Elena Newsom of Indianapolis Herron High School has been nominated for the Maxwell Football Club's (MFC) first-ever Girls National Flag Football Player of the Year award.
The Maxwell Football Club, based in Philadelphia, recognizes excellence in football at the high school, collegiate and professional levels and is home to several of football's most prestigious awards including the Maxwell, Chuck Bednarik and Bert Bell awards.
The club created the Girls National Flag Football Player of the Year to recognize the top high school student-athletes in the fast-growing sport.
Working in partnership with NFL clubs who submitted nominations in the fall, MFC's selection staff, which is comprised of leaders in girls flag football and women's athletics across America, evaluated players based on on-field performance, academic achievement and community service.
The inaugural award will be presented on Mar. 14 at the 88th Maxwell Awards at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
"Elena Newsom is a role model who elevates everyone around her, making her an exceptional candidate for this recognition," said Herron athletic director Matt George. "Elena has demonstrated extraordinary skill, commitment and leadership both on and off the field. She took the initiative to recruit and develop her team, organizing call-out meetings and fostering a supportive environment that strengthened the program."
Elected captain by her teammates, Elena hosted player meetings to review plays, analyze film and strategize for improvement. Her efforts have enhanced team performance and created a thriving athletic community. On the field, she excelled as a long snapper and led the team in touchdowns. Elena also filmed games and created highlight reels to run on the team's social media page, which she established to promote the sport.
Elena's influence extends far beyond the field. A natural leader, she balances her athletic commitments with academic excellence, maintaining a GPA above 4.0 while taking multiple AP courses. She has exceeded the school's community service requirements and holds leadership roles in the student-athlete council, homecoming committee and school activities committee. Notably, she organized and led the school's Open House, recruiting volunteers and preparing them with scripts to welcome families.
"Football instills important life skills beyond the sport itself, so we're proud to recognize Elena Newsom, who exemplifies these values as a student-athlete and a school and community leader," said Mike Prior, Colts Football Development Commissioner.
