A trio of local girls flag football players received some of the highest honors for their performances on the gridiron during the 2025 fall campaign.
St. Francis sophomore Liliana Whitmeyer and Pajaro Valley sophomore Denisse Magallon were named the Most Valuable Player in the Gabilan and Mission divisions, respectively, while Watsonville junior Taylor Alves-Lopez was named the Gabilan Division’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Whitmeyer compiled 6,425 passing yards, 64 touchdowns and 23 interceptions for the Sharks, who captured the Gabilan Division crown with a 13-3 record in league play.
The nifty quarterback also used her legs to make plays, tallying 1,034 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. On defense, Whitmeyer recorded five interceptions.
“It really means a lot to me but I know I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, without my coach and my family, obviously, pushing me to get better,” Whitmeyer said.
The Shark standout mentioned it all started with her older brother Andrew Whitmeyer, who played football at Santa Cruz High. He taught Liliana how to toss the ball at a young age, and then progressed with St. Francis head coach Frank Galvan.
Galvan along with girls’ basketball head coach Jesse Yniguez broke the news to Whitmeyer about being named the Gabilan Division’s top player.
“I was a little shocked,” Whitmeyer said. “But I was excited, and it really meant a lot to me having that award because it kind of showed how hard I worked throughout the season.”
The biggest motivating factor for Whitmeyer starts with family, saying that working hard for them every day is a success on its own.
“I just want to make them proud, making also my grandma [Mama Maria Ortiz] proud, who’s in heaven,” she said. “Making my family proud is a big priority, and winning for my teammates kind of drives me more, too, and I don’t really want to let them down.”
Magallon was a stalwart for the Grizzlies, who won their first-ever league title with a 14-2 record in Mission Division play.
“I’m really grateful that we got to experience all that we did and that we worked hard for it,” she said. “It was a very fun season, and I’m gonna miss it.”
The Grizzly standout two-way player finished with a total of 50 touchdowns and a combined 2,300 yards on offense while recording 30 interceptions on defense.
“It makes me feel like my hard work paid off,” said Magallon about earning MVP honors. “I was just hoping to get an award, but I wasn’t expecting to get MVP.”
Alves-Lopez set a new school and league record with 48 sacks, which was 10 more than runner-up Eva Vincenico of King City.
“It means a lot to me, honestly,” said Alves-Lopez, who earned all-league second team honors in 2024. “I felt like I really wanted to push to get that first team, and I obviously pushed hard enough to get defensive player of the year.”
The standout Wildcat rusher worked with Watsonville tackle football assistant coach Efren Lomeli during the offseason to hone her skills on the line.
Playing the rusher position in flag football is much more different than in tackle football where linemen get to use their brute strength to get past a blocker.
In flag football, speed is the name of the game as rushers, or linemen, attempt to zip past offensive linemen who can’t use their arms to block–almost similar to a screen play in basketball.
“Especially with the [pass] screen this year, it was definitely harder,” Alves-Lopez said. “[Opponents] would have at least three to four [screens] just to have me not go to the quarterback. It was just knowing how to get around them, knowing how to try to juke them out and get to the flag as quick as possible.”
Alves-Lopez along with Magallon and Whitmeyer also earned All-PCAL First Team honors in their respective divisions.
