The Gym Bag: Island girls’ flag football team cops second straight national title; Ex-Wagner grid coach lands NFL job

Staten Island-based THT wrapped up its second national title in as many years by capturing the NFL Flag Football Championships in Las Vegas on Feb. 3-5.

The event coincided with the NFL’s Pro Bowl in Sin City, where a handful of Island teams competed. All those Island teams punched their tickets by winning regional events leading up to the championships. THT advanced to the NFL Flag Championships after winning the April qualifier in Canton, Ohio. As a result, THT represented the Cleveland Browns at the championships.

After going 3-0 in pool play, THT, coached by Joe Taglia and Victoria Burgarella, ran the tables in the 12-team playoffs and wound up meeting and beating the Staten Island Giants, 13-6, in the title game.

The team, which finished the tourney with a 6-0 mark, consisted of Emily Salafia, Lauren Rodriguez, Alivia Picciallo, Ava Rotondi, Madelyn Renna, Brianna Libretti, Grace Anderson, Sienna Torres, Sierra Castellan, Giuliana Bentivegna and Gia Voglio. Six of those girls were part of last year’s winning 10-U national championship squad which played in Tampa Bay, Fla.

“Seeing the smiles on these kids faces after all the hard work they put in throughout the season is priceless,” said Taglia, whose THT team plays locally in the Next Level League. “THT is about giving kids the opportunity to have experiences of a lifetime. They will talk about this forever.”

Salafia and Rodriguez were named the most valuable players of the tournament.

On the first play of the championship game at Heritage Park, Rodriguez picked off a pass and returned in it to the house. She repeated that feat late in the first half.

In semifinal, Salafia put on a show running and throwing for a TD vs. the Pirate Bay squad out of Tampa, Fla.

Ex-Wagner grid assistant lands NFL job

Justin Hinds, a former Wagner College football assistant coach, was named an assistant defensive line coach by the Chicago Bears, the Grymes Hill school announced.

Hinds coached defensive linemen and outside linebackers in 2012-13 at Wagner, where he earned a master’s degree.

Hinds was part of Wagner’s historic 2012 team, as the Seahawks won their first NEC Football Championship in school history before becoming the first Northeast Conference (NEC) team to post a win in the NCAA FCS Playoffs with a 31-20 victory over Patriot League Champion Colgate.

At Wagner, Hinds coached alongside Wagner’s current head coach Tom Masella and for former head football coach and current Athletic Director Walt Hameline.

Last year he worked at Western Carolina as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Prior to that, Hinds served as defensive line coach at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania (2018) and Central Michigan (2019-20).

Hinds is the latest former Seahawk to break through to the NFL, as multiple former players and coaches are currently working in the NFL in various capacities. Most recently, Wagner graduate Lou Anarumo coached as the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive coordinator in Super Bowl LVI.

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