LAKE CITY, Fla. – Two Florida Gateway College Women’s Flag Football student-athletes will travel this week to participate in the 2026 U.S. Women’s Flag Football National Team Trials for a chance to represent Team USA.

FGC freshmen Nichelle Brown (#15) and Katelyn Jewell (#10) were selected as two of only 48 players in the country to participate in the trials, which will take place March 19–22 in Chula Vista, California.

The USA Football National Team Trials bring together top collegiate and elite flag football players from across the country to compete for a spot on the U.S. Women’s National Team and the privilege of representing the U.S. in international competition worldwide, including continental and world championships. The invitations come at an exciting time as the flag football community prepares for the sport’s Olympic debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“I am so excited and honored to represent Florida Gateway and Arizona at the national trials,” said Jewell, who hails from Avondale, Arizona. “I'm happy that I get to try out alongside Nichelle and show out for our program.”

“It’s a huge honor to represent FGC and my hometown of Starke, Florida, at the national trials,” said Brown. “And I am so glad that Katelyn and I get to go through this experience together.”

If Jewell and Brown are selected from the initial pool of players, they will advance to Training Camp #1, to be held in late April. There they will join FGC sophomore London Jenkins (#3), who receives an automatic invitation to this second selection round as a member of last year’s final 12-athlete U.S. National Team roster.

“I could not be more proud of—and excited for—Kate and Nichelle,” said FGC Head Coach Ricky Hufty. “I cannot think of two more deserving people, who are also tremendous players and competitors, to have this incredible opportunity and honor. They have earned the right to have this opportunity through their hard work, commitment to their craft, and special abilities on the field as well as the type of teammates and leaders they are.

“They are great representatives of our program here at FGC as well as the sport of flag football as a whole. I cannot wait to see what this experience holds for them, and they have already made us so proud here at FGC. This is only the beginning for both of them, and I am grateful we get to be a small part of their journey.”

For more information on FGC Athletics, including schedules and rosters, visit www.fgcwolves.com.