The Girls Flag Football team at Aliso Niguel is dominating this season, with an impressive record of 16-2. They are undefeated in league play after five games and aim to continue their streak further into league and CIF.
On Sept. 18, the initially close game against Trabuco Hills resulted in a huge win, after the team persevered through the second half. The girls earned a 36-14 victory over the Mustangs, and multiple key players greatly impacted the outcome.
Coach Randie Baldwin, who was recently named the LA Chargers High School Coach of the Week, leads the Aliso Flag Football team to their victories and standout performances. The program focuses on constantly building culture and improving their skills as a group.
Baldwin said, “The team dynamic is really, really good. It’s a selfless group. I think, because this sport is new, it makes it easy for everyone to accept their role. It is, truthfully, one of my favorite teams I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach.”
Whether they are playing in a close game or not, they compete with the same intensity, regardless of their opponent, to find success. The team’s energy and effort are unmatched, both on the sidelines and on the field.
“I try to remind everyone that this is an opportunity that not a lot of women have had in the past, and there are many people without the athletic ability that we were blessed with. I remind them to be grateful and have fun while we are playing and not put so much pressure,” said Team Captain Sloan Lorenzo (11) about her take on leadership.
Having this mindset going into their games allows them to have fun and not be worried about the outcome, all while running timely plays and seizing their opportunities. The team has only lost twice this season, but they do not plan to stop any time soon.
“Work hard. The one message to the girls is don’t get complacent. We understand that even though we’re winning, we’ve gotta show up every day and get better. We are striving for much bigger things than a league title, and obviously, we gotta work hard for that,” said Coach Baldwin.
The beyond-impressive leadership on the team, combined with the positive coaching style, contributes to the unbeatable varsity program that is Aliso Flag Football. They consistently have early morning practices to stay sharp and outperform their opponents on the field in big moments.
Coaches and girls alike, hope to continue to grow the unstoppable sport of Girls Flag Football through their hard work and rise to the top.
The team was also victorious in their game against Mater Dei on Sept. 25 with a 39-18 final. Their next game will be at home against Capistrano Valley at 6 p.m.
Coach Baldwin adds, “It’s not always the teams that win, it’s the teams that play the best together; they love each other, they celebrate each other, they work hard for each other. It’s really, really cool.”
