Ayala flag football continues to be successful after yet another impressive season, as the future only continues to look brighter and brighter for the Bulldogs. The team finished with a solid 15-13 overall record, along with going 4-2 in Palomares League play, finishing second in the league. Through this, they were fortunate enough to take a trip to Alabama for an in-season tournament, which helped grow the relationships between players not only on the field but off the field, creating memories they will never forget.
But as any team, the girls faced many challenges this season that tested them. During their trip to Alabama, the team was without two starters, including one who had been a starting cornerback on the team for two years. It was also the first time the team had traveled as a group, and reasonably head coach Amy Campbell wanted to make the most out of their trip. As the team prepared for their first two games, who would be against two of the best teams in all of Alabama, they visited Buc-ee’s and Bass Pro Shops. But Coach Campbell would quickly realize this was a huge mistake.
“As a coach, I probably won’t do that again—putting that before our game—because to get us locked back in was a little bit of a challenge,” Coach Campbell said.
Along with that, two crucial challenges they faced during the league were instances against the Claremont Wolfpack and the Bonita Bearcats. When facing Claremont, the Bulldogs were down two touchdowns but overcame this by taking the game down to the wire. They marched down the field and scored a touchdown in the final moments of the game. Unfortunately, a controversial holding call brought the touchdown back, which led to a loss. Then, against Bonita, during warmups, one of the team’s starting safeties broke her finger, and in the end, they also lost this game.
Even during their California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoff game, the team lost on the most controversial call after what should have been an illegal double forward pass that was not called. But during moments like these, it only helps strengthen this team because of how young they are.
“It’s very unfortunate for our seniors, but those are moments that our girls will make sure that never happen again,” Campbell said.
As now, with such a young team, the girl can only reflect on this season and use what they learned from this past season to help them move forward. But for senior Nevaeh Lima, it’s a season she will never forget.
“This season was unforgettable, every practice, every game, every trip, every memory we shared I’ll carry forever,” Lima said.
But for the returners, they hope to build on the success that the seniors created. With such a young core, this team now has experience in the playoffs and understands what it takes. For this team, the sky is the limit. A team that holds so much talent, as everyone does everything in their power to stay on the field and earn as much playing time as possible. As for the coaches, it’s a good problem to have.
“The players and coaches have helped me become the best version of myself, not only as an athlete but also as a person because they have taught me discipline and consistency,” Mariska Csupak (10) said.
Similarly, Junior Marina Ortega, who played her first season with the team, has already learned so much.
“I learned that if you are consistent with hard work, it pays off, it just shows how much the girls wanted it and how good they can be,” Ortega said.
Flag football continues to improve, and the future is extremely bright for such a young and fearless team.
