The562’s coverage of girls’ flag football is sponsored by the Los Angeles Chargers.
There’s good news and bad news for Wilson girls’ flag football. The bad news is that an inexperienced roster is already taking its lumps with a bunch of early season losses. The good news is the Bruins know how to adjust in a season like this.
Last year, Wilson had a bunch of freshmen in key positions while starting the season by losing six of its first seven games. However, the Bruins had a big team meeting as Moore League play started and they turned it around to win 11 of their last 17 games to finish 12-14-1 overall and in the top half of the league.
“That turnaround was the girls just banding together, buckled down and worked together like I’ve almost never seen, especially for teenage girls,” Wilson coach Duane Haldeman said. “This group of girls has to do the same.”
Wilson didn’t retain many of the freshmen who played last year, so Haldeman is once again teaching first-year players with in-game experience while trying to make sure they don’t get discouraged.
Yessica Ruiz is a great example of that type of player Haldeman is nurturing. The junior was in Haldeman’s Physical Education class last year and played in outside leagues to get some playing time before this season. Ruiz is now a star running back and linebacker who leads the team in flags pulled. She also had a touchdown catch in Wilson’s win against Culver City this month.
Ruiz caught that ball from Wilson quarterback Alexis McLaurin. The junior is new to the sport but is the younger sister of former Wilson quarterback Xander McLaurin (pictured left).
“It feels nice kind of following in his footsteps, and I also love playing sports, but I haven’t played a team sport in a long time so it feels really good to connect with these other girls and work with them,” she said.
McLaurin also plays safety on defense alongside team captain and fellow junior Katelyn “KP” Pong.
The most experienced player on Wilson’s roster is returning All-Moore League athlete Jordyn Jefferson, and she will be a top target for McLaurin.
