharai Roberts, Coach Brian Miller, Adiyah Jones, Charlotte Stringer, Coach Patrick Roberts, Anya Amin, Hannah Beal and Coach Melonesse Beal.
Rising 9th graders – Sharai Roberts, Blaylin Blalock, Payton Ward, and Shelby Fulse.
Blalock Family – Michelle, Robbie, Blaylin and Robert .
By MONIQUE STAMPS
Sentinel Staff Writer
While we all cheer for our favorite football teams and players at every level, girls are largely left out of traditional football. However, the eleven Tampa teen girls on the South Tampa Saints are garnering attention for their feats on the football field.
The young ladies are headed to the 2024 Spring RISE National Championship Tournament in College Park, MD. on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
RISE Flag Football powered by Under Armour is a new youth flag football experience for boys and girls ages 5-15. As one of Under Armour’s premier youth sports partnerships, RISE Flag Football integrates fun, competition and football skills to build confidence and leadership for youth athletes nationwide.
Saints coach, Robert Blalock says that invitations were sent to the four top teams; FL (South Tampa Saints), PA, CA, and VA. RISE or U-RISE is currently in ten states and growing rapidly. Coach Blalock said that flag football is currently the fastest rising sport in the country.
The young ladies will have pool play, where they compete against the other three teams, then play for the semi-finals, and on Sunday, the finals.
Coach Blalock says that he wasn’t sure that he would take the job when fellow coach Melonesse Beal and her husband Damian asked him to come aboard.
“The first thing that I noticed was the South Tampa Saints was the only flag football team that had any Black players. That piqued my interest.”
“I also noticed that a few of the girls needed guidance and exposure to organized sports, while developing strong Christian values. We strive to guide these young ladies to reach higher and achieve their goals.”
Coach Blalock is the COO and CIO at Benebay, a health risk management company, and Zaxby franchise owner. He lives in Tampa with his wife, Michelle, and daughter Blaylin, who plays on the Saints team. Son Robbie is a student at Tennessee State University.
