Girls Flag Football was recognized at City Hall on Tuesday morning and given an honorary proclamation for their 2025 CIF Championship!

Coach Lonii, Coach Chris, Coach Shannon and Coach Cherie all had the opportunity to speak in front of the City Council to share their appreciation as well as celebrate our student-athletes!

We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes and coaching staff for winning the first ever Girls Flag Football CIF Championship in the SDUSD!

Go Patriots!

Original Article: Patrick Henry High Girls Flag Football Honored at City Hall

Written by Mark Nero

SDUSD Strategic Communications & Information

The girls flag football team at Patrick Henry High School received a reward for a job well done recently when the San Diego City Council issued a proclamation honoring the team.

On Jan. 27, the City Council declared that Nov. 8, 2025 was Patrick Henry High Girls’ Flag Football Team Day, in honor of the team’s championship victory two months earlier.

It was on Nov. 8 that the team won the 2025 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) San Diego Division IV Championship, defeating Mt. Carmel High 25-20. The victory was the first-ever CIF title for the Patriots.

At the Council meeting, the team was presented the proclamation by the office of Councilmember Raul Campillo, who represents the district where the school’s located.

“Throughout the season, the Patrick Henry High School girls’ flag football team displayed extraordinary perseverance, determination and teamwork, bringing unmatched focus, intensity and pride to every practice and game,” the declaration reads in part.

“Under the leadership of Head Coach Alona ‘Loni’ Harper and the support of the dedicated coaching staff – Chris Young, Shannon Collins and Cherie Woods – the team fostered a discipline resilience, unity and hard work,” the declaration continues.

Harper, in an interview before the proclamation presentation, said she was surprised but honored when she received an email notifying her of the City Council’s plans.

“Nov. 8 is now going to be etched in history as Patrick Henry Women’s Flag Football Day,” she said.

“It’s an honor,” she added. “I’m proud to be the coach of this team, proud to be the first woman in the San Diego Unified School District to win a CIF championship for flag football.”

Some of her players also said they experienced a swirl of emotions upon learning their team would be honored.

“I was kinda shocked. I didn’t know that they were gonna do that for us,” said Natalie Aquirre-Lopez, a 10th grade defensive back who’s been on the team for two years. “Honestly, it’s an honor. It’s very nice.”

Mia Ng, a 16-year-old wide receiver who’s been on the team for three seasons, also said her initial reaction was shock, followed by gratitude.

“There’s not that many opportunities where a day’s named after something that you (were a part of),” she said. “You’re able to look back in 10 to 20 years like, ‘oh my gosh, this is the day where I was able to make history at my high school’.”

“It’s something that I can take pride in, ‘cause I was a big part of that,” the team’s starting center, 11th grader Jean-Evena Lusca said.” And it’s also something I can take with me, in regard to my life, when I’m applying for colleges or when I’m meeting new people that can give me new opportunities, that is something that I can say.”

Athletics deliver physical along with social-emotional benefits for participating students and aligns with San Diego Unified’s top priority of improving Student Wellness.

All the players said that playing the sport has enriched their lives by allowing them to have experiences that they wouldn’t have had otherwise, including making new friends.

“My teammates mean a lot to me, they’re family, so we got closer,” Aquirre-Lopez said.

“Everyone on the team is very supportive and very loving,” Lusca commented. “We have coaches that fight for the best for us.”

Ng added that she would definitely recommend that anyone thinking of trying flag football tackle the sport.

“Give it a shot,” she said. “It’s the best decision I made, and it may be for you, as well.”