Verrado flag football is in the spotlight now with media coverage and games coming up soon. Many of the athletes are getting highlighted across the board for athletic ability and academics. With returning staff and players along with the newcomers the season has a lot to bring to the table.
The ladies have been working hard on the off season and as their first game of the season approaches they have been promoting the team as a whole. The ladies were featured in the AZHSFB Media Day Podcast hosted by WSSArizona and BJMedia. The podcast consisted of questions retaining what the ladies thought of this upcoming season. The ladies also had a photoshoot there taken by said BJ Media. After the team was asked what game they are looking forward to Keslie Zavala stated “I’m most excited for Canyon View for sure. We have a lot of talent, I think we can go big and we can win.” Verrado and Canyon View had played each other in the past and hope to finally take a win away from them this year.
Another media day was just recently at the Millennium High School. With the rest of the teams of the west side they were asked about how they believe their flag football teams are growing and how the sport is developing overall nationwide. All teams were recognized for being a major factor on why the sport is now doing so well in Arizona. Allison Rospierski was also noted for being interviewed on AZPreps365, talking about her journey playing flag football and what she believes this season has to offer for the vipers.
The ladies are being supported by their coaching staff through it all, with some new additions to the team. Returning is Head Coach Terry Barnes, Coach Erick Barrientos, Coach Sabrina Booth, and Coach Andra Rodgers. The two new faces include Coach Gabriel Greens coming in as a defense coordinator and Coach Jill Bisbee.
Other spotlights players have received is junior Leah Arias as being listed as an athlete in the top ten rushers in Arizona and senior Keslie Zavlas being listed in the top ten centers in Arizona from polls listed by AZ Central.
As said before the girls are coming up on their first game of the season against Shadow Ridge on September 16th. A past player Nevah Romero coming back for her final senior season this year states, “First game of the season I think we are going to do good. I feel like we are going to come off strong from our last season, we have added new pieces to our team so I’m excited to see” Their strong season being a 12-5 record, making it all the way to the second round of playoffs.
Varsity has a big roster of twenty-six this year; the ladies have ten seniors this year. Them being the following; Lakisha Guzman, Abigaill Vasquez, Solymar Adame, Allison Rospierski, Samantha Goudie, Nevah Romero, Sophia Bush, Valerie Alvarado, Kelsie Zavala, and Elliana Lopez. A lot of the seniors have voiced that they are wanting to go even farther than last year, aiming for a spot in the finals.
The ladies are right now doing a fundraiser to help fund their season. To help out the girls are offering cards that included discounts to local food establishments for twenty dollars a card. It ends August 29th, to buy a card all that is needed is to contact one of the players on the team!
The flag football team has some big goals to achieve this season, nonetheless the ladies will perform their best throughout the season. The competitiveness on both JV and Varsity is something to look forward to this year. The ladies welcome people to come and cheer them on in the stands as their season unfolds. Go vipers!
