The Girls’ Varsity Flag Football team had an outstanding 25-26 season. Collectively, the team finished with a 20-1 record, having an undefeated regular season. 

 

The winning did not stop there, as the team made it to sectional finals, a goal the team admits to setting at the beginning of the season. 

 

According to Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics, Dave Kantrowitz, “what our Flag Football team accomplished this year is truly remarkable. In just the second year of the program, our team captured a League Championship, Section 1 Championship, and NYSPHSAA Regional Championship.”

 

Making it to the Section Finals as a team and dominating is a feeling we will never forget. The score of 55-6 took us to compete at Regionals, winning that game with a final score of 26-20, and earning up the opportunity to play at Semi-States. Kantrowitz attributes that “Their success has been a direct reflection of their relentless work ethic, strong camaraderie, and unwavering commitment to excellence both on and off the field.”

 

While the team was defeated at Semi-States in double overtime Kantrowitz was “especially proud of the way the girls represented themselves and Westlake throughout the season.” After their loss, he explained that he “was not alone in that sentiment; they were also honored with the Section 1 Spring 2026 Team Sportsmanship Award.” 

 

Aside from making headlines as a collective unit, seniors, Jill Lyden, Emma Cassal, and Mar Rivera Font of Briarcliff, attended the New York Giants National Girls and Women in Sports Day where they experienced a behind-the-scenes tour of Metlife, female executive panes, career networking, and sport-specific sessions designed to empower female student-athletes. 

 

According to Kantrowitz, “JuJu [I] was also named the Section 1 Class C Player of the Year!” 

 

While the team must say goodbye to seniors, Emma Casal, Mar Rivera Font, Ella Savino, Jillian Lyden, Meghan Alexander, and Chelsea Herrera, the team will not have to say goodbye to their unforgettable year and experience making Westlake’s history. Kantrowitz also commented that their memory will last, as “this group has established a culture of character, accountability, and competitive excellence that will serve as the foundation of the program for years to come.” 

 

On and off the field, this team became a family - experiencing the wins together and learning from the loss. A special thanks to Coaches Lowell and Sardo, as they constantly set our team up for success every game and were the reason the team made it so far. 

 

Even though our season got cut short, we will be back next year.