When the Denver Broncos launched a pilot program for girls' flag football in the fall of 2022, Denver West Athletic Director, Leon Garcia, knew exactly who to call. Erica VanNest, a math teacher at West, is known for rising to any occasion that opens new doors for students. Together, Garcia and VanNest agreed Denver West belonged at the forefront of the flag football movement, securing a spot as one of the original 24 pilot schools in Colorado.
Starting that fall of 2022, West entered the pilot program for two years and is now in its third year as an official CHSAA-sanctioned sport. The sport has expanded to nearly 90 high schools statewide.
Introducing a brand-new sport brought an initial challenge: overcoming students' hesitation toward something completely unfamiliar. To build their confidence, Coach VanNest offered reassurance that this was new for everyone. That novelty became one of the program's greatest strengths. For some students, skills from other sports transferred seamlessly. For others with no prior athletic experience, the newness offered an inviting, low-pressure bridge into sports. Because no player comes in with years of advantage, every girl steps onto the field with equal footing. This shared starting line removes intimidation and creates a quick sense of belonging.
“We’re all starting together, we’re all going to grow together,” Erica told her team. The ground-level entry point creates a culture where students feel safe taking risks. “There’s a position for everybody, and that makes flag football really unique,” she said.
Today, the Denver West team is anchored in perseverance. “The ability for us to get back up after each game, come back to practice, and work even harder is really core to our program,” Erica said. It’s a mindset that extends far beyond the field; Erica sees this perseverance carry over into her players' other pursuits and academics.
Creating pathways and building confidence is core to Erica’s passion. “The reason I do everything I do is to create more opportunities for students.”
She reintroduced AP Calculus at West so students would be prepared for the next level of mathematics, and she now coaches two sports that did not exist before: flag football and boys volleyball.
“My passion comes from creating these opportunities for students who may not have that opportunity elsewhere,” she said.