POB Flag Football Stars Come Out on Top at QB Challenge

Star players from the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District’s championship 2023 girls’ flag football team took home first place at the National Football Foundation’s inaugural Long Island Girls Quarterback Challenge on July 16th. The challenge took place at Kings Park High School.

Quarterback Jennifer Canarutto outscored and defeated competing rivals with the help of her teammates, wide receivers Rachel Ganz and Gabi Weinstein. This was the first year the National Football Foundation has invited girls to compete at its quarterback challenge and the second year it has held one on Long Island. The event features the best quarterbacks from across the Island.

“It was an amazing experience,” Jennifer told Newsday at the challenge. “I put in the practice with the receivers all season and it showed.”

Together, the three players helped lead the POB Hawks to an undefeated 18-0 spring season in which they captured the regional title. Throughout the season, the Hawks were the dominant team on Long Island, scoring 447 points while only giving up 52. In addition to Jennifer and Rachel, Lara Glasser, Emma Heaney and Ashley Cassano were selected for the All-County team. Julia Kesselman earned All-Conference honors, and Coach Alec Abramowitz was named Nassau County Conference 1 Coach of the Year.

For more information about the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District, please visit the District’s website at www.pobschools.org. Exciting activities happening throughout the District and programs celebrating student achievement can also be found on the District’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pobschools/.