The beat goes on for Keiser University flag football player Chloe Griffin. Griffin, who graduated from Seminole Ridge High School a year ago, just finished her freshman year at Keiser University in West Palm Beach.
In addition to maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average as she has pursued a degree in integrated marketing communications, she played flag football this past spring for the Seahawks women’s varsity intercollegiate flag football team. Keiser competed nationally with other institutions under the banner of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Griffin, as an individual, and the Seahawks flag football team as a unit, had great campaigns on the gridiron this spring. While playing wide receiver, Griffin’s strong play was a big reason why the team had such a great year, which, unfortunately, ended with a loss in the NAIA national semifinals to eventual national champion Ottawa University of Kansas.
Griffin relishes the chance to play intercollegiate athletics for Keiser.
“I love working out, eating healthy and being physically active,” said Griffin, a resident of Loxahatchee. “I have enjoyed being at Keiser, where I have great professors and great coaches and wonderful flag football teammates.”
Following the end of last year’s high school flag football season at Seminole Ridge — where she and her teammates lost in the state semifinals of the Florida State High School Athletic Association’s Class 2A state finals in Jacksonville — Griffin was not interested in playing flag football at the collegiate level. But after being strongly encouraged to revisit the concept of playing for the Seahawks, she changed her mind. It turned out to be a great decision.
Statistically, Griffin had a superb season for the Seahawks. As one of the team’s wide receivers, she caught 42 passes for 641 yards and six touchdowns. Among Keiser players who caught at least 20 passes during the season, Griffin had the highest yards per catch average on the team: 15.26 yards.
She also had the team’s longest pass reception during the season: 66 yards. Griffin has vivid memories of that 66-yard reception.
“That catch was on the first play of the game in our home game against Webber International, and I scored a touchdown,” Griffin recalled. “I ran a fly pattern, and my quarterback saw me open, so she threw the ball to me.”
In that game on April 14, Keiser won 32-13.
According to Keiser head flag football coach Justin Hilliker, Griffin’s play throughout the year was a big reason why Keiser compiled an impressive 13-4 overall record, reached the Sun Conference postseason tournament championship game, and advanced to the NAIA national semifinals in Atlanta, eventually losing 26-21 to Ottawa.
“Chloe had a great season in her first year,” Hilliker said. “She was one of our last signed, but one of our biggest contributors. Coming in as a freshman, Chloe was a quiet member of the team. I think this is her natural disposition. She definitely leads by example. She loves the weight room and pushes everyone by example in there.”
Hilliker expects another strong sophomore season from Griffin next year.
“Chloe has a growth mindset and is always willing to learn,” he said. “This gives her a big advantage in life. She is never satisfied with her progress and is always striving to reach new goals. I expect Chloe to improve in every facet of her game and someone that other teams will fear.”
Griffin is delighted with her decision to continue playing flag football at the collegiate level.
“It’s a whole lot more competitive in college, where you have to fight for your position every day in practice,” she said.
Looking back on the recently completed season, Griffin recalls watching the national championship game between Ottawa University and Sun Conference rival Thomas University of Georgia.
“I was a little sad watching the national championship game, but it motivated us to get better so we can play in that game next year,” said Griffin, who is maintaining her fitness this summer by running and working out at her family’s home gym.
Griffin was not the only Seminole Ridge graduate on the Seahawks flag football roster this past spring. She was joined by sophomore Emma Wagenman, sophomore Ariana Payne and freshman Haylie Young.