All-PCAL 2025 Girls Flag Football Teams
Gabilan Division
Most Valuable Player: Liliana Whitmeyer (So.), St. Francis
Offensive Player of the Year: Aubrey Jones (Fr.), Alisal
Defensive Player of the Year: Taylor Alves-Lopez (Jr.), Watsonville
First Team Offense
Eden Findrick (Fr.), St. Francis
Liliana Whitmeyer (So.), St. Francis
Delilah Herro (Jr.), Carmel
Ana Rasmussen (Jr.), Carmel
Jaslyne Coronado (Sr.), Salinas
Aubrey Jones (Fr.), Alisal
Katia Slama (Jr.), King City
Ellice Chao (Fr.), Monterey
Elise Sargent (Sr.), Palma
First Team Defense
Maya Calfee (Jr.), St Francis
Sophie Madrigal (Jr.), St. Francis
Ava Staehle (Sr.), Carmel
Calleigh Panziera (Sr.), Salinas
Taylor Alves-Lopez (Jr.), Watsonville
Carolina Lorca (Jr.), Palma
Jimena Salazar (Sr.), Salinas
Evelyn Hernandez (Jr.), Watsonville
Mia Rivera (Sr.), Alisal
Second Team Offense
Kierra Grio (So.), St. Francis
Kealani Sagin (So.), Carmel
Brooklyn Smith (Fr.), Alisal
Ixiim Deluma (So.), Hollister
Dania Rodriguez (Sr.), King City
Alyssa Escutia (Sr.), Salinas
Shyrah McDonald (Jr.), King City
Jenna Deese (Jr.), Monterey
Yoselin Delgadillo (Fr.), Watsonville
Second Team Defense
Cami Madrigal (Fr.), St. Francis
Josie Hanson (Sr.), Carmel
Brooklyn Yamashita (Fr.), Monterey
Aleah Ruiz (Sr.), Hollister
Natalia Aguon (So.), Palma
Bella Rodriguez (So.), Carmel
Hillary Santamaria (Sr.), Hollister
Denisse Heredia (Jr.), Salinas
Eva Vicencio (Sr.), King City
Richard Chamberlain Sportsmanship Team
Chanel Venter (Jr.), St. Francis
Zana Balanan (Sr.), Carmel
Zuri Machuca (Sr.), Salinas
Daniela Quiroz-Castro (Sr.), Alisal
Adalyn Jefferson (So.), Palma
Kaylin Arvizu (Sr.), King City
Janelle Loera (Sr.), Monterey
Fatima Gonzalez (Sr.), Watsonville
Lucy Grewohl (Sr.), Hollister
Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship team
Hollister
Mission Division
Most Valuable Player: Denisse Magallon, Pajaro Valley
Offensive Player of the Year: Alyssa Hernandez, Rancho San Juan
Defensive Player of the Year: Crystal Derrer, North Monterey County
First Team Offense
Ana Vasquez, Pajaro Valley
Aliyah Saurez, Pajaro Valley
Denae Diaz, NMC
Alyssa Diaz, NMC
Michelle Campos, Soledad
Esmeralda Torres, Marina
Alyssa Hernandez, RSJ
Maya Ibarra, NMC
Melony Erazo-Chavez, RSJ
First Team Defense
Perla Rivera, PV
Denise Magallon, PV
Crystal Derrer, NMC
Gianna Dow, Soledad
Gracy Ruiz, Marina
Nelani Mendoza, NMC
Alondra Munoz, Marina
Daisy Rincon, PV
Monique Trujillo, Soledad
Second Team Offense
Nevaeh Martinez, Marina
Sem Campa, Soledad
Coraline Fernandez, North Salinas
Irie Williams, North Salinas
Bailey Casarez, RSJ
Johanna Key, Marina
Reagon Arreola, NMC
Luz Zaragosa, Soledad
Liliana Zavala, Soledad
Second Team Defense
Valentina Medina, NMC
Johanna Key, Marina
Cameron De Santiago, Soledad
Jazmine Sanchez, North Salinas
Miranda Vera, RSJ
Paola Rico, Marina
Lelani English, Pajaro Valley
Denaya Thomas, Marina
Emma Reyes, Alvarez
Richard Chamberlain Sportsmanship Team
Nadia Renteria, Pajaro Valley
Jocelyn Gutierrez, NMC
Maria Reyes-Mojarro, Soledad
Desiree Hernandez, RSJ
Maya Chavez, Marina
Payton Zarceno, North Salinas
Vanessa Rojo, Seaside
Mikayla Tomas, Alvarez
Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship team
Marina
