Calexico’s own Bad Rabbits 12u team takes home USA Flag Football National Championship
The local squad won six games to win national tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina
YUMA, Ariz., (KYMA, KECY) - You can no longer talk about youth flag football without mentioning the Bad Rabbits - who with a national title win have officially made their mark on the sport.
After winning yet another tournament in Phoenix to punch their ticket to the USA Flag Football National Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Bad Rabbits 12U squad completed the job this past weekend as national champs.
"It's exciting. It's a really special thing that these girls have done," said head coach Eduardo Trujillo. "They've worked really hard for this and I'm glad we got to show it."
The hometown team out of Calexico has turned into a national powerhouse in a short amount of time. Coach Trujillo brought the team to Calexico after moving from Mexicali - starting out with just five players in total. Shortly after, it became a squad of 40 girls between the ages of 10 and 12.
While Covid cut that number almost in half for a couple of years, the Bad Rabbits continued to build as the only team in the area to travel for competition - all culminating in a 2023 run that landed them all the hardware on the national stage.
"It's really special and since we've known them since they were little girls that were 10-years-old, it's amazing to see how they've grown and how they play on the biggest stage because there were a lot of good teams over there," added Trujillo. "The championship is good but if you see how the girls are growing, that is the best for me."
Leading the way was Trujillo's own daughter, Azul, who capped off the team's hardware by bringing home the Tournament MVP for her play at quarterback.
Now Azul and the rest of the girls will finish out their time this year with the 12U team in the biggest tournament in Mexico - Touchella - in Ensenada at the end of July. After that, it's on to the 14U level for a group that has turned heads towards national attention.
