Sports
Golden Eagles History: DHS Girls Flag Football takes off
The Lady Golden Eagles can now call themselves trailblazers after the girls flag football team officially kicks off.
Head Coach Kaleb Leyva leads the team full of multi-sport athletes who jumped at the opportunity to create something new at Desert Hot Springs High School.
Coach Leyva, also an alumni from DHSHS, says, “Coming back and giving out to the community, it’s great. It’s fun to see the excitement of the girls.”
A lot of the girls couldn’t wait for the moment this became a reality like Ciera Light and Nylah McClelland.
“LastĀ yearĀ aroundĀ powderĀ puffĀ timeĀ weĀ hadĀ beenĀ seeingĀ theĀ CIFĀ wasĀ finallyĀ officiatingĀ itĀ asĀ anĀ officialĀ sport.Ā AndĀ soĀ weĀ wentĀ toĀ MrĀ Lyles,Ā ourĀ athleticĀ coordinatorĀ andĀ IĀ wasĀ like,Ā weĀ needĀ aĀ team.Ā WeĀ needĀ aĀ team!”
Well,Ā theyĀ haveĀ thatĀ newĀ beginningĀ ofĀ theirĀ own — they say it’s more than a teamĀ and closer toĀ aĀ family.Ā
“No,Ā it’sĀ niceĀ toĀ haveĀ aĀ newĀ sisterhoodĀ likeĀ theseĀ ladiesĀ IĀ couldn’tĀ likeĀ bondĀ with,” says Emelly Corona-Hernandez.
Rita Leyva, the assistant to and wife of Coach Leyva, says it’s important to lead these girls by example.
“ItĀ isĀ ourĀ firstĀ timeĀ ever, soĀ we’reĀ makingĀ history.Ā IĀ haveĀ aĀ lotĀ ofĀ girlsĀ thatĀ cameĀ andĀ actuallyĀ doĀ otherĀ sports. AndĀ we’reĀ teachingĀ theĀ girls,Ā youĀ know,Ā toĀ giveĀ backĀ toĀ yourĀ community,” says Leyva. “IĀ feelĀ likeĀ we’reĀ reallyĀ likeĀ empoweringĀ them,Ā upliftingĀ himĀ up,Ā liftingĀ themĀ andĀ reallyĀ givingĀ likeĀ aĀ lotĀ ofĀ recognitionĀ toĀ ourĀ girlsĀ hereĀ thatĀ workĀ soĀ hardĀ femaleĀ athletes.”
But being the first to ever do something anywhere, will always feel a little special for a lot of these girls.
“IĀ mean,Ā itĀ feelsĀ greatĀ toĀ beĀ partĀ ofĀ theĀ firstĀ generationĀ ofĀ startingĀ flagĀ footballĀ forĀ DHS,” says Corona-Hernandez. “It’sĀ somethingĀ newĀ forĀ ourĀ schoolĀ andĀ IĀ hopeĀ itĀ getsĀ biggerĀ thanĀ itĀ isĀ rightĀ now.Ā
And it all comes down to helping the team towards a goal. Maliyah Manning confirms it feels like that across the board.Ā
“WeĀ helpĀ eachĀ otherĀ outĀ andĀ supportĀ eachĀ other.”
Corona-Hernandez adds that they’re off to a great start together.Ā
“Honestly,Ā it’sĀ goingĀ reallyĀ great…Ā WeĀ areĀ startingĀ toĀ becomeĀ aĀ family,Ā whichĀ thatĀ isĀ veryĀ like,Ā youĀ know,Ā forĀ aĀ sportĀ likeĀ this,Ā weĀ supportĀ eachĀ other.Ā YouĀ know,Ā weĀ encourageĀ eachĀ other,Ā weĀ upliftĀ eachĀ other.Ā WeĀ makeĀ sureĀ we’reĀ allĀ good.”
Coach Leyva notices it too.
“IĀ reallyĀ loveĀ isĀ howĀ littleĀ byĀ littleĀ we’reĀ becomingĀ aĀ familyĀ here.Ā We’reĀ becomingĀ closeĀ together.Ā AĀ lotĀ ofĀ theseĀ girlsĀ knewĀ eachĀ other,Ā butĀ thereĀ areĀ someĀ thatĀ didn’tĀ andĀ toĀ seeĀ thatĀ they’reĀ allĀ comingĀ together,Ā that’sĀ somethingĀ that’sĀ beenĀ reallyĀ exciting,” says Coach Leyva.Ā Ā “IĀ seeĀ themĀ downĀ onĀ campusĀ sayingĀ hiĀ toĀ eachĀ other,Ā huggingĀ eachĀ other,Ā sayingĀ soĀ that’sĀ what’sĀ reallyĀ excitingĀ toĀ meĀ thatĀ weĀ areĀ ableĀ toĀ comeĀ andĀ haveĀ aĀ family. That’sĀ beenĀ theĀ bestĀ thingĀ I’veĀ seen.”
And even though it’s the final year for Light and McClelland, it’s still great to be part of something new for the generations to come.
Ā “ItĀ feelsĀ great.Ā WeĀ areĀ seniors,Ā itĀ feelsĀ kindĀ ofĀ bittersweet,” says Light.Ā
“Ā We’reĀ leaving.Ā But,Ā youĀ know,Ā atĀ leastĀ weĀ gotĀ toĀ playĀ oneĀ lastĀ yearĀ andĀ startedĀ itĀ too.Ā SoĀ itĀ wasĀ good,” says McClelland.Ā
When it comes down to goals, these Lady Golden Eagles, Corona-Hernandez kept it simple.
“BecomeĀ aĀ family.Ā LikeĀ theĀ familyĀ isĀ theĀ biggestĀ thingĀ inĀ aĀ sport.”
TheirĀ firstĀ gameĀ thoughĀ isĀ setĀ forĀ OctoberĀ 3rdĀ againstĀ theĀ PalmĀ DesertĀ Lady Aztecs.
By: Talialaina Letoi
September 22, 2023
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