Typically reserved for the National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, the mammoth SoFi Stadium will be taken over by a crop of flag football athletes, including one that took Samohi by storm this past fall.
On Thursday evening, the stadium will host the National Football Foundation’s Scholar Athlete Awards, with the first group of female flag football players honored in 2024. Receiving the scholarship and commendation is Samohi senior Isabella Sanchez, who co-captained the school’s inaugural flag unit to an undefeated Ocean League championship campaign. Along with the Scholar Athlete honor, Sanchez is up for the prestigious LaDainian Tomlinson High School Player of the Year Award, which will be named on Thursday.
Samohi flag coach Ramsey Lambert was notified about the award by Samohi football head coach Carter Paysinger after the Lady Vikings’ inaugural season, with Lambert stating that the application process required “extensive research.” Along with on-field brilliance, applying for the honor required information like transcripts, SAT scores and other extracurriculars.
Sanchez, a wide receiver and defensive back for the 16-3 Lady Vikings, said being considered for Player of the Year was “truly an honor.”
“Coach Lambert [said] this may be a long shot, but let’s just try to see if we can get you this Scholar Athlete award, and I didn’t really understand the magnitude of it … I got the letter in the mail, and it was just super exciting … I just think it’s so cool to be part of something so big and be included with all the other women,” Sanchez said.
Also part of Samohi’s successful soccer program, Sanchez said she “always kind of loved football,” and was one of the forces that got the flag unit up and running for the 2023 season.
“I just thought it’d be really cool if I would be able to play … I brought it [up] to coach Lambert, and I [said], I don’t see a reason why we couldn’t at least have a flag football team,” Sanchez said. “I didn’t love the super physical [nature], all the concussions that came with [men’s] football, and I think this is a great way to have the athleticism without so much risk. So it just seemed like an amazing opportunity.”
Like the rest of the roster, flag became a “big contrast” to the other sports Sanchez played, with more structure and memorization required to figure out the playbook and rules of the game. At wideout and defensive back, she channeled her soccer background, making footwork and endurance her strengths while being able to pick up routes quickly.
Adding onto the pressure of figuring out the game was the fact Sanchez was the lone senior on the roster, with her teammates constantly coming to her for advice.
“She was the girl who people would go to and ask [questions to] … maybe if they didn’t feel like asking a coach, she would be one of the people that they would go to for that leadership, and she was such an even-keeled person that when we were in tight games, or heated games, she kept a really calm demeanor, to where she would help recenter all of our girls and keep them focused on the task,” Lambert said of his senior leader.
Sanchez’s leadership style was one of constant motivation, bringing her squad from not knowing much about flag to conquering the Ocean League with an 8-0 record.
“I think it was [a] priority from the beginning that we all need to have really good communication and understand each other completely, and [understand] each other’s strengths,” she said. “I think it’s just a matter of always being supportive, there’s no tolerating any sort of negativity, [and] everyone’s input was welcome … I still wonder how such a crazy array of people can have so much love for each other, but I think that’s what led to so much success.”
Now about to stand on the SoFi stage with the best of her peers, Sanchez recalled watching what the first women to play soccer had to overcome, feeling she can be a similar trailblazer in the flag world.
“It’s kind of cool that me and all these other girls are a part of that, and hopefully girls in the future will look to us,” she added. “Not just be thankful, I just hope everyone can build off of what we’ve done, because … I can just see how much [the sport is] gonna grow.”
