Redwood Girls' Flag Football Team Holds Top Seed in Debut Season

Redwood High School entered the Central Section playoffs as the number one seed in girls' flag football. The Rangers finished their first season in the sport with a 17-1 record and a streak of 12 consecutive victories.

Visalia Unified School District added flag football as a California Interscholastic Federation sanctioned sport for the first time this fall. Three of the four schools in the district advanced to the postseason.

Coach Michael Wright II credited the district for supporting female athletes. He said the school system's backing of sports, specifically this new program, was a major factor in the team's success.

Tori Ochoa, a linebacker for the Rangers, described the experience of playing in the first district-sanctioned season as special. She noted that representing a new sport in Visalia allowed the team to play its first game at home.

Quarterback Emma Crisp emphasized the importance of the home playoff game. She said securing the number one seed and winning that match was a significant achievement for the program's inaugural year.

Wright II stated that the team focused on improving its process throughout the season. He expressed hope that the players would apply that same work ethic to other areas of their lives.

Ochoa noted that future teams will benefit from the foundation the current group has built. She said younger players will have the opportunity to train earlier, potentially raising the level of competition in coming years.