Central Valley’s girls flag football team experienced a major turnaround this season thanks in large part to the play of Ayleen Apreza, Addisyn Prudhel, Airieana Martinez, Mia Mendoza, Damaris Cisneros and Brianna Espinoza.

Apreza, Martinez, Prudhel, Mendoza, Cisneros and Espinoza were all honored during the Western Athletic Conference’s year-end head coaches’ meeting on Oct. 28 in Ceres.

“We left there excited,” Hawks’ leader Tony Cordova said. “We’re happy the other coaches voted for our girls. The ones that got recognized were always at practice. They were always working hard. They were always trying to get better.”

Apreza was named to the WAC First Team.

The freshman was recognized for her outstanding play at safety on defense.

She had 12 tackles, one sack, one interception and two pass deflections.

She tied for first on the team in sacks.

“She was extremely effective,” Cordova said. “She had a natural ability to pursue the ball.”

Cordova was surprised Apreza wasn’t rewarded for her production at receiver.

She caught 72 passes for 1,032 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran for 376 yards and three scores on 36 carries.

“Her main contribution to the team was on offense,” Cordova said. 

Prudhel and Martinez were both selected to the WAC Second Team.

Prudhel, a freshman quarterback, missed earning first-team all-league honors by one vote.

“To be able to produce like she did was great,” Cordova said. “Her success comes from being a softball player. She’s a catcher. As a catcher, you control the game.”

Promoted from the junior-varsity team after Espinoza suffered an arm injury, Prudhel completed 192 of 346 passes for 2,481 yards with 29 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 12 games.

“As she got more experience, she began to develop as a quarterback,” Cordova said. 

“She has a natural throwing technique,” he added. “She has three more years to go. She’s only going to get better. It’s going to be fun to watch.”

Martinez, a junior inside linebacker, had 37 tackles, one interception and eight pass deflections.

“I truly believe she should have been on the (WAC) First Team,” Cordova said. “She was a solid piece to our defense. She led our team in tackles.”

Mendoza and Cisneros were honorable-mention selections.

“I was surprised neither of them made Second Team,” Cordova said. 

Mendoza, a senior safety, had 31 tackles, one sack, three interceptions and 12 pass deflections.

She ranked first on the team in pass deflections and sacks, and third in tackles and interceptions.

“Mia was our motivator,” Cordova said. “She was tough. She was aggressive. She showed no fear.”

Cisneros, a junior safety, led the Hawks in interceptions (5) and pick-sixes (1).

She ranked fourth on the team in tackles (24) and fifth in pass deflections (4).

Cisneros contributed at the JV level as a sophomore.

“She got comfortable and used to the speed,” Cordova said. “She really flourished. She was a huge asset to our defense. I’m glad we have her for one more year.”

Espinoza, a senior center/quarterback, was named Central Valley’s WAC Sportsmanship Award winner.

She passed for 316 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions.

She also hauled in eight passes for 101 yards.

“She deserved that award,” Cordova said. “She had a positive attitude. She was never negative. She was willing to give up playing time because she wanted everybody to get the chance to play.”

The Hawks compiled a 7-7 record en route to a fourth-place finish in the CCC standings this year.

Central Valley won just two league games during its inaugural season of girls flag football in 2023.

“The program is getting better,” Cordova said. 

The Hawks will have high expectations next fall.

“We’re only losing one player on offense,” Cordova said.