Flag Football Semifinals Bound

A Perfect Season Built on Dominant Defense and Offense

Westlake/Briarcliff finished the regular season at 19-0, including a 55-6 blowout of Byram Hills on May 23, according to Lohud. The team outscored all opponents 608-162 over the full season. Sophomore quarterback Juliana Dimarino has been the offensive engine, recording over 100 career touchdowns to date.

The program is a merged team, combining athletes from two neighboring school districts. That structure is common in newer NYSPHSAA sports, where smaller schools join forces to build competitive rosters. The model has clearly worked — Westlake/Briarcliff has gone from a pilot club to a state-title contender in just a few years, Ithaca Journal noted.

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Key Moment: Rivera Font Catch Stands Out in Regional Win

One of the most talked-about plays in the regional championship came when Mar Rivera Font caught a pass in the end zone. Rhinebeck's Ella Donnelly made the flag pull on the play, but the damage was done. Rivera Font's performance was a key part of Westlake's defensive and offensive flexibility, according to The Times Herald.

For Rhinebeck, the June 2 loss was their first of the season. Their final record stood at 12-1-1. Local observers noted that competing closely with a top state-ranked undefeated program cemented Rhinebeck's status as a premier team in Section 9, per Record Online.

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Coach Robinson Earns Giants Honor as Program Gains NFL Backing

Head coach Lowell Robinson works full-time as a special education teacher in New York City. He was named the New York Giants

Coach of the Week for Week 9 after guiding Westlake to its Section 1 Class C title. The Giants Foundation awarded the program a $2,000 grant tied to that honor, according to Lohud.

The NFL and the Giants have been strong backers of girls' flag football in New York since NYSPHSAA officially recognized it as a championship sport in 2022. Sponsorship from the Giants Foundation and NYCM Insurance has helped fund equipment and field upgrades. The sport now runs three class divisions — A, B, and C — reflecting how fast it has grown.

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State Semifinal Awaits Against Unbeaten Shoreham-Wading River

Westlake/Briarcliff will face Shoreham-Wading River (SWR) in the NYSPHSAA Class C State Semifinal on June 6, 2026, at 11:30 AM at Cortland High School. SWR punched their ticket with a 46-7 blowout of Cold Spring Harbor in the Long Island finals, according to Ithaca Journal.

SWR is led by quarterback and safety Shealyn Varbero, who has been a dominant force in the Long Island bracket. A win on June 6 would send Westlake/Briarcliff to the State Championship on June 7. The community in Thornwood and Briarcliff Manor has rallied behind the team, with athletic directors noting the run has boosted female participation in district sports, per Lohud.

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