At California High School, the sound of the buzzer and the flutter of a flag symbolize more than just game cues; they represent a cultural transformation. A fresh wave of student-athletes is changing the perception of leadership, academics, and what it means to be a sportswoman. From the softball field to the gymnastics mat, juniors such as Olivia Soto, Kara Jen, Brielle Flores, and Nicole Meza are demonstrating that “playing like a girl” is synonymous with a standard of excellence.
For Olivia Soto, a dual-varsity standout in softball and flag football, the journey began in a “Dodger household.” But Olivia didn’t just want to watch from the stands—she wanted to lead on the field. As part of Cal High’s inaugural flag football team, she helped lead the squad to an undefeated league championship, silencing critics who viewed football as a “man’s sport.”
“We proved everybody wrong,” Soto says. “I’ve learned to ‘control the controllables.’ I can’t always control the outcome, but I can control my effort and my attitude.”
This sentiment is echoed by Varsity Basketball Captain Nicole Meza. For Nicole, leadership is about emotional intelligence. “I try not to show my negative emotions to the team,” she explains. “I want to be that upperclassman they can look up to. It’s about setting an example in difficult situations.”
While sports like basketball and softball receive high-profile recognition, athletes in “aesthetic” sports face a different battle: the fight for legitimacy. Kara Jen, a gymnast of ten years, and Brielle Flores, a three-year cheerleader, are quick to dismantle the “dainty” stereotype.
“People don’t even count it as a sport,” Kara Jen notes, “but it’s one of the hardest because it’s so physically and mentally demanding. The whole point is to make it look easy and perfect, so they don’t see how aggravating and hard it actually is.”
Flores is equally direct about the physical toll of cheerleading. “We literally carry 120-pound girls in the air every time we practice. No other sport does that.” For these athletes, the challenge isn’t just the gravity-defying stunts—it’s navigating a society that often overlooks their strength or, worse, over-sexualizes their uniforms.
How do these students manage to be “girls’ girls,” elite athletes, and top-tier students simultaneously? The common denominator is a grueling schedule and a disciplined mind. For Olivia, an “in-season” day doesn’t end until 9:00 PM after Zero Period, classes, practice, and private lessons. “Sports have helped me build confidence in the classroom,” she says. “I practice to be ready for games, so I give myself that same time to study for tests.”
Despite the internal competition for playing time and starting spots, the overriding theme among Cal High’s female athletes is sisterhood. Whether it’s the “family” atmosphere Nicole finds on the court or the “girls’ girl” mentality Olivia describes on the diamond, these athletes are building a support system that extends far beyond graduation.
As Brielle Flores puts it, the goal for the future is simple: kindness and recognition. “I hope to see people value us as much as they do men in sports,” Kara Jen adds. “We put in the same amount of work, if not more.”
At Cal High, these four juniors aren’t just playing games—they are building a legacy of resilience, proving that whether they are wearing a jersey, a leotard, or a graduation gown, they are the ones to watch.
Mrs. Labry • Mar 8, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Wow! We have a female powerhouse! Proud to be a Condor!