Flagged for Greatness: Training Camp Diaries with Harvard High School

As told to Gabby Hajduk

Throughout Chicago Bears Training Camp by LRS, the organization is hosting five high school girls flag football teams for exclusive visits to Halas Hall, which include access to practice and opportunities to meet players, coaches and front office executives.

Following each visit, ChicagoBears.com will highlight a special experience from the school's day in the "Flagged For Greatness" series. On Wednesday, Harvard High School became the second team to attend camp, marking a special day for the school's girls flag football team, which begins its first season this fall.

"Is it the moment or the memories?"

Harvard High School athletic director Barry Gurvey posed that question while watching training camp practice from the bleachers Wednesday morning as the school's first-year flag football team — a team the school had to fight for two years to start — sat three rows in front of him.

Gurvey, a lifelong Bears fan, understood the gravity of the moment he and the team found themselves in. They were exclusively invited to Halas Hall to watch their hometown NFL team practice, meet current players and help celebrate their historic milestone of launching a girls flag football team.

Sure, the dozen girls in attendance woke up before the sun rose, met at school for a 6 a.m. bus ride and made the hour-long trip east to Lake Forest, so they knew the invite held weight. But at 9:00 a.m., just 30 minutes into practice, Gurvey could tell the coaches in attendance were a little more excited about watching the Bears than the girls.

For the adults, it was about appreciating the moment while it was happening. Gurvey knew that for the girls, the memories of the day would ultimately be more important. And while it's likely true that the memories will resonate more for the girls days, months or even years from now, the moment did hit them right after practice ended.

For lifelong best friends and incoming freshmen Melanie Herera and Mercedes Murales, the moment quickly became, in their words, "wonderful," "magical" and "exciting."

Not only did Murales and Herera meet Bears players such as linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, their athlete ambassador, receiver Rome Odunze and safety Jonathan Owens, and receive a surprise gift of Nike cleats from Bears President & CEO Kevin Warren and his wife, Greta, they shared those experiences together.

When Murales and Herera call themselves lifelong best friends, they mean it. Their mothers became best friends in junior high, so once the girls were born, the best friend label wasn't even an option, especially considering they live down the street from one another.

During their 8th-grade year, the pair found out about Harvard's intent to launch a girls flag football team in the fall of 2025. Both girls played other sports as well, including basketball and softball, but adding girls flag football to the mix was a no-brainer. After the school made the announcement, Murales and Herera immediately asked each other, "we're doing this, right?"

Murales grew up playing backyard football with her brother and uncle, while Herera often watched the Bears on TV with her family, who have always been big fans of the team. While football isn't necessarily new to the girls, they could have never imagined playing it in an organized capacity and, much less being face-to-face and interacting with professionals who play at the highest level.

"I was shocked when our coach told us we were coming here," Murales said, "I was like, 'no way they invited us,' because we never had anything like that before.

"Just the Bears noticing us is special, because when we say Harvard, nobody really thinks about us. So coming here, it's really big for us."

Harvard girls flag football players didn't just feel seen.

They felt supported.

Edmunds, the group's athlete ambassador, spent time after practice speaking with each girl, signing their footballs and taking photos. Murales, who is practicing at both linebacker and center, took the opportunity to pick Edmunds' brain on the position.

Meeting a pro like Edmunds — a two-time Bears captain — felt like a dream to Murales.

"I was just so shocked that the players actually came to us and said hi," Murales said. "They were just so hyped to see us too, and I was just happy that they knew about flag football and they really support it.

"I love how Tremaine was just giving us tips, like 'you should do this' or 'keep your head up.' That actually helped a lot, the words of encouragement."

That moment was equally special to Edmunds, who, alongside his family, helped launch a girls flag football league in their hometown of Danville, Virginia, last year.

"Growing up, football would tend to be a boys/men's sport, but women have the passion to play the game as well," Edmunds said. "Giving them that platform and that opportunity to display their talents and display the love they have for the game is something that I definitely wanted to bring home to the city."

Edmunds' support of girls flag football extends well beyond his hometown. The veteran linebacker joined the Bears in the United in March 2024 to help kick off London's girls flag football season in March 2024. This summer, he also traveled to Spain for the club's third annual Mini Monsters tour, helping teach American football to boys and girls.

When presented with the opportunity to welcome the Harvard High School team to Halas Hall and really, the sport of football, Edmunds didn't hesitate.

"I'm glad that the Bears and the state of Illinois are bringing out the girls to come out here and witness what football consists of," Edmunds shared. "Being able to expand that throughout the Chicagoland region really means a lot, and I'm behind them 100%."

Edmunds' support provided girls like Murales and Herera inspiration and motivation they can now use during their first season.

The best friend duo never imagined Harvard or themselves receiving this type of recognition or opportunity, but that shock factor is exactly what allowed them to first enjoy the moment and down the road, will allow them appreciate the memories they made Wednesday.

"It was so exciting just to be like, 'wow, I see you,'" Herera said. "I've never met anybody like that. I'm like, 'oh my God.'

"I'm so grateful for everything that just happened today. I never thought it would go this far. I'm so happy."