Flag Football charges through its first season
The beginning of this school year marks the start of many things, including the first season of the new girls flag football team. Thus far, the team has been setting a standard for years to come. With many wins and an influx of freshmen players, alongside previous students, this season is sure to be a great one.
With the challenge of starting this new sport came the challenge of finding a new coach. Coach Steve Wood has been coaching youth sports for 12 years, and is a NPHS alumni. “My heart still bleeds black and gold and I thought it was a great opportunity to be a part of something special at my alma mater,” Wood said. This year, his goal for the team is to promote the team’s skills and encourage their passion for the sport. “Teaching them to love the process of getting better and being great fundamentally will help them be better players and more confident when we get in game situations. Being a smart player is essential too. You have to not just know what you are doing, but you need to know the why as well,” Wood said.
Beyond just creating a team, Wood has implemented an environment for students of all grades to find their love for the sport. Catherine Oliver, freshman center, is beginning her first year playing flag football and joining the team has been a great way to integrate herself into the NPHS community. “My favorite part about being on the team is how fun it is, I almost never have a dull moment with the team and I look forward to going to every event,” Oliver said.
Despite all being in different grades, the girls on the team have formed friendships and lifelong memories. Dylan Yamamura, senior wide receiver, has found that joining the team is beneficial in terms of finding and making friends. “All the girls are really, really, really cool. We all hang out outside of the sport too. I don’t think I would’ve been friends with half of these girls had I not joined this sport,” Yamamura said.
While the team has faced many challenges during their rookie year, the athletes and coaches have overcome many obstacles. “There was a lot to learn about the Athletic Department, Boosters, newly created CIF rules, social media, and so much more. It was a lot of work to get it going, but I could not have done it without my amazing Assistant Coach, Graig Sakuma and both Mr. Klein & Mrs. Tucker in our Athletic Department,” Wood said.
