The girls flag football team has taken the Peninsula Athletic League by storm in their redemption season, becoming PAL champions with a perfect 6-0 record. Through strengthening friendships and their knowledge of the game, the team has positioned themself on top of the league. The Bears have also received increased recognition this season, winning Team of the Week by 49ers Cal-Hi Sports.
M-A’s flag football team, created in fall 2024, was formed a year later than many other high school teams in the area. The Bears began their season with little prior experience, learning the fundamentals of the game as the season progressed. In the inaugural season of flag football at M-A, the Bears started off with six losses in a row, ending with a league record of 6-5 and a 6-10 record overall.
“I think, last year, our biggest challenge was that it was our first year playing, so we all just had no idea what we were doing,” senior quarterback Mae Kunihiro said. “We were all learning it together.”
Since then, they have cemented themselves as a powerhouse, kicking off their second season with five consecutive wins and finishing with a 12-2 overall record. As the team built connections both on and off the field, they grew stronger mentally and strategically, allowing them to take control of the league.
“I think that we changed our mentality last year. Everybody got along really well, and the team was a lot of fun. But this year, it became a lot more competitive, and we all want to win and have fun,” junior middle linebacker Atessa Gholamy said.
Players often struggled with finding their place within the team dynamic. “Last year, because it was our first year, I felt like I was putting together a puzzle. ‘Okay, what can this piece do? It fits here, but is it going to make the whole picture better?’” Head Coach and social studies teacher Jason Knowles said.
Going into this year with a season of experience under their belt, the Bears took a new approach to this season. With less emphasis on basic skills, the team found their rhythm by spending practices watching film and creating specific game plans based on their opponents.
“We study for each team like a test. We always watch film, which has shown to be very effective and useful,” senior center Bailee Van Loben Sels said. “And with our record, I feel like it’s been great.”
Along with getting to know the sport, the team reflected on how their connection as players has helped them on the field. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so we’re able to find a lot more success on the field now,” Gholamy said. “Our chemistry is going up.”
Spending time together on and off the field has been an important aspect of the team dynamic. Post-game In-N-Out meals, Bear Buddies, and team dinners are just some of the highlights of the season for players. “At the start, we were just friends with each other, but now we’re becoming best friends, and a family,” Kunihiro said.
“Honestly, I’ve never been on a team that’s a whole unit. People have their own friends, of course, but nobody’s really left out. It’s genuinely such a welcoming and positive environment, and it’s such a unique friendship,” Gholamy said. “We created such a unique balance and that just makes a sport so much different.”
A change in rules this season around defensive rushing increased the physicality of the games, as the rushing distance was changed from seven yards to just one yard. M-A faced this challenge head-on, and Kunihiro took advantage of the removal of no-run zones against the extra pressure.
The Bears shut down six teams during their regular season, which can be attributed to their impenetrable defense. They also expanded their coaching staff this year with Coach Jeff Roodman, who has played a key role in the power of the defensive line this season.
“My favorite game was the Mills game. We beat them on their senior night, and they totally thought that they were going to destroy us based on our experience last year. It was cool being like the underdog coming up on top,” Van Loben Sels said.
The Bears secured the league championship in a tough win on senior night against the Carlmont Scots, who had previously remained undefeated in league for the past three seasons. After suffering a 19-0 loss to the Scots last season, M-A entered this game eager for reclamation. Despite facing a 12-0 deficit at halftime, the Bears destroyed the second half as they squeezed out a 19-18 victory in overtime. This game served as a crucial moment for M-A, earning their redemption and their top position in league.
“I think we have a lot of mental toughness. Even if we get down in the game, we don’t let it impact our performance,” senior wide receiver Elise Koo said.
Flag football has expanded substantially as a sport over the last few years. In 2023, flag football was declared an Olympic sport, planned to debut at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Bay Area is also home to the Golden State Storm, a professional women’s tackle and flag football team that is part of the Women’s National Football Conference. Their mission is to empower young girls and give them a place to thrive in football.
It became an official high school sport in California in 2023, and the number of teams has shown explosive growth in the years since. The first year, there were only 25 teams in the CCS. This number has multiplied, with 84 CCS teams participating in the 2025 season.
“I’m most proud of their character and who they are off the field. They’re all great students. They’re all great human beings, and they care about each other, and that’s really evident on the sideline,” he added. “If a girl drops a pass, everyone’s rooting her on, saying, ‘Hey, that’s okay. You’ll get the next one,’” Knowles said.
“My real hope is that it continues to grow, and that the school and the District support that growth,” he added.
“We all love each other. We’re so connected,” junior cornerback Aryn Roodman said. “Playing together in practice doesn’t even seem like practice, it just seems like a hangout.”
Following suit, both Hillview and La Entrada also implemented girls’ flag football teams beginning this year.
“I hope the younger classmen continue to thrive in our environment that we created as a team, and I hope that the team stays as connected and fun as it was when us seniors were here,” Van Loben Sels said.
