Lompoc third-year girls flag football coach Ashley Coelho has been one of the main drivers when it comes to promoting the fast-growing sport, on the Central Coast and in the CIF Central Section.

Coelho is happy the number of Central Coast teams keeps growing. Lompoc was the first Central Coast school to add girls flag football, in 2023 when flag football became recognized as a CIF sport.

Righetti and Santa Ynez are slated to field their first respective girls flag football teams for the 2025 season. Cabrillo, Pioneer Valley and Santa Maria added the sport last year.

"I'm pretty thrilled with the addition of the new teams," said Coelho.

"I'm going to be really pushing for the Fresno and Bakersfield area schools to add the sport for next year. We were one team short of having enough (Cen

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