As the school year came to a close, one thing did not: the girls Flag Football team continued to play even through finals week.
The team played three games in all as they exited their second season, and continued to practice twice a week through the very end of school. They ended with a 2-and-1 record, and defeated YULA Girls High School for the third straight time.
The season started out with a disappointment, when the team lost its first game ever, 32 – 0, to L.A. Adventist, a team Shalhevet usually defeats in basketball.
But as the spring season began, on May 22 the Lady Firehawks defeated the Glendale Adventist Cougars 26 – 14. Junior wide receiver Sharona Sedighim caught three touchdowns and was named MVP for the game.
“Though we only played one game, we really improved since last fall,” said Sharona, who is also the team’s co-captain. “Our team this season played incredibly well.”
According to the team’s coach, Math and Science teacher Mr. Christopher Buckley, the reason Shalhevet has only played two games is that most tournaments this year fell on chagim (major Jewish holidays).
Sophomore wide receiver Rachel Glouberman expressed some unhappiness about the small number of games played.
“We could have had a game any time second semester…so why didn’t we?” Rachel asked in May. “I just feel that we put so much time into practice and really improved and we only got to play two games.”
Another reason is that many schools Shalhevet competes against do not have a girl’s flag football team. There was one tournament at the end of October that the girls could have played in, but Shalhevet would have had to apply last May, before the team was really established. The Lady Firehawks will play in this tournament next year.
“Bottom line, I have learned a lot this year, and all of the big tournaments in the fall do not fall on chagim, so we will have a pretty busy fall for the girls football team,” Mr. Buckley said.
Meanwhile, the rivalry of Shalhevet vs. YULA continued on Wednesday, June 12 — the afternoon of the last day of finals.
“In order for us to beat YULA,” said sophomore quarterback Nicole Feder just before the game, “we must make sure to work as a team, not commit any dumb penalties, and just play smart.”
Apparently they did, because Shalhevet won, 28 – 6.
A year ago, Shalhevet beat YULA in two match-ups: May 30, 2012, when Shalhevet won 14 – 13, and June 6, 2012, when the Firehawks shut out the Panthers, 7 – 0.
“Our offense has become a lot more consistent this year,” Mr. Buckley said. “Nicole Feder reads the game extremely well and makes few mistakes. Sharona Sedighim has emerged as a truly outstanding player while our new players have also added a lot of talent.”
Meanwhile, during the last month of school Mr. Buckley held tryouts for a new boys flag football team, which expects to begin playing games next fall.
