The girls’ flag football season is underway, opening with a 9–7 record overall and 1–1 in league play. This team has shown flashes of dominance while also facing the pressure of higher expectations. After last year’s undefeated run, this season feels different.

Senior captain Alexandra Lefevre (‘26) noted the shift right away: “This year, compared to last year, feels way more serious because we’re more of an official program. We have three coaches now. Last year it was basically just one.” 

These new coaches include Head Coach Glenn Gates, Assistant Coach Lucy Cassel, and Coach Jocelyn Castillo. Gates coaches at Cal Lutheran and Cassel currently plays there, bringing both experience and insight from the collegiate level.

That sense of structure has also brought pressure. “There’s more pressure because we were undefeated, and now we’re not,” Lefevre said. “But it’s still serious this year — everyone’s locked in.” 

This added intensity also comes with the loss of key players who graduated, including Olivia Lagao (‘25), Reese Zolkin (‘25), Samara Durham (‘25), and Tabby Green (‘25). Coach Jocelyn Castillo, who stepped into a new leadership role this year, reflected on the impact of these departures. “Losing players like Olivia, Reese, Samara, and Tabby – the founding members – really shifted the team dynamic,” she noted. 

With those departures, leadership looks different too. Lefevre and JuJu Samarge (‘26) are now serving as captains. Lefevre notes that Saira Rahemtulla (‘28) has stepped up as quarterback, organizing teammates and setting the standard. “She’s the most dedicated,” Lefevre explained. “She’s really locking in.” Other sophomores: Sage Chambers (‘28) and Maddie Marrujo (‘28) are also already preparing to carry the torch in the future.

The team is also learning to handle tough moments. A recent doubleheader against Shalhevet showed the resilience of this squad. They dropped the first game in a nail-biting 31–32 loss, but bounced back in the second with a commanding 32–12 win. “We lost the first game but we should have won,” Lefevre admitted. “Then we came back, adjusted, and won the second game big. We locked in.”

Despite the ups and downs, the group’s energy remains high. From pep talks to sideline cheering, they’re finding ways to push each other. “We don’t always have a lot of supporters, so we have to be our own sideline,” Lefevre said.

The goal remains ambitious: “Winning the championship is the goal,” Lefevre added. “It feels realistic.” Jocelyn echoed that mindset, explaining that the team’s objectives go beyond just wins and losses. “Our goal is to win games, of course, but it’s also about improvement. We’re still a small program – only 12 players – but we’ve already made huge strides.”