Some things are seemingly meant to be.
Barbara Hertline, the admissions and advancement project manager at Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, NJ, didn't have any experience coaching a high school team. Nevertheless, when the school's athletic director, Jim McHugh, approached her about being the inaugural head coach of the girls flag football team last year, she had no hesitation.
"I said, 'Absolutely!' I had helped with coaching on the level of middle school and Little League, things like that, but nothing quite on this scale," Hertline said. "Really, when he came to me, it was one of those things where there was a need and I thought it was just an exciting opportunity for the girls. And I can never say no to the students. So I said that I would absolutely love to give it a try and see if we could implement this program at the school."
Along with the assistance of Ken Klotz, Bill Hertline, and Meg Madden, the coaches have not just taught the girls how to pass, catch, block, and grab flags, but have also stressed the importance of being a good role model and teammate.
"We celebrate each other's accomplishments and achievements because we win as a team and lose as a team," Hertline said. "Many of our players have already received special recognition and awards or offers to play in college after they graduate. These are all circumstances that we celebrate together because we have all played a part in achieving these goals for one another.
"It's so much more than trying to win games; it's the life lessons that we are learning along the way. In setting the tone and expectations from the start, although not the typical focus of many teams, we have become a very special family."
A special family and a special team.
Last season, Camden Catholic posted a 12-5-1 record and reached the second round of the West Jersey Football League playoffs. Through eight games this season, they're 5-3.
"Something that I told them last year, I don't care if we win a single game," Hertline said. "I just want to see them come together as a team, as a family, to support each other, to really lift each other up. I'm just so proud to see how they have supported each other.
"These are groups of girls from all walks of life that probably were not friends or would not have normally been friends at school. But they've built these friendships and they see that being a part of a team like this, it's so much more than just playing games. I think it's an outlet that a lot of them really needed to grow for their own personal reasons, too.
"We have such a great group. I didn't think that I could love it or love a group of kids so much, but they've meant everything to me because they've been so supportive. They've been so receptive to the program, learning along the way. They've been very flexible as we're coaching them and see what works for them and what doesn't.
"So to see that we've been able to give them this possibility, this opportunity, this outlet, for a lot of these girls, they haven't found 'their thing' yet, but it's something that they really love. And to see how they're just growing, loving this, and shining through this sport so much, to me, it's just been a whole different level of admiration for them."
Admiration as well as pride, Hertline champions what the team is accomplishing on and off the field. Away from the game, they are a part of Morgan's Message, an organization that brings awareness to mental health among student-athletes. A few of the players are student ambassadors and help prioritize the importance of mental health within the team.
They have also volunteered at the Burlington County Toys for Tots Back to School event, collected several hundred pairs of sneakers for the GotSneakers recycling program, and teamed up with a local small business, Sabrina's Boutique, to collect monetary donations and new clothing for the Sisters of Joseph House in Camden.
In addition, they participated in the school's Shamrock Shuffle for Irish Giving Day, raising money to help with tuition assistance for some students to attend Camden Catholic High School. The team also collaborated with the St. Joseph Academy Servant Leadership Institute to collect gently used prom dresses, which will benefit the Guadalupe Family Services in Camden.
Given the way the girls are helping others in the surrounding communities and doing a great job representing the school in their games – win or lose – Hertline is clearly a respected and admirable role model and is more than deserving to be named as the Philadelphia Eagles Girls Flag Football High School Coach of the Week.
"To be recognized in such a way is really an emotional moment because I would never have expected it. It's not something that I would have thought of even years down the line, let alone just two years into our history of this sport," Hertline said.
"But really, it is a true honor to be recognized because this is just something I'm so excited to be a part of, and glad that we've been able to bring it to the girls. Especially the way that it's literally sweeping the nation as one of the fastest-growing sports.
"I'm not one for the spotlight, so it's almost a little embarrassing, to be honest. I'm just doing it because I love it so much for the kids. But I'm really glad and I'm appreciative because I do think that we have a wonderful program."
