Let’s all raise the flag for these Patriots from Peabody

PEABODY – Tedy Bruschi and Tom Brady might not have a permanent residence in Peabody, or even a summerhouse, but there are certainly many other Patriots that proudly call this city home.Erika Weiser, Michaela Merchant, Deanna Moreschi, Kayla Jackson, Kali Sullivan, Mary-Catherine Dunne, Tanya Williams, and Catarina Rocha are eight members of the Peabody Patriots, the Peabody Youth Flag Football League’s all girl, all-star team that recently made it to Nationals in Florida for the third year in a row.”I’ve been on the team every year and this has been one of the best years,” said 14-year-old teammate Erika Weiser. “This was my last year, so I wanted to make it really fun, and it was.”The girls headed down to Walt Disney World for the NFL Youth Flag Football Tournament of Champions on Nov. 15, courtesy of their NFL sponsor, The New England Patriots, of course. The NFL team paid for their flight, hotel stay, meals, and personalized jerseys. Each team member was also given a “bag with a bunch of different Patriots stuff,” in it said Weiser.But, it wasn’t an entirely free ride for these girls.Coach Austin Bradshaw said that the team worked hard to raise money for matching team sweat suits and theme park passes. They also had to make some serious plays on the field to even qualify for nationals.”These girls can catch,” said Bradshaw. “And these girls can throw.”Bradshaw started Peabody’s first co-ed youth flag football league four years ago. During his first season as coach, only 30 kids signed up to make four teams. This year, there are over 600 kids and 60 teams.The all-star, and more specifically, all girl team was formed when Bradshaw noticed a few girls who weren’t “allowed” by fellow male players to get involved as much as they wanted to.”So, I put the girls team together, put them against the boys team, and they (the girls) beat them,” said Bradshaw. “The boys weren’t too happy about it.”The rest is history. In fact, documented history, as the girl’s trip to Disney will appear on the NFL Network on Saturday, Dec. 8.Weiser and her fellow teammate Michaela Merchant joined players from other team across the country as they toured the park with former Philadelphia Eagles kick returner and Super Bowl Champion Brian Mitchell. Film crews caught the whole thing.”It was kind of cool, but you had to watch what you were doing because you were being taped,” said Weiser, “We got to go to all the different parks and got to skip the lines.”Mitchell even let the girls try on his Super Bowl ring.”It weighed as much as my hand,” Weiser laughed.The girls placed fifth out of 18, their highest standing in Nationals yet. Each participant got to take home an authentic plaque to remember their trip.Although Weiser and a few others won’t be able to return next year (the age cut off is 15-years-old), Bradshaw ensures that he will continue the female all-star team.”It’s a great thing,” he said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”Plus, said Bradshaw, “It gives them confidence. There are girls out there that love football, you know.”For more information on how to join the Peabody Youth Flag Football League, log on to www.peabodyyouthflagfootball.com.