Lacie Nemchick is now a part of Arizona history.
Nemchick, a junior quarterback for Gilbert Highland’s flag football team, picked up an offer from the University of Nebraska, becoming the first flag football player from Arizona to receive a college offer from a Power Four school.
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Flag football officially became an Arizona Interscholastic Association-sanctioned sport in 2023 and is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. It is on the verge of becoming an NCAA championship sport.
In January, the NCAA placed flag football into the emerging sports program. In May, flag football was recommended to become a championship sport, with the inaugural championship potentially in 2028. Nebraska was the first Power Four school to add flag football as a varsity sport.
“It’s a huge honor,” Nemchick said. “Those are great accolades and people. It’s surreal. I’ve always dreamed of going to a Power Four school, let alone playing a sport, is crazy in my mind, and flag football of all sports.
“I originally started playing with boys. I never thought I’d go D-I. To be a trailblazer is something I take pride in and it means a lot to be someone that younger girls can look up to, follow and continue to work hard.”
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Nemchick’s offer is another chapter for the state as it continues to play a role in the growth of flag football following the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic in April, the first-ever Division I flag football tournament.
“It’s exciting,” Highland coach Kenny Golladay said. “Not just for Highland, but for the entire state. It’s so important that these girls have another opportunity to go to college and play another sport. All these other sports — basketball, volleyball — are big in college. To add flag football as another opportunity for female athletes, it’s wonderful. It woke Arizona up even more to see another opportunity for female athletes.”
On June 2, Gilbert Campo Verde senior quarterback Amaya Moreno received an offer from Eastern Michigan, becoming the first in the state to pick up a college offer from a Group of Six school. Chandler senior Makayla Martinez (Under-17, Mexico) and Phoenix Xavier Prep sophomore Evie Maas (Under-15, United States) are playing with their national teams this summer, the latest in a string of local preps to do so.
Nemchick is one of the top quarterbacks in the state. She was highly touted as a freshman, making The Republic’s 2024 preseason honorable mention team before even playing a snap in high school. She threw for 3,051 yards and 36 touchdowns while leading Queen Creek Casteel to an 11-6 record and 6A playoff appearance.
Highland Hawks quarterback Lacie Nemchick (7) throws the ball against the Red Mountain Mountain Lions during their 6A semifinals playoff game at Campo Verde High School in Gilbert, on Nov. 19, 2025.
After sitting out half the season following her transfer to Highland, Nemchick – while splitting time with dual-threat quarterback Alexis Eley – threw for 1,698 yards and 32 touchdowns in nine games. She also ran for 245 yards and three touchdowns last year.
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Nemchick had Highland on the doorstep of making the 6A state championship until a late interception sparked a Red Mountain comeback. That is fueling Nemchick and the team this upcoming season.
Highland is expected to be a favorite to win the 6A state title entering 2026.
Nemchick’s offer, which came on June 19, is a turning point for the school and the program as Golladay tries to build Highland into a nationally recognized team.
“We want people to know that when you hear Highland, you’re thinking flag football,” Golladay said. “I’ve been teaching these girls. I said, ‘Just watch. Colleges are going to come and watch our practices. We’re talking about the Power Four schools. They will come here because of what we are building.’ That’s exactly what I want. That’s why I’ve been putting so much time and energy into Highland.”
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Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Highland flag Lacie Nemchick has college offer from Nebraska
