Tamia West
School: Plum
Class: Junior
Sport: Flag Football
Claim to fame: On Monday, West caught eight passes for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns as Plum won a nonsection contest against Kiski Area. The next day, West again scored two touchdowns and had a pick-6 in a 35-6 defeat of West Mifflin. Then on Thursday night, West caught seven passes for 101 yards and scored two more touchdowns as the Mustangs (4-0) remained unbeaten in Section 3 play with a 34-13 win over Woodland Hills.
How long have you been playing flag football?
My first year was last year.
What drew you to the sport?
I stopped doing track midway through the season, and I didn’t want to do it again so I wanted to pick up another sport. I was always playing football outside with my neighbors, so I decided to do flag football because it was new.
What’s it been like to see the popularity of the sport grow over the years?
It’s amazing and had definitely increased exponentially year over year. I love to see even people I know from basketball who have chosen to play the sport. There are some teams of 40 or 60 girls.
What are your feelings is it to finally have this sport sanctioned by the PIAA and WPIAL?
I’m just very excited and anxious to win.
What does it take to be able to avoid those reaching for your flags, and how hard is it to dodge?
I utilize the spin move a lot; it’s my favorite and has been working for me. It’s very hard because once you see the defender coming at you, you need to make a decision very quickly.
What sort of drills or training do you go through to improve your elusiveness?
In practice we do a flag pulling drill. We run through it and the defense’s goal is to pull the flag and yours, as an offensive player, is to prevent your flag from getting pulled. I do a lot of footwork drills, and that helps improve my movements in the game.
You scored two offensive touchdowns in each game this week. Was there one that was your favorite?
It was during the game against Kiski. I ran a deep route, and my coach rarely sends me out deep, but there I was down the field and I caught the ball, ran past two defenders to score. It really hyped the team up, and ever since then, coach has been sending me out deep.
Take me through the pick-6 you had against West Mifflin.
I was at safety, might have been the only one back. I saw the quarterback roll out, and I knew she was throwing deep. I ran back with the receiver, and the pass came up short. I adjusted, caught it and ran. Once I was 30 yards, I knew I had the touchdown.
Did you have any goals for the flag football season?
Obviously to win. Personally, I want to lead the WPIAL in touchdowns. Last year I won MVP, and I would like to get that honor again.
Are there any pro football players that you look to emulate, or is there a favorite football player of yours?
I do watch a lot of football with my parents, clearly the Steelers. My favorite player on the Steelers is Jaylen Warren. The way he accelerates is amazing to watch.
You are also on Plum’s basketball team. You made the playoffs this year. What was one of your favorite memories of the season?
We won section, but my favorite memory was that we had great team chemistry. We worked hard and believed in each other all year long, and it helped us to go on to have a great season.
Which was your best game of the year?
Probably the Penn-Trafford game. If you would have asked anyone before that game, they would have said Penn-Trafford was going to win. They had beaten us by 30 points both times we played them last year. It was a full gym, and everyone was hyped and excited for the game. It was a back-and-forth game, and we won by two.
What’s your favorite pregame song?
I listen to a lot of Drake and SZA. One of my favorite pregame songs to calm my nerves is Good Days by SZA.
Do you have a favorite subject in school?
Math. I was always good at math. It came easy for me.
What are some of your favorite hobbies outside of sports?
I play the drums every Sunday at church, and I play chess as well.
Jah’mar Wright
School: Highlands
Class: Senior
Sport: Track and field
Claim to fame: On Tuesday, Wright entered the Highlands track and field record books by jumping and clearing 6 feet, 7 inches in the high jump. Wright’s accomplishment breaks the school record set in 1970 by Bill Chada, who cleared 6-6.
When and how did you get started with track?
I started in eighth grade.
What were your thoughts and emotions after breaking a long-standing record?
I was happy, but I didn’t really know what to feel after I got the record.
Did you get it on the first try, or did it take you the full three attempts to get it?
I hit the bar on the first two tries, and I was like, ‘I just have to jump.’ I had cleared it before in practice, so I just had to remember what I’d been doing in practice.
Did having to do it on the third try up the pressure?
I was a little scared but just remembered to jump.
When did you know that you had a chance at the record, when did you begin the journey to break it?
Last year I attempted it, and I was over the bar and I felt like I cleared it but it fell down. I’ve been pushing every day since in order to break the record.
What were the challenges you experienced on your way to the record?
At the beginning of the football season, I pulled my hamstring and twisted my ankle at indoor track trying to jump, so the injuries were trying to get to me, but I wasn’t going to let them stop me.
Once someone hits a milestone or breaks a record, they look to keep going. Have you thought about clearing a taller height?
I want to clear 6-9. I have to keep pushing and working hard for it. I think I can get that before WPIALs. I just have to work five percent harder every day at practice.
Breaking the record surely was a goal of yours at the start of the season. Were there any other goals you set?
I wanted to be sort of a teacher to the younger athletes. High jump is easy once you get used to it.
Do you compete in any other events in track?
I run the 100 and am a part of the 4×100.
What are your marks in those events?
My best in the 100 is an 11.22, but I want to break 10. In the 4×100 we ran a 43.70 last year. We want to break the school record in the 4×100 as well. I think that time is a 42.70.
Which is your favorite event to compete in?
Got to say the high jump.
You were also on the football team and played receiver. How has jumping and its training assisted you in your pass catching?
When I have to go up for a deep ball and compete with the defender for the ball, track and all that really gives me an advantage.
How did it feel to put together successful campaigns and make the playoffs each year in football?
It felt great. A lot of people ere doubting if we would make the playoffs this year, but we proved them wrong and won a game against Derry in the first round.
What’s been a favorite high school memory of yours up to this point?
Making the playoffs with all my brothers and being able to break the high jump record.
What hobbies outside of sports do you enjoy?
Playing the game and sleeping.
What are your future plans after graduation?
Go to college and play track and football. I’m looking at studying accounting or engineering.