At Destin High School, everything has had to be built from the ground up. Flag football is no different.
But everything is coming together for the Lady Sharks. Destin is 7-2 and sits as the No. 4 seed in 1A Region 1 in the most recent FHSAA rankings, with the program’s first playoff appearance within reach. The Lady Sharks have rattled off impressive wins, with two of the most recent standing out: victories over Arnold and Fort Walton Beach.
For Head Coach Kyle Bryant, none of it would be possible without Destin’s senior class: Evie Gherdovich, Mia Castaneda, Bailey Gaffney, Elena Martin and Sara Oakes — or as he calls them, his “fab five.”
- “Without the seniors, my fab five, I’d be nothing without them,” Bryant said. “They’re doing great, they lead us great, and I’m just proud of them and I’m proud of this team. They’re growing, they’re believing in themselves, and that’s all I can be thankful for.”
Outside the senior class, the player most responsible for the Lady Sharks’ surge has been quarterback Neilya Stewart.
“She’s amazing. She’s phenomenal. She leads. She’s made leaps and bounds from last year, and that’s what I’m most proud of: her growth,” Bryant said. “I can’t say enough about her.”
Stewart has a talented group of offensive skill players to work with in Gherdovich, Gaffney, Castaneda and Kaylee Kaiser.
Meanwhile, the Destin defense has been just as impressive and deserves equal credit. The unit has pitched shutouts in five of the Lady Sharks’ nine games, anchored by Castaneda, Oakes, Martin and Andrea Barcelos.
- “They’re fast, they play aggressive, and I’m proud of them,” Bryant said.
More than anything, Bryant said he’s been most impressed by his team’s chemistry.
“How together they are. Without togetherness, we’re nothing,” he said. “We could be a group of individuals, or we could be a team. They’re a family. They’re a team, and they love each other.”
Still, Bryant sees room for growth.
“I still think we need to put our foot on the gas more. I still think we need to execute better,” he said.
The upcoming stretch will reveal just how high Destin’s ceiling is. A trip to Eagle Stadium to face 9-1 Niceville looms, followed by a season finale against a 5-5 Pace team that has played what may be one of the toughest schedules in Florida.
Bryant welcomes the challenge.
“Those are measuring sticks. They’ve been winning for a long time, going deep into the playoffs. We’re trying to get respect,” Bryant said. “You’re nobody until you beat somebody, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to earn our respect.”
