Not many athletes – any age, any level – can say they’ve had a better year than Kaileigh Patterson, who hails from Nahant.
From a game-winning touchdown (with one hand) to capture a state championship for St. Mary’s of Lynn to recently making the 15U USA Junior National Team, Patterson has been making waves in the sport of flag football.
Now 13 years old with more than 39,000 Instagram followers, football has been part of Patterson’s life for the last decade.
“When I was around 3, my dad used to coach a rec league and I used to go and sit on the sideline,” she said. “I was really interested in it and I asked him if I could try it, and he allowed me and it really clicked for me and I just kept wanting to play.”
Patterson, a receiver and defensive back, is not only thriving at the high school level, but nationally, too.
Patterson was invited to New Jersey to participate in the USA Flag Football Talent ID Camp. Not only did Patterson perform well in front of scouts, coaches, and staff members, but she walked away with Northeast MVP honors.
“We did a lot of different drills to see how you move your body and how you play the game. They scout you and you can get invited to tryouts for the USA team,” Patterson said. “I felt like I had a big opportunity to prove to people what I can actually do for the sport. It felt really good to know I earned MVP.”
After New Jersey, Patterson was invited to North Carolina, where she had the opportunity to try out for Team USA.
After another successful showing, Patterson broke through and was named to the team.
“It’s been my dream since I started. I couldn’t believe that it was happening,” she said. “I’m really proud and so thankful that this sport has been growing, and that I can get an opportunity to play and call myself a member of the USA team.”
Patterson’s father, Terrell, also her travel and high school coach, touched upon his daughter’s success.
“As a parent, you’re elated that your kid has found some success, a passion, and a drive for an emerging sport. As a parent, you can only be proud to be a part of that and watch how happy she is – doing something she loves to do,” Terrell Patterson said. “It’s good for her and good to see her success create exposure to the sport for others to see how good young girls can really be at the sport of football.”
According to USAFootball.com, junior national teams will compete in the Junior International Cup in Los Angeles this summer against teams from Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, and South Korea.
Patterson is the youngest on an 18-girl roster, but that just adds fuel to her fire.
“It motivates me – being the youngest on the team,” said Patterson, who has appeared on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays segment.
Patterson said the best part of her game is her route running and ability to make defenders miss.
“I can create a lot of separation between me and my defender and once I catch the ball, I can get past all of the defenders by juking them and trying to score,” she said.