Samohi Sports Scores
Santa Monica Baseball
Wednesday, March 20: Vikings at Palos Verdes, Vikings win 4-3
Batting/Baserunning: Jacob Myrow (Senior): 0-3, R, K, FC. Sage Douglass (Senior): 2-2, R, RBI, SH/B, SB. Bobby Munoz (Senior): 0-2, BB, 2 K. Spencer Levin (Senior): 0-2, BB, K. Blue Hunter (Junior): 1-3, R, BB, 2 K, SB. Isaac Liberman (Junior): 1-4, R, RBI, K. Jackson Myrow (Junior): 1-2, RBI, BB. Brady Satinover (Junior): 0-4, 2 K. Manny Lares (Junior): 0-2, RBI, SH/B
Pitching: Eddie Jennings (Junior): 5.2 IP, W, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1.24 ERA. Tony Ponce (Senior): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA
Friday, March 22: Vikings vs Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes win 6-3
Vikings Record: 12-3 (5-1 Bay League) Next Game: Thursday, April 4 vs Highland
Santa Monica Softball
Monday, March 18: Lady Vikings vs Saint Monica, Lady Vikings win 8-1
Batting: Ava Waterstone: 1-1, RBI. Cienna Burgos: 1-3, R, 2 K, HBP. Maya Paysinger: 1-3. Jasmine Arana: 2-3, 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB. Drew Vudmaska: 0-2, RBI, SF. Haley Riehl: 0-2, R, BB, HBP, FC. Sakura Krohn: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI. Talia Yermian: 0-2, R, BB, HBP. Andrea Castro: 0-2, RBI. Bella Myers: 1-2, R. Brooke Meshekow: 1-1, 2B, RBI, BB
Pitching: Drew Vudmaska: 7.0 IP, W, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K, 0.00 ERA
Wednesday, March 20: Lady Vikings at Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes win 5-2
Batting: Cienna Burgos: 0-4, 2 K. Avey Thompson: 1-1, R. Maya Paysinger: 0-3, 3 K. Jasmine Arana: 0-1, SH/B, HBP. Haley Riehl: 0-2. Debbie Amezquita: 0-1, 2 BB, K. Sakura Krohn: 1-2, R, RBI, BB, K. Talia Yermian: 0-3, BB. Bella Myers: 0-3, K. Brooke Meshekow: 0-3
Pitching: Drew Vudmaska: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, 3.50 ERA
Friday, March 22: Lady Vikings vs Peninsula, Lady Vikings win 5-2
Batting: Savannah Lopez: 0-0, R. Cienna Burgos: 1-3, R, RBI, BB, 2 K. Avey Thompson: 0-2. Maya Paysinger: 2-3, 2 R. Jasmine Arana: 0-3, RBI, BB, K. Drew Vudmaska: 0-3. Haley Riehl: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI. Debbie Amezquita: 1-3, K. Talia Yermian: 2-3, R, BB. Bella Myers: 2-3, RBI
Pitching: Drew Vudmaska: 7.0 IP, W, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 2.00 ERA
Lady Vikings Record: 10-9-1 (1-3 Bay League) Next Game: Wednesday, April 10 at Culver City
Santa Monica Boys Lacrosse
Wednesday, March 20: Vikings at Redondo Union, Vikings win 8-6
Friday, March 22: Vikings at Beverly Hills, Vikings win 16-0
Vikings Record: 5-5 (1-0 Ocean League) Next Game: Wednesday, April 10 vs El Segundo
Santa Monica Girls Lacrosse
Tuesday, March 19: Lady Vikings at Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach win 17-1
Lady Vikings Record: 2-7-1 Next Game: Friday, April 5 at Palisades
Santa Monica Boys Volleyball
Monday, March 18: Vikings at Redondo Union, Redondo Union win 3-1
Vikings Record: 11-8 (2-4 Bay League) Next Game: Tuesday, April 9 vs Palos Verdes
Santa Monica Boys and Girls Track and Field
Saturday, March 23: Santa Monica Invitational
Mens 100 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 4- Jayden Butts (Sophomore), 12.36 seconds. 6- George Frank (Sophomore), 12.48 seconds. 8- Grayson Fitzgerald (Sophomore), 12.50 seconds
Mens 200 Meter Varsity Finals: 1- Spencer Hotch (Senior), 22.41 seconds
Mens 400 Meter Varsity Finals: 1- Spencer Hotch (Senior), 50.04 seconds. 7- Roman Nicodemus (Sophomore), 55.50 seconds. 14- Mario Ducille (Freshman), 57.66 seconds
