St. Martin trio becomes the first females in Mississippi to sign Flag Football Scholarships

“Whenever he told us when the tryouts were, I went straight home after to my mom, told her all about it. I got super excited, I got ready for it. I went straight to Walmart too and got a football. I was just throwing from then on, until tryouts. It’s just really exciting, I was just ready for it,” said St. Martin Quarterback, Jalyn Nguyen.

From not owning a football in March to bringing home Mississippi’s first ever gold ball in girls flag football in May, this St. Martin trio has accomplished outstanding things in the short span of three months, and they know it’s not just a coincidence.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Nguyen said. “In basketball I didn’t really get to play much and it stressed me out a lot. Softball, I quit my sophomore year because it got too chaotic for me. It was just so much going on so I kind of figured, I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but maybe sports really just weren’t for me. Flag football comes around out of nowhere and it’s just like win, win, win, win, win, you know. I really do believe everything happens for a reason. All of the other sports didn’t work out because this one was waiting for me to come forth. It was just really exciting.”

“It really hasn’t even hit me yet that I’m really a part of history like I looked at the pictures and I think ‘we really did win that, like I’m a part of history,” said St. Martin safety D’Kylah Jenkins. “I need to be more loud than what I’m doing because that really is a big accomplishment. Coach Pav has coached 22 years and this is first gold ball. It’s a lot of feelings and a lot of emotions.”

“I’m glad we get the opportunity to start something for other girls, especially our teammates,” said St. Martin safety Yvette Nathan. “They work hard as well because without everybody, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Everybody played a role, and I’m glad we’re starting something for younger girls and other girls after that to come accomplish things as well.”

Not only did seniors Jalyn Nguyen, D’Kylah Jenkins and Yvette Nathan pave the way for future female athletes, but they aren’t finished writing their own story either. Just when they thought they were hanging up their cleats after walking across the graduation stage, they became the first girls in the entire state to sign college scholarships for girls flag football with Bishop State Community College.

“I don’t think I would have ever gotten a college scholarship for this and gone as far as I did, but I did and I’m really proud of myself and I am glad I took the opportunity because flag football really did a lot for me,” said Nathan. “I really had fun and I really enjoyed it. Yes you make mistakes and things like that, but even though you make mistakes and some days were hard, it was never bad. I never had a bad experience at all with flag football and I’m so grateful for that. I really had fun.”

“I played basketball and softball as well and honestly I already made up my mind that I was going to go to school for nursing and not even worry about sports. Next thing you know, a couple of months go by and I’m playing flag football, three months later we’re winning a state championship and then the next thing I know I’m getting offers and now I’m going to Bishop State and I’m still processing it,” Nguyen said. “I still haven’t fully processed it yet or anything because it’s just a lot.”

“It makes me feel good because I’m the oldest in the house, so I just look at everybody’s accomplishments. I have my parents and they’re there for me, but for me to be seen like that makes me feel really good and I’m somebody. I know I’m somebody, but I’m somebody different now,” Jenkins said.

They hope more girls will choose to be different and continue playing girls flag football in the state of Mississippi. 

“Just know that good things come unexpectedly,” said Nguyen. “Just put your mind and heart in it and you can get what you want.”

“No matter what, even if you get down on yourself, always keep your head up,” Nathan said. “Sometimes you’ll have off days or a bad day, but keep your head up. When you’re in a game, you may make a mistake, and if you do make a mistake, you just need to keep going. Leave it in that moment. Process it and let it go.”

“I’m going to tell them to do it and don’t let anyone stop you,” said Jenkins. “We got out here for three months and won a gold ball, so just imagine what you all can do with the whole season. Don’t let anyone stop you because you’re a girl, you’re short, you’re not skinny. Don’t let any of that stop you. If you put your mind to it, I promise you’re going to get it done.