The 25th annual Kelly McGillis Classic International Women’s & Girls’ Flag Football Championship is scheduled Jan. 29-31 at Key West’s Wicker Sports Complex — and I recently chatted with Diane Beruldsen about it.
Now in its 25th year, the Kelly McGillis Key West Classic brings scores of athletic women and girls to the island city.
Diane, president and founder of the International Women’s Flag Football Association, said the tournament offers more than just the chance to bring women and girls together for a week of good, clean, safe fun in paradise. It’s more about girl power.
“We want to empower females so they can have female influence in world affairs,” she told me. “Flag football is not exactly like tackle. It’s played with more finesse and strategy — both important life skills worth developing.”
According to Diane, about 30 teams from around the globe are expected to participate in the 2016 challenge, reaffirming Key West’s reputation as a warm and welcoming crossroads of the world. In addition to teams from across the U.S., we’ll see teams from Sweden, India and Mexico — plus a Latin American team that includes players from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Chile.
When we spoke, Diane had just returned from a mission to introduce women’s flag football in Cuba, located just 90 miles across the Florida Straits from Key West. She hopes to see a team from Cuba in the 2017 tournament lineup.
Actress Kelly McGillis smiles during a practice session for a past Kelly McGillis Classic International Women’s & Girls’ Flag Football Championship. (Photo by Bert Budde, Florida Keys News Bureau)
In the days leading up to the 2016 competition, players are invited to parties at Aqua Key West and Irish Kevin’s on Duval Street, as well as lunch at Shanna Key in New Town.
“When players meet the night before, they’re less likely to play dirty on the field,” Diane told me. “They’re more likely to bond and make friends, and that’s what the IWFFA is all about: uniting female flag football players from around the world.”
The public is invited to everything, from the pre-competition parties to the opening ceremonies to the games, clinics and half-time activities. And it’s all free!
Diane reported that she and the IWFFA are grateful to local businesses. Since big corporations don’t lend their support, it’s the “mom-and-pop shops” that keep the competition alive and make it possible.
As for Kelly McGillis, Diane said the legendary actress will be at the tournament’s opening ceremonies on Jan. 28 at the Rum Barrel on Front Street.
I’ve always been a big fan of Kelly’s work — even more so when I was in acting school. For me, her most memorable performances were playing opposite Harrison Ford in “Witness” (she was nominated for a Golden Globe), Tom Cruise in “Top Gun” and Jodie Foster in “The Accused.”
Kelly McGillis, a former Key West resident, will return to the island for the 2016 challenge’s opening ceremonies.
In fact, I had a brush with Kelly back in the mid-1990s when she lived in Key West. I took friends to dinner at Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery (at that time owned by the actress and her then-husband) on the corner of Caroline and Whitehead streets. The hostess greeted us at the wait station before collecting menus and leading us to our table.
Although I didn’t immediately recognize her, one of my friends turned to me and said he was certain Kelly herself had just seated us!
After we were served our microbrews, all of us leaned forward in our chairs to catch a glimpse of our famous hostess on the other side of the interior doorway. You never know who you’ll run into in Key West …
I was thrilled when Diane told me the tournament’s namesake will be at the ceremonies. Now that there’s only one degree of separation between us (i.e., Diane), I hope to renew my “acquaintance” with Kelly in person.
For information about the flag football championship, email Diane Beruldsen at iwffa@iwffa.com.
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