Total Sports Development’s (TSD) high school girls flag football team continued its hot streak through the second week of the season by defeating three South Puget Sound League (SPSL) teams as conference play continues to heat up.
TSD first won both games of a double header on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at South Kitsap High School, against the Wolves 23-21 and the Sumner Spartans 33-0. The team’s final contest of the week came in blowout fashion on Friday, Dec. 13, against Spanaway Lake when TSD defeated the Sentinels 42-15 at home.
Program coach Daniel Caldwell was proud of how TSD performed last week against South Kitsap, Sumner and Spanaway Lake, stating that the SPSL is one of the toughest leagues in the state of Washington regardless of sport.
“My message to the girls after the game [against Spanaway Lake] was about their ability to overcome adversity early on,” Caldwell said. “Spanaway Lake had some really good players who made some really good plays, but our girls didn’t let it affect them at all. They moved right on to the next play and kept grinding and came out with the win.”
Following the flurry of SPSL victories, TSD moved to 5-0 and competed at home for the final time in the 2024-25 season on Wednesday, Dec. 18, against the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles. Following that league matchup, TSD’s athletes will go on Christmas break until action resumes against Curtis High School at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan 8.
“The SPSL is a super competitive league. There’s a lot of really talented girls in it, and we’re excited that we’re a part of it,” Caldwell said. “We’re also happy that we’re even able to be part of it after the levy failure because we didn’t know if we’d be able to compete. We have a small crew out here, but they’re warriors. They’re battling, and they’re just loving the opportunity to be out here in the SPSL.”
Caldwell also believes TSD has the defensive skills, toughness and attitude to compete in the SPSL. Throughout the contest Dec. 12 against Spanaway Lake, the team’s defense celebrated after big plays, high-fiving while transitioning off the field and playing with joy.
“Defense wins championships,” Caldwell said. “They’ve been doing everything that we’ve asked them to do. They’re ball hawks out there. They fly around and they’re getting interceptions. On run plays, they’re flying downhill and getting those flags pulled. They swarm everywhere they go on the field, and as a defensive coach, I love to see the defense ball out.”
On the flip of the coin, Caldwell also highlighted the TSD offense’s big-play ability behind quarterback Austin Hitchner and athletes Mariah Arnestad, Sage Rough and others. Having an explosive offense makes his job as a defensive-minded coach a little easier, he said.
“When the offense is rolling, it gives us a safety net defensively. The girls are super talented and they’re coming out and doing what they do. They’re playing catch out there and having fun doing it,” Caldwell said. “Austin has a cannon of an arm, and we have some receivers that can help her out. Any play at any given time can go the distance, and that’s what makes it so exciting. There’s so much talent out there. The girls are electric. They all bring their own piece of the pie, and ultimately they have touchdown ability on each and every play.”
Caldwell also highlighted the competitive nature of the TSD athletes, saying the girls were on the sidelines of the football field before or after practices and games asking the staff if they’d have the opportunity to compete on the gridiron this season.
“These girls are hungry, and they love the sport. They’ve been thinking about it all year long, and they just want the chance to compete,” Caldwell said. “Giving them that opportunity, it means everything to let the girls come out here and compete.”
