On Tuesday, August 20th, the Lompoc flag football team was set to play their first game of the season. When Lompoc set out for Agoura High School, there was a tense energy in the air. This was due to the nearing competition that would mark the beginning of the program’s second season ever at Lompoc High. Over the course of the two hour long bus ride, however, everyone loosened up. The whole bus even started singing together and having a good time, getting everyone’s spirits up.
The players stepped off the bus into unbearable, blistering heat. Lompoc gave their best effort, but weather in the high 80’s made for a tough game. LHS senior Ava Gallegos played an important role in the first half of the Varsity game, getting multiple interceptions for Lompoc. Unfortunately, she suffered a game-ending injury to her ankle. Ava reflected, “I was very thankful it was a minor injury and nothing too serious.” Thankfully, she has made a full recovery since then.
The Braves continued fighting until the very end, but ultimately lost. Mia Jansen, wide receiver for Varsity and a junior, thought that they would have found success “running the ball more” on offense. Tara Terrones, a junior and Varsity quarterback, remarked after the game against Agoura, “we could have been more aggressive!” She also added that she thinks “we have positive things ahead of us, winning league is one of them.” Both JV and Varsity teams were disappointed with the outcomes of their respective games. However, Flag Football Coach Ashley Coelho told everyone in a post-game meeting to keep their heads up, keep working hard, and learn from their mistakes at practice. The Braves left Agoura feeling unsatisfied with the loss, but equally motivated to avenge themselves and get a win in their next game.
