After ranking number two in the nation with an impressive 20-1 season last year, the Miami Palmetto Senior High girls’ flag football team is poised to defend their title this upcoming season. As the sport grows, expanding to four classifications, the Lady Panthers face new challenges and heightened competition. However, after taking the Class 2A crown last season, MPSH strives to capture the new 4A title and remain state champs.
They are gearing up for an exciting season, aiming to build on last year’s success and take their performance to the next level. With most of the team returning, they pick up right where they left off, bringing strong chemistry and experience to the field. On top of that, they have become even faster, making them an even bigger threat to their competition.
“We’re a lot faster and a lot more physical than last year. That’s going to help us throughout our season,” Lady Panthers Coach Kevin Mujica said.
The team rose quickly to such success over their total of four seasons so far. This is credited to a highly experienced coach, talented players and of course key qualities, such as determination, effort and composure.
“I have a big [flag football] background, playing from a young age of four all the way up to a high level; I played for the national team. So, I think my background alone is one thing, but I think the bigger thing is the group of girls that I have: the athletes and their knowledge, understanding and [their ability] to trust me. Putting that all together has been able to separate us from a lot of the other teams,” Mujica said.
The team is returning with three key players: their two linebackers, seniors Ashley Alvarado and Camai Moore, and their quarterback Ava Alvarez. Last year in the state final, she made several throws of over 40 yards.
Alvarez stressed the importance of composure within herself as a player and within the team.
“In more egotistical players, you can tell they lose [their focus] very quickly, whereas confident players are very centered and know what they’re doing beforehand,” Alvarez said.
One of the team’s biggest factors for success is their strong chemistry and close bond, which allows them to communicate seamlessly on the field. This connection not only strengthens their performance but also fuels their determination to win together. Their team bonding extends beyond the classroom: they bond through film-watching, long bus rides for tournaments and pre-game meals. After every shut-out game, the team looks forward to donuts as a reward.
“Those little details bring the girls together and help us in the long run,” Mujica said.
Getting in the right headspace is often just as important as the physical preparation before a game. Each player has their own pregame ritual, whether it’s listening to a specific song, visualizing plays or bonding with other girls on the bus ride to away games. While these routines may all be different and individual, they all feed into the team’s overall energy, bringing everyone together with the same intensity and focus. This shared excitement and preparation strengthen their chemistry, ensuring they step onto the field as a united front, ready to compete at their best.
“Usually we all have our own headphones on before the game; I start my music with praise/worship music, and then closer to the game I change it to something more hype. Once we get on the field and get more hype, I click back into reality. During home games, we all run through the [inflatable] panther and get hyped and start yelling. We also all pray together,” Alvarez said.
Additionally, they compete every day, whether with another team or between themselves during practice. They have cultivated a strong mindset, never taking practice lightly.
Coming off such a high-achieving season last year, the team faces the challenge of staying grounded and not letting overconfidence affect their performance. If they get too comfortable or assume success will come easily, they might not put in the same effort and focus that made them so strong in the first place. To avoid this, they need to stay disciplined, work just as hard and approach every team with the same determination as before.
“We don’t want to be complacent, and it’s going to be tough because we did so well [last year]. And now, there’s a big magnifying glass on us; people who want to play us are coming right after us, but we just have to block all that outside noise and stay within our circle and trust each other,” Mujica said. “But that’s the tough part, which is why our motto this year is ‘back on the prowl.’”
As the new season approaches, the girls’ flag football team reflects on their previous achievements and the obstacles ahead. Maintaining humility and focus is crucial to avoid the pitfalls of overconfidence. By emphasizing teamwork, discipline and continuous improvement, they aim to replicate and even surpass last year’s success.
“Our main goal is to win states again. [We have to be] able to look through adversity and have trust within one another,” Mujica said. “Practice and film is huge for us, because just putting our girls in the right position and preparing ourselves for each game and each opponent is the biggest thing. [We have to] take one game at a time and stay healthy.”
