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Qianna Abeyta, Emma Gaytan and Adalyn 鈥淎ddie鈥� Huizar, all from the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 metro area, have been invited to play in next month鈥檚 Youth Flag Football World Championships in Orlando, Florida. (And yes, duh, they鈥檝e accepted). 

But when they step onto the Disney playing fields in Florida, they鈥檒l be part of a team representing Mexico.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing,鈥� Emma, a 12-year-old who attends sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 Hayes Middle School, said during a team workout Saturday at Duke City Cages on 1st Street NW. 鈥淚鈥檓 so excited. I鈥檓 representing my community, too, but also my family that grew up and were raised in Mexico. So I鈥檓 also representing them.鈥�

Mexican heritage, said James Martinez, one of the girls鈥� coaches, was a condition of their invitation to play for Mexico 鈥� that and, well, being really good at flag football. 

鈥淚 have some connections in Mexico,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淲hat they do is they look for girls not only that are from Mexico, currently living in Mexico, but have some sort of lineage back to Mexico.

鈥淭hey knew our team (Twisted Sister, which plays in sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 NFL Flag league) was very competitive. They knew we had a ton of talent. So they hit us up, me and my wife (Tia), and asked if we had three girls that would be interested in joining their team.鈥�

The Martinezes sent the Mexican team organizers video of the three girls in action. 

鈥淲e gave them some background on the girls, background of the team,鈥� James Martinez said, 鈥渁nd they ended up choosing them.鈥�

Adalyn, 14, who attends school online and who plays quarterback for Twisted Sister, displayed well-honed passing skills 鈥� arm talent, as the scouts like to say 鈥� during the workout at Duke City Cages, held under shelter on Saturday because of the threatening winter weather.

Asked what she likes about playing quarterback, she said, 鈥淛ust making plays, making sure everybody gets the ball. It鈥檚 fun to see my teammates happy about making touchdowns.鈥�

Like Emma, she鈥檚 eager to represent Mexico at World Championships.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.鈥�

Qianna, 12, a student at Lincoln Middle School in Rio Rancho, plays running back and receiver on offense, corner and middle on defense. She鈥檚 been playing flag for some four years. 

What does she like about it?

鈥淛ust the sportsmanship,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he friends you can make, the opportunities you can have.鈥�

Among those opportunities: colleges, thus far mostly small schools and junior colleges but likely Division I schools within a few years, are offering athletic scholarships for flag.

鈥淚 really want a scholarship to play in college,鈥� said Emma, who plays center, corner, middle and receiver. She and Qianna displayed sure hands during Saturday鈥檚 workout. 

As those colleges are increasingly aware, flag football for girls is booming. 

鈥淲e started off with only eight girls,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淣ow the league has approximately 150 girls participants.鈥�

Out-of-state travel is nothing new for the trio, who鈥檝e played in tournaments in Denver and Las Vegas, Nevada. But the experience of blending with new teammates, most or at least some from another country, is something new. To become part of a team, they expect to leave for Orlando three days before the competition is scheduled to start on Feb. 19. 

The three sa国际传媒官网网页入口ans are scheduled to play on Mexico鈥檚 13U (13 or under) team. Adalyn, 14, is eligible because she didn鈥檛 turn 14 until after Jan. 1, 2025.

PAYING FOR THE TRIP: A Go Fund Me account has been established to help with the cost of the young women鈥檚 expenses for World Championships. To contribute, go to and search for NM flag.

REGISTRATION: sa国际传媒官网网页入口 NFL Flag is accepting registrations for the spring. To register or for information, go to nflflag-nm.com.