Girls’ flag football is the newest addition to Santiago’s sports teams, now in its second official season. On Monday night, the Santiago Sharks girls’ varsity flag football team won their last home game of the season with 33-20 victory over the Norco Cougars. Before the game, the team honored its senior athletes in a special ceremony, recognizing their significant contributions to the program. Coach Boggio reflected on these seniors’ impact on the program, saying, “This year’s senior class definitely impacted our play. Offensively and defensively we had 7-8 seniors that impacted both our defense and offense, but as a team, the support provided by all of our seniors is and was phenomenal.”
After the game, senior captains Hailey Cortez (wide receiver and linebacker), Maddy Saruwatari (slot receiver and safety), and Bella Carty (center) shared their thoughts on the ceremony. They reflected on their journeys in flag football. “The senior night ceremony was picture-perfect with all the girls supporting each other,” Saruwatari (12) said, “It truly felt like one big family.” Cortez (12) added, “The senior night ceremony was really cool. I loved how many people took the time to make us feel so special with their support and gifts.” “The senior night ceremony was so memorable, but I had so many emotions,” Carty (12) shared, “It’s sad to know I won’t be playing on Santiago’s field anymore, but I was happy about all the memories I had made in the last two years.”
The girls improved as athletes during their time on the flag football team and learned valuable lessons that they will apply to their lives after graduating. Saruwatari noted, “A lesson I have learned from playing flag football would be to never give up. Our team had battled immensely from last year to this year. We have been down by 2 touchdowns but continued to fight and ended up winning the game. It’s never over till the timer runs out.”
With the season nearing its end, the girls are beginning to reflect on what they will miss most about being part of the flag football program. “I will miss the team itself and all the time and practice we put in together,” Cortez said. I love the sport with all my heart, and to leave the girls too is going to be really hard.”
As leaders at the forefront of this up-and-coming sport, this year’s senior class wishes to pave the way for future athletes to succeed in flag football. “As a captain, I hope I have left a standard always to push yourself to be better and to work with the team to be better,” Carty said, “It’s a sport where everyone plays an important role and contributes in different ways.”
With graduation on the horizon, the senior captains shared their aspirations for the future and if they intend to continue playing sports in college. “My plans after graduation are to attend Point Loma Nazarene University and continue my academic and athletic career there,” Saruwatari shared, “I plan to major in criminal justice in hopes to become a criminal detective/profiler. ” Cortez said, “After graduation, I want to go to college and try to play flag football or track. I want to major in kinesiology so throughout my life sports can hopefully surround me.” “I plan on going to a 4-year college majoring in aviation to become a pilot in air shows or commercial airlines.” Carty added, “Unfortunately, I will not be continuing any sports in college but I will take on the responsibilities and courage that I learned from flag football and apply it to my future.”
As the excitement from senior night continues to resonate, the team is now focused on an important challenge ahead: competing in a final tournament for a chance to win the Big VIII league championship. Securing this title would guarantee the girls an opportunity to face some of the best teams in the state in the first-ever CIF girls’ flag football playoffs. As they prepare for this pivotal moment, the seniors are determined to leave a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations of players to embrace the challenges and triumphs of flag football.
