NY Women’s Football Team To Defend Conference Title In Upcoming Season

Did you know football is the fastest growing new sports venue for women athletes in the United States? It has grown from three teams in 1999 to more than 100 nationwide for the upcoming season.

The New York Sharks Women’s Professional Football Team is currently home to 50 football players from the tri-state area who represent New York. They are ranked #1 in the country based on last year’s championship season.

The Sharks kick off their fifth season on Saturday, April 3. They will host the Atlanta Xplosion at August Martin High School, located at 156-10 Baisley Blvd. in Jamaica, Queens.

The New York Sharks began the 2003 season as the defending Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL) Champions. The Sharks looked strong with many veteran players returning for the new season, but there were still some question marks. The biggest concern was with the offensive and defensive lines.

New York lost 3 out of 5 starters on the offensive line and 3 out of 4 starters on the defensive line. To make matters worse, defensive end Beth Nugent injured her knee in training camp and was lost for the season, giving the Sharks only 2 lineswomen, Anna "Tonka" Tate and Debra Wasilewski, returning for the season.

Having one year under his belt to get to know what his players can do, returning head coach Nick Gianatassio unleashed quarterback Val Halesworth and receivers Val "Peanut" Monaco, Liz "Magic" Presto, and Jen Blum on the rest of the league. The result was the Sharks filled the air with footballs for league records in passing yards and touchdown passes. The passing game was so potent that the Sharks had 50% more passing yards than any other team in the league.

For more information and tickets, visit the New York Sharks website
at www.nysharksfootball.com or call Andra Douglas, owner, and player, (212) 645-4611, or Crystal Turpin,
General Manager, (646) 552-5798.