Lauren Halpern
•8/1/2026
ESTERO, Fla. (WINK) — The Summer Showdown girls flag football tournament has grown from three teams to 24 teams in just three years.
17-year-old Bella Martinez plays for Shiver Girls Flag Football under a coach dedicated to giving female athletes in Lee County equal opportunity. She credits Thomas McGuire's commitment to growing the sport and empowering young women.
"It was a hot mess at first. But we all learned together, and we all started growing the program together," Martinez said.
Martinez praised her McGuire's transition from boys' football to girls' flag football. "He cares so much about growing, growing the sport, and really empowering young females like myself and my teammates. And it's really inspiring to see how much he's grown from being a boys' football coach to switching the jump and going. I want this for girls. I want them to be fair. It has to be fair, and it has to grow," she said.
The tournament's growth reflects the sport's expanding presence in Lee County. Teams from across Florida competed in the event.
"It's just exciting to see the growth and the teams from pretty much every corner of the state coming here to compete. Just a desire for girls to want opportunities to compete, and you know it really helps when you're seeing the NFL flag on ESPN," said McGuire, the tournament director and coach of the Bonita Springs Shiver.
McGuire, a Bonita Springs High School coach, started the tournament three years ago with only two other teams. Tom Pusateri, coach of Clearwater C-Side, was part of that original group.
"We were one of the original three, so it was us and Bonita Springs and Lakewood Ranch, and that's when I really got to know Thomas, and we've grown from there. Our friendship has grown," Pusateri said.
The coaches' partnership has created more opportunities for competition and advancement in the sport. "The growth, especially over the last 10 years, has been explosive, and it's great for the game. It's why McGuire and I became really good friends. We're trying to all of us grow the game together. It's the old saying: 'The rising tide lifts all boats,'" Pusateri said.
Flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028, marking a significant milestone for the sport's continued growth.
