The 2025 NFL Girls High School Flag Football Showcase was held on Sunday, February 2nd in Orlando before the Pro Bowl. Three of the Pines Charter Lady Jags players were selected to compete in this honorable game, seniors Ava Rivera, Jocelyn Garcia, and Sylena Gilbert.
Last season, the Lady Jags concluded their season at the state championship while being led by these three players. Even though they were just juniors, little did they know the impact that they would bring to the field.
All three of these young athletes have received recognition on various levels, not just from the Girls Flag Football Pro Bowl game, as they were all named USA Today top 30 girls in the United States.
Ava Rivera was named All-Broward’s first team and Miami Herald’s flag football player of the year, and Jocelyn Garcia was named All-Broward’s first team.
Senior, Sylena Gilbert remembers the exact feeling when she received the email that she was invited to play in the girl’s flag football pro bowl game, “…honestly when I found out I was chosen I couldn’t believe it, but it felt good knowing that my hard work hadn’t gone unnoticed.”
Additionally, some of the girls had memories that would stick out for a lifetime, especially Gilbert.
“Being surrounded by so much talent from all over the country on the same field that NFL players play on felt monumental,” Gilbert comments as she reminisces about her emotions before the first practice and game.
Rivera also highlights some of her favorite parts of her trip, especially “…the friendships that were made and also just being on TV was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Moreover, Rivera described one of her favorite memories from the game itself, when she was able to achieve the first down after running a trick play. As they were doing a fourth down, she handed the ball off to her teammate, then her teammate threw the ball back to her which then resulted in throwing the ball to the center.
Another clutch play made by Rivera was when she was able to connect on a play with Garcia, making them closer to the end zone and itching towards making a touchdown.
The hard work of these three players who went above and beyond was noticed at a higher level and rewarded, showing fellow Jaguars that the extra step is always worth it.
