After leading the Bulldogs to their first state championship appearance, St. Ursula quarterback Penelope Bolinger has been named the 2026 Bengals Girls Flag Football Player of the Year.
The Cincinnati Bengals honored Bolinger in a ceremony during halftime of their preseason opener on Aug. 13, 2026. She was surprised with a personalized Bengals jersey to commemorate the accomplishment. Bolinger was joined by the rest of the Bulldogs flag football team to celebrate.
Bolinger, a 2026 St. Ursula graduate, was one of the top quarterbacks in the state last season. She finished the year ranked No. 1 in Ohio by MaxPreps with 312 completions for 3,394 passing yards and 61 touchdowns. St. Ursula's team captain was also named to the Enquirer's all-city first team. The Bulldogs finished as runners-up in the Cincinnati regional tournament at Paycor Stadium, earning a trip to the Ohio High School Athletic Association's first sanctioned tournament.
Bolinger was a dedicated multisport athlete and leader at St. Ursula. She helped the Bulldogs win the Division II state volleyball title in 2024 and committed to continue her volleyball career at Wittenberg University. Bolinger volunteered over 25 hours at youth flag football camps, mentoring fifth through eighth grade athletes and helping grow the nascent sport. She also graduated with a 3.8 GPA.
After the award presentation, Bolinger took the field one final time as St. Ursula competed against Mount Notre Dame and Badin during halftime. The exhibitions are part of the Bengals commitment to growing the sport; the NFL franchise also provides local schools with equipment and training and hosts the annual regional tournament at Paycor Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: St. Ursula's Penelope Bolinger wins Bengals Flag Football Player of the Year