Local High School Part of NFL Sponsored Pilot Girls Flag-Football

Rise Kohyang High School (RKHS), a Bright Star School in Koreatown, is one of eight local schools selected to participate in an NFL-sponsored pilot girls’ Flag Football team. Sporting flashy blue uniforms with the team’s name “Tritons” displayed across their chest, the girls began practicing at the start of the winter semester. RKHS is located at 600 South La Fayette Park Place, 2nd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90057.

“After coming back to school in person post-virtual learning, we’re proud to provide access to as many in-person opportunities as we can for our students so that they thrive in and beyond the classroom, in higher education, and in their careers,” said Stephanie Kozofsky, assistant principal of Rise Kohyang High School and assistant coach of the flag football team. “We’re thrilled to participate in the NFL-sponsored pilot girls’ Flag Football team. Our students are growing so much and having an amazing time. We hope to see this developed into a full CIF sponsored sport in the upcoming year,” she added.

In November 2021, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and National Football Team (NFL) invited the RKHS athletes to participate in a one-of-kind opportunity for women’s sports in Los Angeles. The LA Chargers and LA Rams sponsored the girls team with uniforms, game opportunities, referee fees, and activities around and leading up to the Super Bowl. Yolanda Galeazzi, the Dean of Athletics and Student Activities for Rise Kohyang High School, and current Head Coach of the flag football team, wrote the application to gain access to the program, along with recruiting students to join this sport.

“As a former high school football player myself, this opportunity to bring football to our very own students is close to my heart. I am honored and grateful to be able to pilot this program at our school and cannot wait to see girls all across the country playing flag football in years to come,” Yolanda Galeazzi said.

The school’s enthusiasm recently reached new levels when RKHS freshman and star player, Nadriah Mayrena, was selected to participate in the coin toss ceremony during the Super Bowl to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of Title IX on Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 3:30PM.

Mayrena was present for the official coin toss and serve as one of four female flag football players on the field and on national television during this exciting time.

“When I first heard about flag football, I was not sure I wanted to join, but my mind changed quickly after the very first practice,” said Nadriah Mayrena, a freshman student at Rise Kohyang High School. “I love this sport because it brings everyone together. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what grade you’re in, or where you come from, we all play as one and we all have each other’s backs. I’m excited that we were selected to participate in the flag football program, and I look forward to representing the Tritons and our school at the Super Bowl,” added Mayrena.

Bright Star Schools has nine, tuition-free public charter schools across three communities in Los Angeles (West Adams/Baldwin Village, Koreatown, and the San Fernando Valley), Bright Star Schools’ 3,500+ students experience rigorous academics, inclusive education, social-emotional support and rich life opportunities beyond the classroom from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade and up to six years of higher education support. More information is available at www.brightstarschools.org.