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):
- 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.
- Teshawna Childs, Sr, brings leadership and team spirit. Team Co-Captain who is also a three sport varsity athlete.
- 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.
- 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):
- 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.
- Adriana Maldonado, Sr. Adriana brings her experience as a soccer player and has great extincts for the game.
- 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 (11th), Malaya Garcia (10th), Graciela Mandujano (10th) Marlene Mozo Tamayo (12th), Belinda Diaz (12th), Yahaira Hernandez Vargas (12th), Jennifer Banderas (12th), Siomara Matias (12th)
Key newcomers (name, year in school): Damaris Leanos (11th), Oqiria Butler (11th), Danielle Ridgner (12th), Sofia Rivera (11th), Valeria Hernandez (12th), Angelli Villanueva (12th), Ruby Guzman (12th), Abigail Gonzalez (11th), Evelyn Sanchez (12th), Jasmin Delgado (12th), Kamijah Wilson (11th), Adriana Villasenor (10th), Lizbeth Vazquez Quintero (12th), Milagros Ruiz (10th)
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!
