SAN ANGELO, TX — Angelo State University intramural flag football teams, including the inaugural unified team of ASU students and Special Olympics athletes, posted two top-four placings at the 2023 NIRSA National Flag Football Tournament held Jan. 6-8 in Round Rock.
In the Unified Division, ASU's The Untouchables fell just short of playing for a national championship, losing in the semifinals to a team from the University of Florida, 32-26. Along the way, they won their pool by defeating teams from Colorado State University and the University of Wisconsin and followed that up with another win over CSU to advance to the semifinals.
William Gilmore of San Angelo, a Special Olympics (SO) athlete on The Untouchables, was named an All-American in the Unified Division representing ASU. The rest of the roster included:
- William Hollis of Brady - ASU
- Malik Jones of Leander - ASU
- Trinidad Sanders of Bastrop - ASU
- Corbett Snoe of Wimberly - ASU
- Johnny Broddus of Abilene - SO athlete
- Jason Brotherton of San Angelo - SO athlete
- Donald Eddington of San Angelo - SO athlete
- Tagen Reeves of Abilene - SO athlete
- Johnny Wilson of Abilene - SO athlete
- Autumn Crudington of San Angelo - SO manager
The team was coached by ASU alum Kenneth Gunnels, Special Olympics representative, and Matt Kirkham, ASU assistant director of intramurals, club sports, and camps.
"This was ASU's first time partnering with the Special Olympics Unified Sports program," Kirkham said. "University Recreation (UREC) looks forward to continuing this partnership for future unified competitions with Angelo State students and Special Olympics athletes."
In the Co-Rec Division, ASU's Troll Tide also advanced to the national semifinals, defeating teams from Georgia Southern University and the University of Maryland before dropping the return match with Georgia Southern, 13-12, in their semifinal. William Hollis of Brady was named a Co-Rec All-American for ASU.
The Troll Tide roster also included 14 other ASU students:
- Abigail (Bailey) Connell of Westbrook
- Jaycee Crisp of Robert Lee
- Brandon Dusek of Wall
- McKenna Emert of Wilson
- Malik Jones of Leander
- Isabella Lawrence of Brownwood
- Willie McGee of Harker Heights
- Mallory Melton of Wall
- Haley Moore of Hurst
- Alyssa Sallee of Bronte
- Trinidad Sanders of Bastrop
- Corbett Snoe of Wimberly
- Brenden Woljevach of Florence
- Ronnell Young of Burleson
Troll Tide also competed in the Men's Division, advancing out of their pool before losing in bracket play.
ASU's Untouchables Flag Football Team
(Credit: ASU News)
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