Alicia Espinoza, Giana Breshears and Ayleen Apreza teamed up for the final time while representing Central Valley High School at the Third Annual Merced County All-Star Girls Flag Football Game last month in Merced.
Espinoza, Breshears, Apreza and the Blue Team held on for a 24-21 victory over the Gold Team on June 13 at Golden Valley High School’s Veteran’s Stadium.
“Teaming up with Giana and Ayleen for the final time was really special to me,” Espinoza said. “I love both of those girls so much. Ayleen’s so talented and I know she has so much ahead of her. I’ve known Giana for about five years. She’s such an amazing person and so kind. I loved playing most of my sports with her as my teammate. She’s such a natural leader and so determined. I’m really grateful for the memories we’ve shared together.”
“I’m so grateful I got to play my last game with people I know and grew up with in high school,” Breshears stated.
“It was bittersweet playing one last game with my Central Valley teammates, Giana and Alicia, and I’m thankful we had the opportunity to represent our school together,” Apreza added.
Espinoza pulled three flags while contributing at linebacker.
“Being selected to play in the All-Star Game was an amazing experience,” Espinoza said. “I was surrounded by really talented and athletic players. I had a lot of fun when competing.”
Breshears pulled five flags at linebacker.
“I was surprised I was picked to play in the All-Star Game,” Breshears said. “I didn’t think I was that good. There was so much talent there. The girls were really nice. I made a bunch of friends.”
Apreza competed in the All-Star Game for the second straight season.
She pulled two flags at defensive back this year.
“I’m very grateful to have been selected to play in the All-Star Game,” she said. “It was an incredible experience, and I appreciate the Merced Lions Club for organizing an event that brings together the top flag football players in the area.”
Ahead by just three points, the Blue Team secured the hard-fought victory by forcing a turnover on downs on fourth-and-goal late in the game.
“After we won the game, we did a TikTok with the trophy and dumped water on our coaches,” Breshears said. “That was fun. We played really well together as a team. We all trusted each other. We all did well under pressure. We did our job. That’s why we won. I was happy to finish my high-school flag season with a win.”
“It was a tight game, so it was demanding,” Espinoza said. “It was a mix of adrenaline, stress and fun.”
“Competing alongside and against so many talented athletes allowed me to challenge myself, meet new people, and continue growing as a player,” Apreza said. “I was able to contribute on defense by pulling two flags, and I’ll carry everything I learned from this experience back to my team at Central Valley.”
Espinoza, Breshears and Apreza filled key roles while leading Central Valley to a program-best third-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 9-5 mark during the 2025-26 school year.
Espinoza, Breshears and Apreza were all named to the WAC First Team for their outstanding play this past fall.
Espinoza totaled 60 tackles, five interceptions and one sack at outside linebacker senior year.
“We didn’t have to worry about her side of the football field,” Hawk’s head coach Tony Cordova said. “She always contained the outside.”
Breshears tallied 58 tackles and 16 sacks at middle linebacker as a senior.
“She’s a special player,” Cordova said.
Apreza contributed at receiver, running back and safety as a sophomore.
“It’s exciting to see her get that recognition,” Cordova said. “She didn’t let us down. She made big plays in big games.”
Apreza caught 53 passes for 630 yards and 14 touchdowns and ran for 603 yards and two touchdowns on 94 carries.
She had 19 tackles, nine interceptions and one sack on defense.
“She’s really quiet,” Cordova said. “She doesn’t say much. You get her the football, she does all her talking with her play on the field.”
Espinoza and Breshears graduated from Central Valley last month.
Espinoza will continue her athletic career and further her education at Modesto Junior College.
She’s planning to wrestle for the Pirates.
Breshears will focus on academics at UC Merced.
Apreza will be a junior at Central Valley this fall.
