By Micahya Costen
Moving from New Jersey at a young age to Columbus, flag football athlete Alexandria Lofton became the first and only girl in Georgia to make the 17u national flag football team.
In her freshman year of high school, Lofton embarked on her flag football journey after learning about the team through a teammate. Intrigued by the opportunity to explore a new sport, she eagerly decided to try it out.
With a background in soccer inherited from her older brother, Otis, who instilled in her a passion for the sport, Lofton viewed her experience as a goalkeeper as a cheat code, allowing her to transfer those skills to flag football.
“His joy for soccer, and his joy with playing with me really inspired me to really grow, improve and really love the sport,” Lofton said.
Throughout her progression toward earning a spot on the national team, Lofton, who plays wide receiver and safety, emphasized the significance of maintaining a positive mental state. She advises fellow athletes to prioritize mental well-being on their athletic journey, emphasizing the pivotal role confidence played in her own advancement.
“My freshman year, I got hurt. So for me, it was like really a struggle for me to get back to it. I sprained my meniscus, fractured my knees and it really sucks,” Lofton said. “I focused on the IQ on how I can enhance my performance on the field without really having the ability to do that. Because, as you know, if you’re mentally there, if you’re mentally disciplined, your body will follow.”
Lofton expressed gratitude to coach Christian Grier for his instrumental role in facilitating her opportunities and accompanying her throughout her journey to success and beyond. She credits him with being a helpful component of her achievements.
The process of getting to this point involved Grier providing Lofton with details about the national team, for which she participated in a digital combine that included pushups, jumps and assessments of her overall achievements. Grier submitted Lofton’s information to the team in December and anticipated their decision in January. They chose Lofton. She’ll start training camp with the National League in May.
“When I arrived and I saw everybody practicing and we were all playing, I realized, ‘Hey, everybody is great at this level.’ So, what is going to separate me from the competition? What’s going to make me unstoppable from everybody else?’” Lofton said. “Because everybody can run around, catch a ball pool flag.”
“So for me, after our practices every day at the trials, I would get my coach and we would go over film not just on myself but on other people. See where I can clean up my mistake, but also find other people’s mistakes and their weaknesses so I can dominate on those” she said.
Lofton would advise other athletes to keep in mind that hard work and preparation pay off, and to not shy away from seizing opportunities, especially when the pressure is on. She encourages athletes to embrace tough situations and persevere through them.
“And remember, you don’t compete with anybody. You make them compete with you. It’s you versus you out there, and you shouldn’t be putting that pressure on yourself,” Lofton said.
Lofton solidified her position as the top wide receiver by becoming No. 1 in the nation in total points and touchdowns for her class, along with being ranked No. 1 for scoring and receiving yards. She has more goals set ahead of her, including taking steps to play flag football at the 2028 Olympics.
Since she owns a number of Nike products, Lofton would be thrilled to be sponsored by them if given the opportunity. She sees a Nike sponsorship as a chance to show her loyalty and dedication to the brand while inspiring others to pursue their athletic goals.
Overall, Lofton wants to continue to hone her skills and inspire others to achieve the greatness instilled within them, brush off and own their mistakes and show off the talent and skills that go beyond gender boundaries in sports.
“Ultimately, I want to leave a lasting legacy in my sport and inspire future generations of flag football players,” Lofton said.
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