Cornwall Men’s Flag Football League: Carlos Rodriguez

This month, Sports Energy’s Flag Football piece focuses on incoming league vice president, Carlos Rodriguez. “In 2005,” Carlos says, “at the age of 24, I made the life-changing decision to move to Canada. My passion for football drove me to seek out a local league where I could continue playing the game I love. Back then, finding such opportunities wasn’t as straightforward as it is today. Social media was in its infancy, and discovering a league often depended heavily on word of mouth and personal connections. Fortunately, a friend’s advice led me to an invitation for me to join a league. I eagerly accepted and have been an active participant ever since.”

“Having not grown up in Cornwall—or even in Canada—the league has given me the incredible opportunity to forge countless friendships,” Carlos continues. “It’s been a joy to meet remarkable individuals of all ages. As time passed and we transitioned from players to mentors, I see us passing on the flag-carrying the same principles. The league remains robust, upholding the timeless foundations of a true gentleman’s game.”

Carlos doesn’t have a single most memorable moment, it seems, but rather a series of connected ones.

“To provide some context,” Carlos explains, “I’ve played for four different teams since joining the league, and I’ve been with my current team for the past nine years. When I first joined, our team had a reputation for consistently finishing at the bottom of the standings. However, along with my friend Kevin Ceaser, we restructured the team and made significant progress over the years.”

“One of the most memorable moments,” he says, “was in 2021 when we achieved the #1 seed in the playoffs and advanced to the championship game. That same year, Kevin Ceaser was also inducted into the CMFFL Hall of Fame. Although we didn’t win the championship, the journey was incredibly memorable due to the many struggles our team had to overcome to achieve that level. My favourite moment also revolves around the playoffs. We were second to last in the standings, and our opponents had already counted us out. The game came down to the last play, where we secured the win. This victory was particularly special because it changed the league’s perception of our team and marked a turning point in our journey.”

As for Carlos’ impending tenure as the league’s VP, he says, “I am eager to contribute to the league in every capacity. With the introduction of flag football into the Olympics, the sport’s exposure to young athletes is rapidly increasing. The Cornwall Wildcats are doing an exceptional job in the community promoting the sport to children of all ages. Over the next 5-10 years, I anticipate our league growing to encompass up to ten teams. This potential for expansion is truly exciting!”