16 May Westbrook Academy Hosts Girls Flag Football Tournament with Chargers Wide Receiver Quentin Johnston
Westbrook Academy and LA Promise Fund hosted their 2nd Annual Girls Flag Football Wildcat Invitational at Torrance High School, bringing together students from high schools across the region for a two-day event celebrating the growing momentum behind girls’ flag football.
Day 2 of the invitational featured a special guest appearance by NFL star Quentin Johnston, wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers. Johnston was excited to return and show his support after attending last year’s Wildcat Invitational at East Los Angeles College. This year’s event was twice as big as 2025, with 16 schools participating in the tournament, including Westbrook Academy’s team, the Wildcats.
Westbrook Academy was thrilled to welcome the following schools to participate in the event:
- Panorama High School — 1st Place (Weekend 1)
- Cleveland High School — 1st Place (Weekend 2)
- Narbonne High School — 2nd Place (Weekend 1 & Weekend 2)
- Franklin High School — 3rd Place (Weekend 1)
- Bell High School — 3rd Place (Weekend 2)
- Westbrook Academy
- Legacy High School
- James Monroe High School
- Alliance Marine-Innovation & Technology 6-12 Complex
- Collins Family College-Ready High School
- Alliance Stern Math and Science School
- Thomas Jefferson High School
- John Marshall High School
- Roosevelt High School
- South Gate High School
- USC Hybrid High College Prep
The event comes at a significant time for girls’ flag football as the National Collegiate Athletic Association continues to recognize and support the expansion of women’s flag football at the collegiate level. The Wildcat Invitational was designed to spotlight the growing opportunities available to young women athletes and to raise visibility of the sport’s rapid nationwide growth.
“Seeing these young women compete with so much passion and confidence was inspiring,” said Quentin Johnston. “Girls’ flag football is growing fast, and events like this are important because they show these athletes that there’s a real future and real opportunities in this sport. I’m proud to support the next generation.”
Throughout the tournament, teams competed in multiple matchups while families, students, and supporters cheered them on. Weekend 1, Panorama High School took home 1st place, with Narbonne High School placing 2nd and Franklin High School placing 3rd. Weekend 2, Cleveland High School won gold, Narbonne High School returned for another weekend and secured another silver, and Bell High School took home bronze.
“This tournament represents more than just football,” said Westbrook Academy representative Jade Stevens, who helped organize the invitational for a second year, “it’s about creating space for young women to compete, lead, and see themselves in the future of sports.”
Girls’ flag football continues to gain traction across the country. Just this month, the NCAA voted to make flag football an official collegiate championship sport, with the first championship projected for 2028.
NCAA President Charlie Barker commented, “With the sport headed to the 2028 Olympics, the timing couldn’t be better for women who might not have had a path to compete at the college level before. That’s worth celebrating.”
Westbrook Academy is excited to celebrate this moment and remains committed to creating opportunities like these that uplift student athletes both on and off the field.
ABOUT WESTBROOK ACADEMY
Westbrook Academy, operated by LA Promise Fund, is a public charter school serving students in grades 6–12 dedicated to developing artists, athletes, and academic achievers. This year, LA Promise Fund is celebrating 20 years of impact through education, college access, workforce development, and community partnerships across Los Angeles.
