April 8, 2025
By Alexandra Ruiz
Staff Writer
The girls flag football team will begin its season on April 10 with a home game against Harrison High School.
The team is mentored by Head Coach Kroncke, who assisted former Head Coach Kesack last season.
Kroncke said his goals are to unite the players and encourage them to have a strong work ethic.
“My coaching philosophy has always been a family-style atmosphere where we are always there for each other while working hard and keeping the intensity levels high,” Kroncke said.
“Every time I go to practice or a game, I am always having fun because [of] everyone around me.”
He said coaching flag football has taught him valuable lessons.
“Not everything will be accomplished when you think it will. Flexibility in our practice plan is key,” Kroncke said.
Next year, flag football will change from a club sport to a varsity sport recognized by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Kroncke said one of the hardships he anticipates for next year is that, as a result of becoming a varsity sport, student-athletes will have to decide whether to compete in flag football and another spring sport due to NJSIAA rules.
“This could make for some hard choices for the female student-athletes, not just in Lyndhurst, but all over the state,” Kroncke said.
Junior Gianna Lembo, who joined the team as a freshman, said this is her last season playing flag football because she will continue playing softball next year.
“The team will lose a lot of valuable players since many of us play another sport during the same season,” Lembo said.
Although she does not plan to return next year, she said she plans to make the most of this season.
“Every time I go to practice or a game, I am always having fun because [of] everyone around me,” Lembo said. “This sport is less strict when it comes to every aspect of it, and there are many times we can have fun rather than being so serious.”
Senior Elona Megally, who joined the team as a freshman, said her goal is to have a memorable final season.
“I hope we all have a lot of fun and we try to win [a championship] because we haven’t gotten to do that yet,” Megally said.
She said she is proud of her team’s work ethic during practices.
“Most of these girls are still learning, and [their] effort is just amazing,” Megally said. “Everyone shows up, and everyone tries their best and wants to learn.”
