Port Isabel Sirens suited up for a scrimmage on Sunday, March 8, in Mercedes. (photo courtesy/Iris Horner)
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
What started as a small group of women looking for a chance to play football has grown into a new team bringing full-contact women’s football to the Laguna Madre area.
The Port Isabel Sirens, founded by Port Isabel native Iris Horner, will kick off their inaugural season later this month as part of the South Texas Women’s Athletics league.
Horner said the idea for the team grew out of her and teammate Myra Woods’ involvement with another women’s football program in the Rio Grande Valley.
“We actually started with Brownsville Sting and South Texas Women’s Athletics,” Horner said. “We created a flag football team off of that, but we had too many girls that wanted to join and there wasn’t enough space on the Brownsville team.”
Instead of turning players away, Horner and Woods decided to create something closer to home.
“So we decided to bring something local to Port Isabel,” Horner said. “It’s a football-based community, and it’s just crazy that we hadn’t had anything like this available to women.”
The team quickly took shape. Today, the Sirens have a roster of 14 players, along with a coaching staff that includes head coach John Horner, trainer Maria Leyva, and assistant and offensive coach Cody Vasquez.
While many people assume the program is flag football, the Sirens play full-contact football and suit up with helmets and shoulder pads. Through sponsorships and community donations, players are provided all equipment at no cost.
“We’re all geared up,” Horner said. “We actually provide the equipment — shoulder pads, helmets, cleats — any equipment is provided free of cost through the sponsors that we receive.”
The team began training in December after transitioning from a local flag football group known as “Flag Me, Baby,” where many of the current players first began playing together.
Practices are typically held twice a week at Roloff Park in Port Isabel, but the team often trains in other locations around the Laguna Madre area, including South Padre Island beaches where they have combined workouts with beach cleanups.
The program also welcomes women who may not feel comfortable with full-contact play.
“We do have some girls that were scared of getting hit or hitting anybody,” Horner said. “So we keep it open to the community. If they don’t feel comfortable with the full contact part, we do separate workouts so they can still participate and get the exercise.”
For Horner, the team is about more than football.
“Enough of staying home, being moms, getting through life and all of the struggles,” she said. “Having this program gives women an opportunity to get out of the house, make new friends, collaborate with each other and even grow businesses.”
The Sirens represent the Port Isabel. Laguna Vista, and South Padre Island communities, though players travel from across the Rio Grande Valley to join the team. Members currently come from Port Isabel, Los Fresnos, Brownsville, San Benito, South Padre Island and even Rio Hondo.
Players range in age from 19 to 40+.
The Sirens compete in a five-team league that includes Brownsville Sting — last season’s champions — the RGV Lady Pumas, the Harlingen Black Widows and the Laredo Vaqueras.
Their season opener is scheduled for March 28 at 6 p.m. in Mercedes against the RGV Lady Pumas. The team expects to play eight games this season, with matchups scheduled most Saturdays through late May or early June before playoffs begin.
Port Isabel is expected to host several home games. While the team is working to secure the Port Isabel High School stadium, the Laguna Madre Youth Center field has been tentatively arranged as the home venue.
Community support has already been strong, Horner said, with local businesses and residents helping sponsor uniforms, equipment and travel gear.
“We’ve had great turnout and support from the community,” she said. “People have donated, sponsored and helped us provide everything the girls need at no cost.”
The team also makes an effort to give back, organizing group rides, beach cleanups and visits to local businesses during weekend activities.
As the season approaches, Horner said the Sirens are still recruiting players and encouraging women — even those with no experience — to give the sport a try.
“There are so many girls that are brand new and have never played at all,” she said. “Don’t let that be a reason not to try it out.”