Sydney Aguilar is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Barry Goldwater for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX– As their high school athletic careers come to an end, four Barry Goldwater flag football seniors are preparing to leave their mark on a program that has grown alongside them.

The Bulldogs are in their fourth season of girl’s flag football and the senior class has experienced the program at different stages of its development. As they approach graduation, the seniors reflect on the team’s growth, relationships built and challenges faced. By leading and connecting with the underclassmen, the seniors hope to leave a lasting impact on Barry Goldwater’s program beyond their final season. 

“They’re a tight-knit group,” head coach Tom Reagan said. “They enjoy being here and that’s infectious to the whole team because it creates an inviting environment.”

For the seniors, the program has become more than a competitive sport. Flag football has served as an outlet through their athletic careers, giving them a space to build friendships and grow as individuals.

London Farmer, who joined the program in its inaugural year, has seen the program develop and change throughout her time with the Bulldogs. She started playing flag football at 11 years old, when she joined a club team.

“I love that the sport has gotten the recognition it deserves and more girls are joining,” Farmer said. “People are realizing that girls can play just as hard as guys when we really put our minds and bodies to it.”

Farmer has a very light-hearted personality and loves to have fun at practice. Her focus is to make her teammates laugh and support the team by sharing her knowledge of the game. 

“I want to be remembered as somebody who could cheer up anyone on the field,” Farmer said. 

Sydney Rose joined the team as a sophomore after her best friend, Farmer, encouraged her. Like the other seniors, she has had to overcome challenges to grow as an athlete and human.

“As a kicker, making decisions under pressure didn’t always come easy to me,” Rose said. “I’ve struggled with confidence, one missed kick and I’m down on myself the whole game.”

Rose’s experience reflects the challenges players face as they learn a sport, which has continued to evolve in recent years.

“The rules have been modified over the last few years and that’s just completely changed the field of play,” Rose said. “There’s been more commitment from girls at the school who are trying out and showing up to practices or games.”

For Valeria Sanchez, joining the team came after two former players inspired her to give flag football a try. By playing multiple positions, Sanchez found that flag football has allowed her to develop skills that extend beyond the field. 

“I’ve had to learn to take accountability and grow from my mistakes,” Sanchez said. “I hope the team always remembers to learn from their mistakes, as well as mine.”

Although flag football is rapidly growing in Arizona and across the country, Barry Goldwater has faced challenges of its own, with small rosters requiring players to compete on both sides of the ball.

“I’ve had to learn new positions, but then I’d have to relearn my old position because I still played both and that was a challenge,” Sanchez said.

While the other seniors have spent multiple years as Bulldogs, Aliziah White transferred from Thunderbird High School before her senior year. She immediately felt welcomed to the team the moment she stepped onto the field at tryouts.

“Everyone greeted me and was very encouraging,” White said. “The girls were uplifting and I’ve met some of my best friends since making the team.”

That sense of connection extends to the younger players. Sophomore Azul Bautista described the seniors as “mother figures,” appreciating the energy, excitement and different personalities each brings to the team.

“The seniors are people I look up to and I know I can go to them for advice,” Bautista said. “When I need help, they’re the ones I confide in.”

Reagan expressed that each senior brings different strengths to the team. Together, the group has helped develop the underclassmen and build a foundation for the Bulldogs’ future.

“Some are going to lead by example and others are going to lead by voice,” Reagan said. “They lead by doing the right thing, being on time, giving full effort and holding each other accountable.”

Reagan takes pride in how quickly the seniors have learned the sport, expressing admiration for their skill development and understanding of the game.

As the four seniors prepare for their final games in a Bulldogs uniform, their time with the program has become a part of its budding history.

Barry Goldwater will honor the seniors with a ceremony at its Senior Night game against Shadow Mountain on Tuesday.