Braden River Graduate Earns Spot on Ireland’s National Flag Football Team
A recent graduate of Braden River High School is taking her athletic talents to the international stage after earning a place on Ireland’s Women’s National Flag Football Team.
Maddie Baehr, an 18-year-old dual-sport athlete from Bradenton, was selected to represent Ireland in an international flag football tournament held in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The event, sanctioned by the International Federation of American Football, features national teams from across Europe competing as part of the growing global expansion of the sport.
Baehr, who recently graduated from Braden River High School, qualified for the Irish national team after obtaining dual citizenship through her family heritage and participating in a tryout in Dublin earlier this year. The selection process included combine-style athletic testing, football drills and scrimmages. She was informed of her selection in March.
A standout athlete, Baehr excelled in both soccer and flag football during her high school career. She is committed to continuing her soccer career at McNeese State University while also pursuing opportunities in flag football, a sport that will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The Amsterdam tournament serves as an important opportunity for Ireland’s national team to measure itself against other European programs ahead of future international competitions. Olympic qualification for flag football is expected to begin with the upcoming world championship events, making international experience increasingly valuable for athletes hoping to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
Baehr’s selection adds to a growing list of local athletes earning recognition in flag football, a sport that continues to gain popularity nationwide as it prepares for its Olympic debut.
