2013-14 Flag Football Preseason Capsules
ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: John Gunderson, second season
2012-13 record: 9-10 (8-6 Northwest, fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): 13 (seven)
Top players: QB Taylor Howie (So.), RB/LB Francesca D’Arienzo (Jr.), RB/LB Madison Fletcher (Jr.), WR/DB Chaise Sandoval (Jr.), WR/DB Stacie Flores (So.), OL/DL Shakira Conley (So.), WR/S Haley Nibarger (Jr.)
Outlook: The Aggies return 13 players from a squad that qualified for the postseason.
“As a team, we improved immensely throughout the season last year, and we return all of our starters,” Gunderson said. “We look forward to improving further on the accomplishments of the previous year’s team as we continue to focus on the production of a successful flag football program.
“We are still a young team, but we look forward to the challenges that the new season brings.”
BASIC
Head coach: Robby Faiman, second season
2012-13 record: 14-6
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (two)
Outlook: “We expect to compete and to teach the girls the sport of football,” Faiman said. “Our goal is to be league champions.”
BONANZA
Head coach: Bruce Eubank, second season
Returning letter winners: Six
Top players: RB Cheyenne Crouch, QB Anu Chock
Outlook: “We are a young team with numerous underclassmen on the varsity,” Eubank said. “The girls are working hard and having a blast.”
BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Chris Morelli, second season
2012-13 record: 8-10 (6-10 Southeast, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): 12 (11)
Top players: Jeanne Carmell (So.), Paige Buettner (So.), Jane Nevarez (Jr.), Kinsey Smyth (Jr.), Cameron Kanaley (Sr.), Jollene Gosselin (Sr.)
Outlook: The Eagles welcome back 12 letter winners as they try to move up in the Southeast League.
“We are an extremely young, but very talented team, graduating only four seniors last year,” Morelli said. “The girls are very excited about the upcoming season and have been working hard.”
ELDORADO
Head coach: Robert Cutts, second season
2012-13 record: 4-14
Returning letter winners: 11
Top players: Keelyn Pacheco-Waialae, Kelsey Griffin, Angela Stoneback, Sophia Johnson
Outlook: The Sundevils bring back 11 letter winners from a team that allowed only 15 points per game last season.
“We look for senior leadership to propel the team to the top of the Southeast League,” Cutts said. “Keelyn Pacheco-Waialae has a big arm and is looking to hit top receivers Angela Stoneback and Kelsey Griffin early and often this season.”
FOOTHILL
Head coach: Cynthia Guzman, second season
2012-13 record: 18-2 (18-0 Southeast, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (nine)
Top players: Sam Fennell (Sr.), Charley Gibbs (Sr.), Marissa Brackett (Jr.), Jadyn McArthur (So.), Jenessa Montoya (So.), Rachel Rodriguez (Sr.)
Outlook: The Falcons return nine letter winners from a team that ran the table in the Southeast League.
“We hope to continue building on the foundation of commitment, hard work and discipline,” Guzman said. “I have high expecations of this year’s team, and making a trip to the postseason is definitely our goal.
“Although we lost some key senior players, we have some outstanding players, who I am confident will fill the holes just fine. I am excited and looking forward to another great season.”
GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Jason Clark, second season
2012-13 record: 20-1
Returning starters: 12
Top players: Tamara Grieves, Kayla Anderson, Morgan Gibson
Outlook: Green Valley brings back all but two starters from a team that advanced to the Clark County School District semifinals.
“We are more determined than ever after coming up one game shy of the CCSD championship game,” Clark said.
LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Erick Capetillo, second season
2012-13 record: 8-10 (7-7 Northeast, tied for fourth)
Returning letter winners: 10
Top players: QB Kali Brockett (Sr.), RB Mackenzie McCoy (Jr.), WR/S Danielle Ruesch (Jr.), RB/DB Cierra Turner (Sr.), DB Latda Phinimakhat (Sr.)
Outlook: Brockett and Ruesch connected for eight touchdown passes last seasons and lead a list of returnees who should have the Wildcats in good shape both offensively and defensively.
Capetillo also expects McCoy and Turner to handle the bulk of the carries on offense and Phinimakhat to be among the leaders on defense.
“Our core group should lead us early in the season,” Capetillo said. “Hopefully we can start the year clicking on all cylinders.”
