Girls flag football revs up for its third season in the CPL this fall and for the first time, we’ve got some season previews for you. More than 60 teams are participating this year!

*All coaches were contacted for this piece. The schools who responded are below. Don’t see your school? Have your coach reach out to Michael Wojtychiw at mmwojtychiw@cps.edu.

School Name: Gary Comer College Prep Catamounts

Last Year’s Record: 4-5

Social Media Handle: @gccpathletics

Returning starters:

Senior RB – Elisha Hannon

Sophomore RB – Raquima Wilson

Coach’s Season Outlook:

With a strong returning backfield we hope to build off the chemistry of these 2 starters. Combined with an exciting group of freshmen and returners from last year. We will be off to a good start for the beginning of the season. 

School Name: Jones College Prep

Social Media Handle: instagram: jcpflagfootball

Key Returnees (name, year in school): Triseana Williams (Senior), Rachel Schettler (Senior), Allison Kinnerk (Junior), Anna Black (Junior)

Key newcomers (name, year in school): Victoria Smith (Junior), Nyla Griffin (Junior)

Coach’s Season Outlook: We are looking to build on our success from last year and make a run in the playoffs. After joining late and having only a 3 week season last year and going 6-1 in that span, we are looking to improve on that and also make a deep run in the playoffs after a tough first round exit last season. With a new coach on staff helping lead the way, and the motivation from a heartbreaking playoff loss last year we are fired up and excited for the outlook of this season. It is also exciting to now have a JV team, and be able to have there be a better opportunity for both the development for players as well as building up the entire program.

School:  Kennedy Crusaders

Last Year’s Record: 0-0

Starters returning: None

Key non-starters returning: None

Newcomers to watch: None

Season outlook: This is our first year competing. We are looking to have fun and be competitive.

School Name: Lane Tech

Social Media Handle: @ltflagfootball

Key Returnees (name, year in school): 

Sadia Rodriguez- Senior

Kristiyana Sevova- Senior

Alaina Valmassei- Junior

Key newcomers (name, year in school):

Ruby Lim- Freshman

Amalia Rojas- Freshman

Jocelyn Hale- Junior

Coach’s Season Outlook: Our goal is to win City, and make a run at State! We fell just short last year and are ready to make the necessary adjustments this season to make it happen!

School Name: Lindblom Math and Science Academy

Social Media Handle: @Lindblomflag (twitter)

Key Returnees (name, year in school): 

Samantha Ambrose- senior

Shelbie Grayson- senior

Milan Malone- Junior

Key newcomers (name, year in school):

Nyila Harris- freshman

Samaria Crowder- freshman

Coach’s Season Outlook:

I think we are going to have a great season. We have a lot of purely talented athletes. Many girls have never played flag football before, but are talented. Once they learn skills and the game of football, we will be a team with tremendous potential.

Name: North-Grand HS

Social Media:  Instagram – @northgrandathletics, Twitter @northgrandath

Key Returnees: 

Selena Teliz – Sophomore

Vivian Diaz – Senior

Jasmine Abundes – Senior

Key Newcomers:

Bryanelis Rivera – Sophomore

Trinity Diaz – Senior

Natalie Carrera – Sophomore

Season Outlook:

North-Grand has a young team with lots of potential.  The team is returning some key seniors that can play both sides of the ball but have a new group of players learning how to play the game. Sophomore quarterback, Bryanelis Rivera, gives the Eagle Owls more options on offense with her ability to run or throw. 

School Name: Ogden International

Key Returnees (name, year in school): 

T’Shareah Willingham. Senior

Madison King, Senior

Maureen Shelton, Senior 

Destiney Stewart, Senior

Dorcas Keme, Senior

Kemari Porter, Senior

Key newcomers (name, year in school):

Zydrea Childs, Senior

Ruby Roman, Senior

Jariah Allen, Freshman

Coach’s Season Outlook:

We are excited to be in a more competitive conference this year.  We made it to the playoffs last year but we want to make a playoff run.  All of these players are amazing athletes and I think we will have a great season.

School Name:  Prosser Career Academy

Key Returnees (name, year in school, any accolades/stats): 

1. Jazharia Taylor, Sr, returns for her third year on the team. Lead team in TD’s as a junior. She is a three sport varsity athlete. Played basketball and softball last year. 
2. Teshawna Childs, Sr, brings leadership and team spirit.  Team Co-Captain who is also a three sport varsity athlete. 
3. Destiny Reed, Sr, starting goalie for the soccer team and looks to be the most improved player after not playing a lot last season. Also a three sport varsity athlete. 
4. Marian Rivas, Jr. Marian is a three sport varsity player. She’s looking to lead the team as a QB after not playing much last season. 

Key newcomers (name, year in school):

1. Ailani Gonzalez, So. Ailani played softball and basketball last year. She brings speed to the field and is working on developing her instincts to go with the speed. 
2. Adriana Maldonado, Sr. Adriana brings her experience as a soccer player and has great extincts for the game. 
3. Sy’mone McNeary, Jr. is playing on her first high school team and brings joy and enthusiasm for the sport. 

Coach’s Season Outlook:

Last year’s team that went 4-3 and lost in the second round of the city playoffs. We’ve lost 6 senior starters and also lost two starters to transfers, so it feels like a whole new team. Our goal is to finish above .500 in conference play, make the playoffs and win at least one playoff game.  We also seek to beat Steinmetz. 

