Vince Lombardi built a culture of family as he drove his team to championships in the first two Super Bowls.
Sixty years later, that same culture of family inspired another football team to claim a first-ever championship in Titletown.
With a coach-to-player roster that spanned three generations, Xavier beat Bayport 19-6 to win Wisconsin’s first girls flag football state championship on Saturday in Green Bay.
Veteran Cecilia Higgins returned to a team coached by her uncle Danny Higgins and her grandpa Glenn Higgins, and she anchored a formidable defensive line.
In another remarkable instance of family, five key players on the team shared one set of grandparents. Jessie and Steve Hietpas got to watch five granddaughters win that title — Lucy and Liv Des Jardins, Addy Hafner, Macy Hietpas and Hailey Hafner.
Players not related by blood still found a genuine family atmosphere on a team that took its assignment seriously, and also enjoyed the ride.
The Packer family itself has maintained a keen interest in expanding the prep flag football throughout Wisconsin.
The franchise offers financial support to high school programs that can field a team, and hosted the inaugural state tournament.
Head coach Glenn Higgins started the program at Xavier in 2024, and helped launch the Central Wisconsin League with five other teams that spring.
Last year the league added four more schools. Xavier went undefeated in both spring seasons then won the league title in June.
A well-coached, disciplined team that’s fun to watch, Xavier, and its competitors, bring a sense of legitimacy to a sport that should be sanctioned by the WIAA in the coming years.
In the meantime, if you get a chance to see a high school flag football game, I highly recommend you do.
As an alumni of Xavier and lifelong friend of the Higgins family, I also want to offer my congratulations on this historic title.
Go Hawks Go!
Discover more from AnotherSlice
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.