The Santana High School girls flag football team could be starting to generate momentum at just the right time of the season.
The Lady Sultans kicked off 2025 play with back-to-back losses to Mission Hills (20-18 on Au. 18) and Bonita Vista (32-0 on Aug. 21) but have since won three of their last four outings for a 3-4 start.
A dramatic 33-20 comeback win at Otay Ranch on Aug. 26 seemed to turn around the season.
“Our comeback win against Otay Ranch was a big moment for this group,” Santana coach Heather Cruz Sikora said. “The first two losses were tough, but they gave us a chance to slow things down, review film — especially from the Bonita Vista game — and really re-focus as a team.
“Against Otay, you could see the difference. The players trusted each other, executed, and showed a lot of resilience. For such a young program, that was a huge step in the right direction.”
Junior signal-caller Cameron Udvarhelyi passed for 266 yards and five touchdowns in the win while also rushing for a score.
Udvarhelyi passed for 321 yards and eight touchdowns in a 49-7 win over Valhalla on Sept. 2.
“Looking ahead, we’re really excited about what 2025 can be for Santana flag football,” Sikora said. “We return some key leaders in quarterback Cameron Udvarhelyi (back strong from her ACL tear last season), seniors Kylee Aziz and Karlee Vickery, and sophomore Brynn Warren. They’ve all set the tone for what we want this program to be.
“We also have some newcomers who are already making an impact, including freshmen Paityn Miller and Khloe Vickery and senior Sienna Espino. Sienna isn’t new to the sport — she played JV last year—but she’s stepped up as a key defender on varsity and has been a difference-maker for us early on. They bring energy and athleticism that make us better right away.
“Our goals go beyond just wins and losses. We want to build a program that inspires more girls to try something new, step into leadership roles, and build confidence as athletes. If we can create that kind of culture here, the success on the field will follow.”
