Merced Union High School District

Aaliyah Simonian likely caught some teams off guard this season. This is the first year the El Capitan senior has played flag football, so she wasn’t on the opposing teams’ scouting reports or radar early on. Simonian is well known now after accounting for 68 touchdowns this year as a dual-threat quarterback.

 

Simonian and the Gauchos (19-4) will host a playoff game for the first time on Wednesday afternoon as the No. 6 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II bracket. They’ll take on No. 11 Elk Grove (14-5) at 3:30 p.m. 

 

El Capitan is one of three MUHSD flag football teams to qualify for the playoffs. Co-Central California Conference champions Merced (21-4) and Atwater (16-5) also earned home playoff games in Division II. The Bears, the top seed in Division II, will host the winner of Monday’s play-in game between No. 17 Grant and No. 16 Tracy on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Cathie Hostetler Stadium. The No. 5 Falcons will host No. 12 Bear Creek at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Dave Honey Stadium. 

 

Simonian wasn’t well known by flag football coaches in the area because she was a basketball and track athlete. However, after suffering three serious knee injuries playing basketball, Simonian decided it was best to give up the sport. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee during her eighth-grade year – an injury that take a year to 18 months to return from after grueling rehabilitation. 

 

Simonian had to go through the process again when she tore the ACL in her left knee during her sophomore year. She then tore the meniscus in her left knee during her junior year, sidelining her for months once again. “I’ve had to go through a whole bunch of rehab, therapy, training, one-on-one training to even get back on the field,” Simonian said. “It was definitely tough, like, mentally and physically, but I had to push through.”

 

It’s tough enough coming back from one major knee surgery. Imagine having the sports you love taken away from you on three different occasions, each time for months at a stretch – especially as a teenager.  “I have some great support behind me, my parents, my siblings, they've helped me through it all,” Simonian said. “When I put my head down they picked it back up for me. When I was at my lowest, I just trusted God. I put my faith in him. There were definitely times when I asked, ‘Why me?’ But that's a victim’s mentality. I had to switch that mentality really quickly, because when you say, ‘Why me?’ you’re acting like you're the victim. If this was the best path for me, God chose me. He knows that I can make it back stronger, too.”

 

Simonian says she feels stronger than ever, and it’s hard to argue with the results. The senior has thrown for 3,471 yards and 34 touchdowns, while adding 1,440 rushing yards and 30 more scores. “It’s amazing how athletic she is and I think she’s a weapon that nobody saw coming,” said El Capitan head coach Juan Valdovino. “She brings energy. I watched her play basketball, and I've seen her go through her injuries. Now seeing her overcome those injuries, she’s so athletic and she’s showing off that speed. Having her healthy has been fun to watch.”

 

Simonian says flag football has been easy to pick up during her first year because she played football growing up. She also fit in with the team because she grew up with many of the girls playing basketball. She says after going through everything she went through she’s definitely enjoying being out there competing again. “I can't describe the feeling,” said said. “Just knowing everything I've been through and all the nights where I wasn't feeling the best, all that work that I put in, just coming back and being able to perform like this, I love it.”

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.