LEGACY
Head coach: Robert Nelson, second season
2012-13 record: 11-7 (9-7 Southwest, fourth)
Returning letter winners: 15
Top players: QB Shardell Purdy; RB Klarisah Harris; CB A.J. Jackson; C Kelsie Parker; CB Lanae Watkins; LB Ciara Cowlishaw; LB Maraya Pena; S Avi’Ana Shelton
Outlook: The Longhorns return 15 players from last season.
“This team has committed time and effort in the spring, summer and fall offseason to prepare for this season,” Nelson said. “We look forward to having all that hard work pay off.
“Our goal is to return to the postseason, and we feel we are capable of overcoming the obstacles that stand in our way of getting there. We are excited to see this sport grow this year.”
MOJAVE
Head coach: Andrew Kofod, second season
2012-13 record: 5-13 (4-12 Southwest, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (nine)
Top players: RB/S Dilyn Johnson (Sr.), LB Christina LeMay (Sr.), LB Brianna Guillen (Jr.)
Outlook: Johnson scored nine touchdowns and had 63 pulled flags on her way to earning team most valuable player honors.
She’s joined by Lemay (62 pulled flags) and Guillen (61 pulled flags) as the core of the Rattlers’ defense returns.
“There is tremendous competition at many positions,” Kofod said. “We have battles at quarterback and other spots, and we have added 10 new players this season in hopes to make a run at the playoffs.”
PALO VERDE
Head coach: Kevin Hagood, second season
2012-13 record: 21-1
Returning letter winners (starters): 13 (eight)
Top players: C Morgan Myers (Jr.), DE Mariah Kelly (Sr.), DE Taylor Shrader (Sr.)
Outlook: The Panthers bring back 13 letter winners from the squad that captured last year’s Clark County School District championship.
“Palo Verde has some big holes to fill,” Hagood said. “The Panthers lost their quarterback and running back from the championship team.
“The team will be inexperienced, but has some returning athletes that were key contributors in winning the title.”
SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Dave Sevier, second season
2012-13 record: 11-8 (9-5 Northwest, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): 18 (12)
Top players: RB/LB Joryan Brewer (Sr.), QB Alexia Murrietta (Sr.), RB/WR Nikita Ronolo (Jr.), RB/WR/S Taylor Velarde (Sr.), RB/WR/DB Jenny Sanchez (Sr.), QB/WR/LB Nikki Warner (Jr.), LB Aubrey Hall (Jr.), LB K’Tyra Burns (So.)
Outlook: The Mustangs bring back most of last year’s squad that finished third in the Northwest League.
“I feel the girls we have returning, the new talent that has come in and the work the girls have put forth in the offseason make them a strong contender to win it all,” Sevier said.
“Our defense was our strong point last season. We were very physical, but now we have added some experience to the offensive side of the ball and look to have a more balanced program.”
SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Marcus Teal, second season
2012-13 record: 9-9 (6-8 Northwest, fifth)
Returning starters: One
Top players: WR/DB Desiree Diez (So.), QB/DB Michaela Hood (So.), RB/LB Jozee DeCunzo (Fr.), QB Amberlynn Twigg, TE/LB Denisha Holloway (Sr.), QB/LB Raven Bierlein (So.), WR/DB Madison Macove (So.)
Outlook: Diez is the lone returning starter for the Grizzlies.
“The Grizzlies will look to play a lot of young players with hopes to build a program that will continue to grow and improve for years to come,” Teal said.
SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
Head coach: Chauncy Garbutt, first season
2012-13 record: 3-15 (2-12 Northeast, seventh)
Returning letter winners: Four
Outlook: “We are looking forward to a competitive season with an emphasis on making the playoffs,” Garbutt said. “The girls have bought into our philosophy of hard work and discipline.”
VALLEY
Head coach: Dave Durham, second season
2012-13 record: 10-8 (7-7 Northeast, tied for fourth)
Returning letter winners: Five
Top players: Brandie Barton, DaNiece Dixon
Outlook: “We have potential for a great season, but we are inexperienced in some areas,” Durham said. “We will have to play as a team in order to win.”
WESTERN
Head coach: John Isola, first season
2012-13 record: 9-9
Returning letter winners: Seven
Top players: Cathyanna Valentin; Kassidy Pahia, Idette Perez, Tyara Benion, Larissa Herrera, Alicia Reyes
Outlook: “The Warriors have a strong core of returning players, but they will be teamed up with a very young, inexperienced, but athletic group of underclassmen,” Isola said. “I think we will progressively get better as the season goes on and we grow together as a team.”
