In February 2023 the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) voted to make girls’ flag football a high school sanctioned sport starting in the 2023-2024 school year. Many high schools in the greater Tri-City area—like San Leandro, Mt. Eden and Hayward—were quick to organize a team.
However, it wasn’t until this year that a Tri-City high school got its first girls’ flag football team. James Logan High School in Union City is the first in the area to have an inaugural team. Leading the team is head coach John Sowell.
With 20 years of experience in coaching, Sowell, who currently teaches at Guy Emanuele Jr. Elementary School, felt he had the right background for the job. He has coached middle and high school teams from soccer to basketball, and even coached co-ed middle school flag football.
“I have flag football experience,” said Sowell. “But I think it’s my background with soccer, basketball, football, cross-country, just an overall understanding of all types of sports that help me relate to the athletes that we have.”
Courtesy of John Sowell
The first move as head coach was for Sowell to cover logistics like ordering uniforms and equipment, and scheduling games. Since no other high school in the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) has a team, Logan High competes against teams in the West Alameda County Conference (WACC), many of which have already had two years of experience.
This may be Logan’s first team, but for a number of girls this is not their first time on a flag football field since a few were involved in their middle school’s team. “When my previous coach said that James Logan would have a girls’ flag football team I immediately knew that I would try out,” said freshman Gabriella Juarez, who played flag football on her eighth grade team. “I wanted to continue the sport that I loved so much and wanted to get better.”
When tryouts began in July, nearly 70 girls participated, leading Sowell to push for a junior varsity team as well as a varsity team. The final teams are made up of 16 girls on varsity and 15 on junior varsity.
Once the two teams were set and practice officially began, Sowell had two things he wanted to focus on. “We try to emphasize the fun and skill part of it, and then incorporate the football stuff.”
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Sowell’s approach seems to be working thus far. Since their first game on Aug. 20, the varsity team has been undefeated 8-0 overall and 3-0 within their league. Not only have they been undefeated, five of those eight games have been won with a scoreless opposing team. Their biggest win was a final 39-0 score. The junior varsity team has also been showing promise with a 3-1-1 overall record and their highest win being 26-0.
As well as the teams have been doing so far this season, Sowell continued to emphasize what he felt was his biggest focus for his teams. “We really want to make sure the girls are having a good time. It’s great that we’re winning, but that’s not why we’re here.”
Junior Thyda Tep echoed those sentiments. “The goal for this season as a team is to continue to keep trusting in ourselves, even when things get a little hard throughout the season. Motivating ourselves as a team is the most important especially when the pressure is on. And I believe that’s what has contributed a lot to our success.”
‘The mark that I hope we leave as a team is the beginning of a legacy: one of dedication, leadership and teamwork, but most importantly to represent the girls who love football!’ – Junior Thyda Tep
“I never expected to love the people on this team, even JV, as much as I do,” said senior Miley Julio. “No matter what mistakes we make, we help each other get better in a positive way.”
With eleven more games scheduled, seven of those being league matches, there is still a long season ahead. “At this point, if we continue what we’re doing, we’re going to qualify [for playoffs], so [we want to] get as good of a seed as we can,” said Sowell.
For Logan girls’ flag football this is just the beginning. “The mark that I hope we leave as a team is the beginning of a legacy: one of dedication, leadership and teamwork,” said Tep, “but most importantly to represent the girls who love football!”
