A multi-sport standout at Ceres High School, Lilly Staggs will continue her flag football and academic career at Simpson University in Redding.

The 2026 Bulldog graduate originally planned to play basketball at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton before having a change of heart.

“I enjoy playing basketball,” she said. “But I have a little more love for flag. It’s a sport that brings out my happiness.”

Staggs signed with the Red Hawks on Aug. 5.

She also received scholarship offers from Ripon College and Eureka College.

“Simpson reached out and gave me a great offer I couldn’t turn down,” Staggs said. “They want me to show off my talent. I have a spark that keeps me going and doesn’t allow me to give up.”

Family, friends, coaches and teammates attended Staggs’ signing ceremony, which was staged at her grandmother’s house last Wednesday.

“I want to give a huge thank you to my parents (Michael Staggs and Adrianna Duran) for always being by my side, making sure I was going down the right path, and I was loved and cared for,” she said.

Staggs made program history by becoming the first girls flag football player from Ceres High to earn a scholarship to a four-year college.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted. They (Bulldog coaches Curtis Hulstine and Nikole Ferrel) helped me get there (to college). They pushed me to be my best. They want their players to succeed in life.”

“She’s one of the best athletes I’ve coached and one of the best girls flag football players to come through Ceres High,” said Hulstine, who along with Ferrel, attended Staggs’ signing ceremony. “She was a major part of our success the last two years. I know she’s going to do amazing things at Simpson. She’s super humble. She’s super focused. She’s a hard-working athlete.”

Staggs will vie for playing time at wide receiver during her freshman year on the Simpson University women’s flag football team, which amassed a 3-8 overall record, tied for third place in the Golden State Athletic Conference regular-season standings (3-7) and advanced to the semifinals of the GSAC Tournament this past spring.

“To start at wide receiver, it would mean a lot to me,” she said. “I’m very coachable. I enjoy competing. I don’t give up. I always give 110 percent.”

Staggs starred in girls flag football and basketball during her senior and junior years at Ceres High.

“I loved being a leader,” she said.

Led by Staggs, Ceres High’s girls flag football team compiled a 16-8 overall record, finished second in the Western Athletic Conference standings with an 11-3 mark and reached the quarterfinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoffs.

The Bulldogs secured their third straight playoff berth and earned their second postseason victory.

“I enjoyed building bonds with my teammates,” said Staggs, who spent her final two years of high school in Ceres after transferring from Gregori.

Staggs was voted the WAC’s Offensive Player of the Year this past fall.

She totaled 1,051 yards and 19 touchdowns while contributing at receiver and running back.

“We battled for her to get MVP of the league,” Hulstine said. “She was one vote shy. The coaches remembered her. She was a force. She loves the game and likes to work hard. She’s super coachable.”

Staggs earned first-team all-WAC honors junior year.

She totaled 901 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Bulldogs, who amassed a 13-9 overall record, placed third in league (10-4) and qualified for the Division-II playoffs.

Staggs put the finishing touches on her high school flag football career by participating in the Third Annual Merced County All-Star Game for the second year in a row.

She caught one touchdown pass during the Blue Team’s 24-21 victory over the Gold Team on June 12 at Golden Valley High School.

“I got to show my talent one last time,” said Staggs, who had a receiving TD during the 2025 All-Star Game, which the Blue Team won by a score of 35-30. “Going against other competition was really fun. Being on the winning side was really cool.”

Staggs also enjoyed success while starring at guard in basketball with the Bulldogs.

“The expectation was to give it our all and do our best to win,” she said. “Our team chemistry and communication helped the team.”

Staggs earned first-team all-WAC accolades for the second year in a row this past winter.

She averaged 16.1 points, 3.4 steals, 3.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game for Ceres High, which compiled a 17-12 overall record, placed third in the WAC standings with a 9-5 mark and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the third year in a row.

Staggs scored 819 points in 53 career games.

She helped Ceres High re-establish its tradition of excellence in the sport.

“We all had fun together,” Staggs said. “We all wanted to win. I had a great time with my teammates.

Staggs capped off her prep hoops career with an appearance in the 29th Annual Six County All-Star Senior Basketball Classic on April 25 at Modesto Junior College.

“Lilly is a great player,” said Megan McGill, Staggs’ basketball coach during her final two years of high school. “She can shoot and score off the drive. She can see the floor really well. She can be a great defender and get steals that turn into offense.”

Staggs had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 at Ceres High.

She’ll major in Fire Science in college.

She plans to become a firefighter.

Simpson University is located in Rocklin, which is a 90-minute drive from Ceres.

“It’s a small town,” she said. “It’s not that far from home. I’m very excited to start my college life. I love meeting new people.”

Staggs talked about the possibility of joining the Simpson University women’s basketball team as a walk-on player during the 2027-28 academic year.

“I still have a desire to play basketball,” she said. “They already have a roster (for 2026-27). I’m going to start with flag and see what happens next year.”