Did You Know? Prosser plays its homecoming game against Lane Tech on Thursday Sept 28. They will feature Zora McDermott, daughter of the Prosser coach Joey McDermott. Prosser upset them in summer league play and the Champions will be out for revenge.

School Name: Rickover

Key Returnees (name, year in school): 

Samantha Booth, Junior

Camila Martinez-Gonzalez, Junior

Jannine Flores, Junior

Litzy Guaman, Sophomore

Soleil Gonzales, Junior

Alicia Moreno, Junior

Key newcomers (name, year in school):

Zora Kersey, Senior

Yannys Perea, Freshman

Sydney Pulex, Junior

Madison Johnson, Freshman

Liana Beltran, Sophomore

Fiinoh Nwidor, Junior

Emmy Almazan, Freshman

Emily Torres, Freshman

Emily Ayala, Junior

Coach’s Season Outlook:

New season, new players, new rules, it should be fun!

Win, have fun, grow!

School: Senn

Last years record: 5-4. Rated a 17 seed out of 48 CPS schools

Social Media– Instagram- SennFlagFootball  Twitter-@FlagSenn

Starters Returning: Hawa Abdi, Rashidat Komolafe, Haven Shedd, Sana Musa, Ashley Lanfair, Kyra Shae-Cole, Angel Somerville

Key Non-starters: Lola Bailey, Zoey Davis, Nasharia Grant, Kyla Hillman, Laura Tobar

Newcomers to watch: Sierra Allen and Khadijatou Sohna

Season Outlook– The Bulldogs return for season 3 with a heavy Junior and Senior program. The girls made it to the Sweet 16 of Playoffs last year, to be stopped in the rain by Lane Tech. The girls are hungry to finish top dog in the Red Conference.

School Name: Simeon Career Academy

Social Media Handle (if any and comfortable sharing): IG = @simeongirlsflagfootball | Twitter = @SCAFlagFootball

Last Years Record: 7-2

Key Returnees (name, year in school):

Kilah Jackson – Senior

Tykeena McDonald – Junior

Ariel Winfield – Junior

Dyamond Winters – Senior

Newcomers to Watch:

Janiya Greenfield – Junior

Da’Kyla Hall – Junior

Precious McDonald – Senior

Koriel Webster – Junior

Helena Williams – Junior

Coach’s Season Outlook: After falling short in the Elite 8 last year we return our entire team minus 2 seniors & are looking forward to making a deeper run this year! We are competing in a tough Red South Conference this season and have more games on our schedule to increase our playing experience. 

School Name: Steinmetz

Coach’s Season Outlook: Steinmetz Girls Flag is coming off back-to-back winning seasons and was one of the ORIGINAL teams to start when the sport was piloted in 2021.  Steinmetz advanced to the Sweet 16 in The State playoffs prior to being ousted by State runner-up Taft in the quarterfinals.  More than half of last year’s team has been lost and we’re trying to assemble another team for what hopefully will be our third straight winning season.  We face our toughest schedule yet starting with Whitney Young followed by Jones in back-to-back games on the road. Scheduling was not kind to us, and we only have one home date out of 10. However, we still have some very good players returning who will hopefully lead the way in Daneila Navas, Endea Johnson, Angelica Hernandez, and Gabby Torres.  We are hoping to add the next wave of Steinmetz greats to extend our mini STREAK of never having a losing season.

School Name: Solorio

Social Media Handle (if any and comfortable sharing): Instagram: soloriogirlsflagfootball

Key Returnees (name, year in school): Anahi Sotelo (11^th), Malaya Garcia (10^th), Graciela Mandujano (10^th) Marlene Mozo Tamayo (12^th), Belinda Diaz (12^th), Yahaira Hernandez Vargas (12^th), Jennifer Banderas (12^th), Siomara Matias (12^th)

Key newcomers (name, year in school): Damaris Leanos (11^th), Oqiria Butler (11^th), Danielle Ridgner (12^th), Sofia Rivera (11^th), Valeria Hernandez (12^th), Angelli Villanueva (12^th), Ruby Guzman (12^th), Abigail Gonzalez (11^th), Evelyn Sanchez (12^th), Jasmin Delgado (12^th), Kamijah Wilson (11^th), Adriana Villasenor (10^th), Lizbeth Vazquez Quintero (12^th), Milagros Ruiz (10^th)

Coach’s Season Outlook: Lost all of my offense after last season surprising Offensive team on the rise. Our starting defense only lost two seniors, so we are gearing up and preparing to get back to the playoffs and finish what we started the year before.

School Name: Von Steuben Panthers

Key Returnees (name, year in school):

Emilly Pillado, Senior 

Briana Duong, Senior

Keva Fox, Senior

Ange Nifasha, Senior

Coach’s Season Outlook: This season is a mystery, I have a unique blend of veterans and newcomers. Not really sure how our season will go but I can’t wait to find out. Qb play is always a storyline in flag football so I’m really excited to see how that goes for us. we go as far as our qb takes us.

School Name: Whitney Young

Social Media: Twitter-@wy_flagfball   Instagram-wygflagfootball

Key Returnees: Sonali Angus, Senior; 1 of the top qbs in the city,  3-sport athlete (tennis, softball, flag football); Marcela Matallana, Junior; Top returning receiver/defender, plays soccer, basketball and flag football

Key Newcomers: Hayden Petrulis, Freshman; DeTanae Dudley, Freshman

Season Outlook: We had a great inaugural season, expecting a better 2nd year. We have all the tools, and hopefully things will come together. Excited for the start of the season!