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 student
Malik Jones of Leander – ASU student
Trinidad Sanders of Bastrop – ASU student
Corbett Snoe of Wimberly – ASU student
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
Matt Kirkham 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.
