OVIEDO, Fla. — Since the sixth grade, Eva Decesare has learned a lot about herself on the football field.

"I can play a sport that is mainly tailored to guys, and girls are able to play it now," said Decesare. "It’s inspiring that the sport has grown to be that."

What You Need To Know

  • Oviedo High School's Eva Decesare signed a scholarship to play flag football at Kansas Wesleyan University

  • She is the first female athlete at Oviedo to receive a flag football scholarship

  • According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, girls ages 6 to 17 playing flag football have increased by 63% since 2019

Decesare has a lot to reflect on during her playing days at Oviedo, despite only playing on the team for two years.

"I’m glad to play with the team I did, and I’m sad that I’m leaving, but I'm excited to see what the future has," she said.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, girls ages 6 to 17 playing flag football have increased by 63% since 2019. Now, with the sport added to the Olympics in 2028, it helps Decesare's opportunities to compete in the sport at a higher level.

On May 6, Decesare signed a scholarship to play at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas. She is the first female athlete at Oviedo to receive a flag football scholarship. She picked the NAIA school after a few years of research.

"I toured Kansas Wesleyan, I really liked the team aspect, the dorms, the location, the coaches — just everything about it," said Decesare.

During the fall, Decesare was on the football field for another team: she was a member of the marching band playing the trumpet. When she goes to Kansas Wesleyan, she will be able to perform both passions.

"It’s really exciting because I was torn between whether I wanted to pursue sports or music in college. I was weighing both them out," she said. "It was hard to find a college where I could do both, so when I had the opportunity to at Kansas Wesleyan, it really just stuck out to me."

Playing flag football at Oviedo is a family affair for Decesare. Her sisters, Julietta and Gabriella, were also on the team.

"I’ve been playing with them for most of my flag football career," she said. "It’s been super fun, my family all come out to the games and we all have a good time and it's even more fun when all three of us are on the field at the same time."

Decesare plans to study psychology and social work while at Kansas Wesleyan University.