Eliza Lotterstein
With the start of the new school year, it’s gametime for one of the school’s newest sports, girls flag football.
“I joined flag [football] after playing in Powderpuff for the juniors,” senior running back and outside linebacker Christina Sagorsky said. “I quickly fell in love with the sport and was determined to make the team fall semester—training all summer for it.”
While the team is young, it hasn’t stopped them from massive success. Last year, the school’s girl’s flag football team became the 2024 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division Two City Champions.
“Since the program only started last year, I think our team, as a whole, feels a little bit of pressure filling in the shoes of city champions from last year, but it motivates us in the end to be better,” Sagorsky said.
In order to continue the legacy of last year’s team, the girls practice everyday of the week after school. They do a variety of warmups to start their practices ranging from running laps to hurdle drills and practicing routes. Their practices, though, almost always end off with a lively seven on seven scrimmage.
“[Flag football] is a good experience because we get to learn how to play alongside a coach learning how to be our coach as well,” senior main corner and inside receiver Grace Ramadan said. “I think that the coach has learned a lot from watching other teams last year and has been extending our warmups and conditioning accordingly.”
Through all their dedicated practices, the girls have formed close friendships and unforgettable bonds.
“My favorite part [about flag] is the friendships that form,” Ramadan said. “I’ve met many underclassmen and other seniors that I otherwise would not have met through flag football. The team dynamic is very good and the returners from last year are especially close, but everyone meshes well together.”
As their season continues, the girls on flag football will continue to grow closer and grow their skills, fighting for a strong season.
“Being a part of a dynamic that works together and is committed to succeeding really motivates me to be a better player,” Sagorsky said. “I’m also just grateful that the school has finally given girls the chance to play football after not having to be able to for a long time.”