16 hours Ago
Reggie Stephens congratulates members of the North All-Stars for their inspired work during Sunday’s skills competition. Stephens is a Santa Cruz High alum and former NFL player, who founded the Reggie Stephens Foundation, which helped put on the event. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel) Soquel High School’s Chloe McGilvray speeds toward the finish line during the 40-yard dash at the All-Star game’s skills competition on Sunday.
(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel) Soquel High standout Trinity Wilson brings athleticism and artful acrobatics to catch a pass during the skills competition prior to the inaugural Central Coast Flag Football All-Star Game on Sunday. Wilson played running back and defensive back for the North All-Stars, who were made up of players from Santa Cruz County. The South All-Stars were girls from Monterey and San Benito counties.
In the pre-game skills competition, Aptos High School senior Izzy Graff and Hollister's Jasayla Mariscal tied for the fastest 40-yard dash with marks of 5.0 seconds, Scotts Valley’s Taylor Wilson, competing for the North, won the passing accuracy event and Alisal’s Jasmine Estrada, competing for the South, won longest throw contest with a chuck of 38 yards. The skills competition winners won gift cards from Erik’s Deli Cafe.
More than 300 fans filled the Memorial Stadium stands at Santa Cruz High to witness a piece of local history, which was presented by the Reggie Stephens and Gino Panelli foundations. Since being introduced as a girls sport to high school athletes in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties in 2023, flag football has continued to see massive growth, and in fall 2024 the majority of schools in the Monterey Bay Area fielded teams. 2025 will mark the arrival of the inaugural Central Coast Section playoffs.
“It’s a good way to end my flag football career, ending it on a good note,” said Graff, who competed for the North. “I’m so proud of my team and how we played. Everyone worked their hardest and did their best, and I’m so happy.
” The game will be televised on FOX 35 on Feb. 1 in prime time. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel) Watsonville High’s Brianna Leon maintains focus to catch a pass during the skills competition.
(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel) Scotts Valley High’s Jazzy Doubek throws a pass beneath a dramatic cloudscape at Santa Cruz High during Sunday’s flag football skills competition. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel) Watsonville High’s Brianna Leon is all smiles as she makes her entrance Sunday afternoon onto Memorial Field at Santa Cruz High School for the inaugural Central Coast Flag Football All-Star Game, Players from Santa Cruz County teams made up the north squad and competed against players from Monterey and San Benito counties. The event, put on by the Reggie Stephens and Gino Panelli foundations, included a pre-game skills competition.
(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel) Reggie Stephens congratulates members of the North All-Stars for their inspired work during Sunday’s skills competition. Stephens is a Santa Cruz High alum and former NFL player, who founded the Reggie Stephens Foundation, which helped put on the event. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel) Soquel High standout Trinity Wilson brought athleticism and artful acrobatics to catch a pass during the skills competition prior to the inaugural Central Coast Flag Football All-Star Game on Sunday.
Wilson played running back and defensive back for the North All-Stars, who were made up of players from Santa Cruz County. The South All-Stars were girls from Monterey and San Benito counties. In the pre-game skills competition, Aptos High School senior Izzy Graff and Hollister’s Jasayla Mariscal tied for the fastest 40-yard dash with marks of 5.
0 seconds. Scotts Valley’s Taylor Wilson, competing for the North, won the passing accuracy event and Alisal’s Jasmine Estrada, competing for the South, won longest throw contest with a chuck of 38 yards. The skills competition winners won gift cards from Erik’s Deli Cafe.
More than 300 fans filled the Memorial Stadium stands at Santa Cruz High to witness a piece of local history, which was presented by the Reggie Stephens and Gino Panelli foundations. Since being introduced as a girls sport to high school athletes in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties in 2023, flag football has continued to see massive growth, and in fall 2024 the majority of schools in the Monterey Bay Area fielded teams. 2025 will mark the arrival of the inaugural Central Coast Section playoffs.
“It’s a good way to end my flag football career, ending it on a good note,” said Graff, who competed for the North. “I’m so proud of my team and how we played. Everyone worked their hardest and did their best, and I’m so happy.
” The game will be televised on FOX 35 on Feb. 1 in prime time..
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