EASTVALE — Roosevelt coach Jennifer Constuble has been a key figure in the world of flag football for more than two decades.
1 of 6
Expand
But even with that vast amount of experience, Constuble initially was uncertain where Lotolelei Sivas would best fit on the field.
“She is such a great athlete, so we tried her at nearly every position on offense and defense last season,” Constuble said.
Sivas eventually settled in at receiver and safety and quickly became one of the Inland Empire’s most explosive players during flag football’s first season as a CIF Southern Section sport.
Sivas continued her electric play throughout her junior season, catching 84 passes for 1,708 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushing for 496 yards and five more scores. And on defense, Sivas intercepted 15 passes and returned six for touchdowns. That combination helped the Mustangs capture the Big VIII League title.
Roosevelt finished with an 18-3 record and was 1 of 2 Inland teams to qualify for the CIF Southern Section’s Division 1 playoffs.
For those reasons, Sivas has been chosen the IE Varsity Girls Flag Football Player of the Year for the 2024 season.
Sivas is a softball player by trade and already has committed to BYU. She also has been surrounded by football most of her life.
“My dad played football and my brothers played football,” Sivas said. “I was the only girl and really wanted to play but never had the opportunity until flag football was an option. … I was really excited because I wanted to show what girls could do in this sport.”
Sivas wears the No. 50 jersey in memory of her brother Laione, who passed away Christmas Eve in 2020 at the age of 12.
Sivas is a middle infielder and outfielder during softball season, and those skills have translated extremely well for flag football.
“Loto has the mobility and field awareness to be a great flag football player,” Constuble said. “She reads the ball extremely well on both sides of the ball. She’s tall and lanky (5-foot-9) and not afraid to go up and get the ball in traffic. … Once we put her in the receiver spot, she really blossomed. She runs really crisp routes, and she can get herself open when she’s being double-teamed.”
Constuble also has been impressed with Sivas’ work ethic and knowledge of the sport.
“Her football IQ has grown tremendously. When we are in film sessions, she is the first one pointing things out,” Constuble said. “Her drive is unmatched. She always sets personal goals for herself before the season and then tries to match or surpass them.”
And she already has set some of those goals for next season.
“I want us to go undefeated in league again and hopefully win CIF,” Sivas said. “I just want to continue what we have started.”
IE VARSITY COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Estrada, Western Christian
Estrada has run the Premier Youth Flag Football club program based in Ontario for five years, and his success has transferred to the high school level. Western Christian had a remarkable debut campaign, finishing the season with a 24-4 record while winning the Ambassador League title in unbeaten fashion. The Lancers finished the regular season No. 14 in the CIF Southern Section’s power rankings — tops among Inland teams and first-year programs in the section — and were just 1 of 2 area squads to earn a spot in the Southern Section’s Division 1 playoffs. Western Christian averaged 29.9 points and 288.6 yards per game this season.
IE VARSITY FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB: Jasmin Craner, Beaumont, Sr.
QB: Maliyah Estrada, Western Christian, Fr.
RB: Emma Goodland, Roosevelt, So.
RB: Hayley Medina, Upland, Sr.
WR: Ava Liaga, Corona, So.
WR: Olivia Molina, Ramona, Jr.
WR: Bailey Osborne, Western Christian, Fr.
WR: Maddy Saruwatari, Santiago, Sr.
WR: Ava Shaffer, Linfield Christian, Sr.
C: Emily Sandoval, Roosevelt, Sr.
Defense
R: Ayana Goodwin, Ramona, Sr.
R: Kimora Fuller, King, Sr.
LB: Addison Gonzalez, Ayala, Jr.
LB: Kayla Heinlein, Bonita, Sr.
LB: Malaiah Mayo, North, Jr.
LB: Izabella Tejada, Canyon Springs, Sr.
DB: Layla Campbell, Cajon, Sr.
DB: Sophia Gonzales, North, Sr.
DB: Dalia Ortega, Norte Vista, Jr.
DB: Olivia Toki, Moreno Valley, Jr.
All-Purpose
AP: Jazmin Benson, San Gorgonio, Sr.
AP: Leah Davis, Upland, Fr.
AP: Grace Galdamez, Western Christian, Sr.
AP: Yazmyn Pryor, Hillcrest, Sr.
AP: Lotolelei Sivas, Roosevelt, Jr.
IE VARSITY SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB: Tressa Beatty, Bonita, Jr.
QB: Caden Johnson, Linfield Christian, So.
RB: Natalie Estrada, United Christian Academy, Sr.
RB: Leiani Jaime, San Dimas, Jr.
WR: Raegan Bailey, Ontario Christian, Sr.
WR: Isabella Laramie, King, Sr.
WR: Kaleayah Marshall, Canyon Springs, Jr.
WR: Rylee Valenzuela, Chino, Fr.
WR: Lillyana Nunez, Beaumont, Fr.
C: Zoe Griego, Cajon, Sr.
Defense
R: Angelina Garcia, San Gorgonio, Jr.
R: Kiem-Ai Pham, Corona, So.
LB: Alexandra Escalante, Upland, Sr.
LB: Amera Collins, Moreno Valley, Fr.
LB: Brooklyn Binder, Santiago, Jr.
LB: Cassandra Serna, Western Christian, Sr.
DB: Ashley Sandmark, San Dimas, Sr.
DB: Amaya Contreras, Upland, So.
DB: Teresa Garcia, Etiwanda, Sr.
DB: Miley Haines, Beaumont, Fr.
All-Purpose
AP: London Bryant, Loma Linda Academy, Jr.
AP: Kamryn Ellis, Summit, Sr.
AP: Aliyah Jones, Garey, Sr.
AP: Daniella Phelan, Linfield Christian, Fr.
AP: Emmalee Snow, Norco, Sr.
