Franks carving out her own legacy

By Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

Girls flag football is still a new sport at the high school levl, but these young ladies are already making a name for themselves.

Kate Franks, a senior at Plainedge High School, is one of the best players on Long Island, Heading into last spring, the then junior was named one of the Top 50 players to watch. That is some high praise, and a lot of pressure for someone to live up to.

Franks won’t deny the expectations were tough to live up to at the beginning. But, from the help of her coaches and teammates not only did Franks live up to those expectations she surpassed them.

“When I was first told I was named one of the top 50 players on Long Island, I immediately felt the pressure of having to live up to that expectation,” stated Franks. “Not only did my coaches help build me as an athlete to stay up to that expectation, but the love I received from my teammates and family also helped me push through the pressure, and helped me become the player I am now.”

Franks had a breakout junior campaign with nearly 1,000 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Her explosive speed was on display time and time again as she broke for big runs when it looked like she would be stopped for a little to no gain.

Franks has good vision on the field, and pick out the whole pretty quick From their she uses to speed to get by defenders who may have an angle on her. The scary part is Franks wants more. After the season, she went right back to the lab to work on her game some more.

“After seeing the goal of having almost 1,000 rushing yard this year as well as 10 touchdowns, I had immediately set the expectation to beat that my senior year, and better myself as a player,” stated Franks. “A key part of that is the training I have been doing in my off-season at LI Athletes institution, and receiver training with my team as a whole, and privately with my quarterback Gianna and my coach. Knowing that this training will help me better those numbers for my senior year and build me towards the next steps for college as well.”

Franks might be the one getting the accolades but it has been a team effort from the start. The team had goals of winning titles and states championships, and non one was going to stop them.

It started with each other holding everyone accountable. From Day 1 everyone wanted to get better. Everyone was training and working toward one goal. It didn’t matter if they won or lost, it was the ability to get back in and work harder for the next game. That is what really brought the team together.

“My goal from the start of the season was to do better than last year, to push for the Long Island championship & hopefully add a state championship on top of that as well. My teammates have done nothing since day 1 but better themselves and work on their skills endlessly, some girls went from never touching a football to becoming starters on our offensive and defensive lines, and I have nothing but the connection we have as a team, as well as the family we have as a whole team to thank for that,” stated Franks. “I think that's what pushed us the most. It didn't matter if we won or lost a game, the ability we had as a team to get past the losses and focus on the next play/game really brought us together. And I knew that I couldn't make it to LIC’s or the State championship alone, it wasn't just my journey to make it there it was the teams, and without them none of any of the titles we won this year would have been possible.”

With the breakout season Franks had colleges starting to take notice. More than 50 colleges are offering flag football either at the Division II, III or NAIA level. College coaches are looking all over the country for the best players to fill out their rosters.

Robert Wesleyan University, a Division II school in Rochester, just added flag football. They saw what Franks could do on the offensive and defensive side of the ball and offered her. For Franks, it was her first college offer, and one that she is grateful for.

“I am very appreciative to have received my first offer from Roberts Wesleyan University, and to be honest I'm very glad for it. Joining flag football as a freshman I didn’t really see opportunities to play in college since the sport was still growing,” stated Franks. “I'm very glad to see the program not only growing in high schools, but in colleges as well. I am very excited to see what the future holds as far as recruitment opportunities for my college journey, as well as the opportunities I've had so far speaking with other coaches.”

It has been a journey so far. Franks is new to the recruiting process and is still learning about herself. As she puts herself out there the feedback from coaches could be harsh at times. But, it can also be rewarding.

It allows her to see what she might need to work on as her senior year gets underway. As she looks to make the jump to the next level, Franks knows there is always something she needs to improve on to make an impact at a college next year.

“As I am still going through the recruitment process I've been able to learn more things about myself by not only being told by coaches the potential I have as a player now, but the potential I can build up throughout my off-season and my senior year in high school,” stated Franks. “I've learned that if I want to be the best player I want to be going into college that I am going to have to work for it, and I'm glad I've had many opportunities to do so.”

Franks also knows she needs to kill it in the classroom. Sports will only get you so far in the recruiting process, coaches are still looking at what you are doing in the classroom.

Franks admitted she needs to get better at that part. She doesn’t shy away from the fact that she let the student aspect of student-athlete slip a little. She is already bettering herself when it comes to the classroom as she is looking to become an all-around better student-athlete.

“As I look towards playing at the next level, and not just as a player I feel like I need to work on bettering myself as a student as well, I noticed that while I continued to work on bettering myself as a player, I tended to fall a little behind as a student,” stated Franks. “Whether it was leaving little to no time to study or handing in a homework assignment late, it made me realize that if I want to be playing at the next level, things like that become unacceptable. So as much as I want to be a college athlete I also need to start prioritizing the student in me to also be a college student.

As her senior season gets underway, Franks is looking to continue to push herself like she has done since her freshman season. She just isn’t doing it for herself, but for her family, coaches and her friend who recently passed away.

Her friend always had that drive in him to push himself just a little harder, run a little faster or jump a little higher. Franks is hoping to finish what he started this season.

“As I get ready for my senior year playing flag football I have the expectation to keep pushing myself, not just for me, my family, my team, or my coaches but for my friend who had passed away,” stated Franks. “He always had this drive in him that always made him push harder or to run a little faster, and honestly continuing to improve myself to live out the legacy he couldn't finish. The expectation I set for myself in the off season as well as my senior season is to drive, to push harder just like he would have to continue out his legacy he left behind.”