In the final months of her senior year at McKinley High School, Ayva Walthall is still meeting new classmates.

Girls flag football season officially begins tonight in the O‘ahu Interscholastic Association with 12 games scheduled at six campus sites. In its inaugural season, Walthall is playing with girls she first met a month ago when practices commenced.

“It’s fun getting to know other people and meeting new people and trying to bond with them,” said Walthall, who also plays basketball. “It’s been a fun experience.”

League play is underway in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation and Maui Interscholastic League. OIA action continues this Friday and Saturday.

“Our dynamic is really well for a bunch of girls who haven’t played with each other before,” said McKinley junior Kiana Aga, a transfer student who didn’t know any of her teammates.

This is the first new sport for high school girls in over 20 years. Hawai‘i is the 12th state in the country to sanction girls flag football as a high school sport. There are 46 Hawai‘i public and charter schools statewide, along with some private schools, fielding a team.

Another 18 state associations have independent or pilot programs, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

“I’m looking forward to show what we’re capable of,” Walthall said. “That’s the main thing.”

Teams will have the opportunity to compete for league and state championships this spring. The Hawaii High School Athletic Association’s state tournament is scheduled for April 30 to May 3 at Pearl City High School and Mililani High School.

“We can play football, too,” Aga said. “We may not be tackling each other but we can still play and we can still be competitive.”

This week’s OIA match ups:

Tuesday, March 25

At Aiea

Pearl City vs. Mililani, 6 p.m.

Leilehua vs. ‘Aiea, 7:30 p.m.

At Radford

Waipahu vs. Campbell, 6 p.m.

Waialua vs. Radford, 7:30 p.m.

At Waianae

Dreamhouse PCS vs. Kapolei, 6 p.m.

Nānākuli vs. Wai‘anae, 7:30 p.m.

At Castle

Farrington vs. ‘Anuenue, 6 p.m.

Kahuku vs. Castle, 7:30 p.m.

At Kaiser

Kalāheo vs. Kalani, 6 p.m.

Kailua vs. Kaiser, 7:30 p.m.

At Roosevelt

Moanalua vs. Roosevelt, 6 p.m.

Kaimukī vs. McKinley, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 28

At ‘Aiea

Radford vs. Leilehua, 6 p.m.

Mililani vs. ‘Aiea, 7:30 p.m.

At Waialua

Waipahu vs. Nānākuli, 6 p.m.

Pearl City vs. Waialua, 7:30 p.m.

At Kapolei

Wai‘anae vs. Dreamhouse PCS, 6 p.m.

Campbell vs. Kapolei, 7:30 p.m.

At Moanalua

Roosevelt vs. Kaimukī, 6 p.m.

Farrington vs. Moanalua, 7:30 p.m.

At Kahuku

Castle vs. Kaiser, 6 p.m.

Kalāheo vs. Kahuku, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 29

At Kailua

‘Anuenue vs. McKinley, 2 p.m.

Kalani vs. Kailua, 3:30 p.m.