A fresh start for the Lancers
Lakewood’s flag football team, the Lancers, are entering a pivotal season as second‑year coach Fern Viramontes takes the reins, tasked with replacing twelve graduating seniors and weaving a fresh roster of underclassmen and multi‑sport athletes into a cohesive unit.
Among the returning standouts, wide receiver and linebacker Layla Kawamura brings leadership and relentless dedication, while two‑way player Caleigh Correa adds depth after a successful club campaign that culminated in a championship.
The coaching staff will also lean on contributors such as Djai Verdun and Mahlia Simmons to bolster the receiving corps, and Tatiana Long will anchor the backfield at running back. Dual‑sport star Isabel Jovel, who returns as the team’s signal caller for 2026, will orchestrate the offense from the quarterback position.
Defensively, the Lancers will field a strong secondary with cornerback Kayla Cook, linebackers Mia Franco and Jaslyn Anderson, and Verdun and Simmons sharing safety duties. Coach Viramontes stresses disciplined flag‑pulling, echoing the nickname of the Lakewood boys’ football team, the Red Swarm, to build a reputation for tight, aggressive defense.
The schedule has been trimmed, with the Lancers set to play a smaller slate of Moore League contests after the departures of Cabrillo and Compton. Their first league showdown arrives on September 14 at home against Millikan, a matchup that promises to test the new chemistry early in the season.
With an emphasis on unity, disciplined play, and the infusion of fresh talent, the Lancers hope to improve on a 4‑8 record from the previous year and contend competitively within the league.