Mens 400 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 10- Joseph Misfen (Sophomore), 1:00.64. 14- Luke Shimahara (Sophomore), 1:03.70
Mens 800 Meter Varsity Finals: 1- Peter Jarvis (Junior), 2:07.53. 8- Joshua Shaw (Junior), 2:21.01. 14- Kenneth Walden (Junior), 2:27.13
Mens 800 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 1- Tobin Palmer (Sophomore), 2:13.80. 2- Phineaus Pitts (Freshman), 2:16.18. 3- Jackson Mayeda (Sophomore), 2:19.84
Mens 1,600 Meter Varsity Finals: 1- Landon Kozmor (Junior), 4:35.27. 2- Kingsley Lin (Freshman), 4:36.76. 4- David Ervin (Senior), 4:42.96
Mens 1,600 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 3- Lev Goldstein (Freshman), 5:08.75. 11- Senam Turner (Freshman), 5:24.57. 12- Sean Milne-Morrow (Freshman), 5:25.13
Mens 110 Meter Hurdles Varsity Finals: 3- Dylan Fanselow (Senior), 21.80 seconds
Mens 4×100 Meter Relay Varsity Finals: 1- Talib Debose (Senior), Charles Rusler (Senior), Logan Harvey (Sophomore), Roman Nicodemus (Sophomore); 45.17 seconds. 5- Arman Chibber (Sophomore), Wyatt Brown (Sophomore), Ashtin Derrick (Sophomore), Karl Lamb (Junior); 47.47 seconds
Mens 4×200 Meter Relay Varsity Finals: 5- Charles Rusler (Senior), Talib Debose (Senior), Logan Hanvey (Sophomore), Giovanni Crabtree-Ireland (Junior); 1:38.04. 7- Arman Chibber (Sophomore), Ashtin Derrick (Sophomore), Roman Nicodemus (Sophomore), Wyatt Brown (Sophomore); 1:40.60
Mens Shot Put Varsity Finals: 2- Alberto Villasenor (Senior), 44-00.00. 6- Ryan Wells (Junior), 32-00.50
Mens High Jump Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 2- George Frank (Sophomore), 5-02.00. 3- Mario Ducille (Freshman), 5-00.00
Mens Long Jump Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 3- Mario Ducille (Freshman), 16-03.25
Womens 100 Meter Varsity Finals: 2- Della Turner (Junior), 13.44 seconds
Womens 100 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 6- Demi Belle (Sophomore), 14.70 seconds. 7- Erin Arita (Sophomore), 14.81 seconds
Womens 400 Meter Varsity Finals: 2- Tessa Levine (Sophomore), 1:03.75. 4- Shenandoah Markos (Sophomore), 1:04.30. 13- Maeko Gross (Junior), 1:09.99
Womens 400 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 6- Charlie Llorente (Freshman), 1:07.28. 9- Claire Baboujon (Sophomore), 1:08.75
Womens 800 Meter Varsity Finals: 2- Ellie Holmstrom (Senior), 2:32.06. 5- Siena Tovar Burke (Junior), 2:43.43. 8- Sylvia Minzenberg (Junior), 2:53.93
Womens 800 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 2- Brooklyn Tarin (Freshman), 2:50.39
Womens 1,600 Meter Varsity Finals: m1- Phoebe Benun (Junior), 5:16.62. 2- Cleo Topp (Junior), 5:38.53. 5- Harper Snyder (Junior), 6:05.39
Womens 1,600 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 1- Brooke Merriam (Sophomore), 6:30.56. 3- Priya Mevasse (Sophomore), 7:20.69
Womens 300 Meter Hurdles Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 1- Makena Weybright (Sophomore), 52.33 seconds
Womens 4×800 Meter Relay Varsity Finals: 1- Maeko Gross (Junior), Phoebe Benun (Junior), Matilde Martinez (Senior), Cleo Topp (Junior); 9:55.98. 2- Charlie Llorente (Freshman), Sofia Santoyo (Freshman), Addy Fiore (Freshman), Makena Weybright (Sophomore); 11:01.54
Womens Shot Put Varsity Finals: 1- Aurora Ahloo (Junior), 24-05.00. 5- Sara Gonzalez (Junior), 21-09.00. 9- Olivia Kim (Junior), 16-02.50
Womens Triple Jump Varsity Finals: 1- Zinnia Weybright (Senior), 32-08.50
Next Meet: 2024 Tiger Invitational at South Pasadena, Friday, April 5