Akey, Thompson named to NFL FLAG High School Showcase at Pro Bowl

Mountain Vista quarterback Ariana Akey and Legend wide receiver Lucy Thompson earned berths in the NFL FLAG High School Girls Showcase during Pro Bowl week, giving Douglas County athletes national exposure on a growing stage for girls flag football. The showcase was played Feb. 3 and featured an AFC-NFC matchup that came down to the final play.

“HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO - JANUARY 18: Mountain Vista High School quarterback Ariana Akey, center, and Legend High School wide receiver Lucy Thompson, run through a few drills with their coach Garrett Looney, right, on the Mountain Vista campus on January 18, 2026 in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. (Photo By Kathryn Scott/Special to The Denver Post)” captures local preparation for the event and places both players in coach Garrett Looney’s drill work at the Mountain Vista campus.

Ariana Akey arrived in Las Vegas with a busy winter sports resume. MaxPreps lists Akey as a Senior • 2026 who captains Mountain Vista varsity basketball and varsity flag football, and also competes in track and field. Her 2025-26 basketball quick stats on MaxPreps include 12 games played, 6.1 points per game, 2.8 assists per game, 5.2 rebounds per game and 2.3 steals per game. Recent Mountain Vista wins with Akey in the stat book include a 62-12 victory over Heritage (Jan. 16), a 69-39 win over Ponderosa (Jan. 20), a 51-20 win over Castle View (Jan. 23) and a 55-49 win over Rangeview (Jan. 26).

On the Pro Bowl showcase field, USA TODAY recapped a low-scoring, tightly contested game: “Led by Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) quarterback Ariana Akey, the AFC held on for a narrow 7-6 win over their NFC counterparts.” USA TODAY described Akey’s opening-drive efficiency: “Akey was 3-for-3 passing on the drive and had multiple long runs to get the AFC within striking distance, along with calling her own number on the extra point attempt.” That extra-point rush “proved to be the difference.” The recap named Kirsten Gudmalin as the AFC receiver who caught Akey’s short touchdown strike with 8:30 left in the first half, and credited Daisy Throckmorton and Samaya Taylor-Jenkins with the NFC scoring and late-game attempt that fell incomplete as time expired. USA TODAY also noted Akey had been nominated as QB1 by the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 flag football committee.

Lucy Thompson’s selection adds Legend High School to the local contingent at the showcase. The Denver Post described Thompson as a multi-sport star and placed both athletes among Colorado’s Class of 2026 standouts. Local coaches and teammates have highlighted how Thompson balanced fall sports and flag football in the build-up to the Pro Bowl event.

For Douglas County, the selections underscore the depth of female athletic talent at Mountain Vista and Legend and the expanding visibility of flag football as a pathway for high school athletes. Schools and youth programs can point to Akey’s Super 25 recognition and the showcase appearance as evidence that local athletes are competing at the national level. Community follow-up should pursue full box scores, coach and player reactions, and any post-game plans for the athletes as they complete their senior seasons.