Whether you’re a student-athlete or a student-fan, we’ve got your fall 2025 season preview. From rivalries and comeback stories to new coaches and stars, here are the storylines, dates and events to watch out for.
Don’t miss the dates
Make sure to show out for the Northwood boys football season opener under Friday Night Lights against Irvine this Friday. Boys water polo splashes into its first home game on Aug. 26 against CIF quarterfinalists Trabuco Hills, and girls flag football touches down on home turf against Pacific Coast League champions Woodbridge High School on Sept. 9. Cross country starts the lap time in their first meet on Oct. 2. Boys football’s Homecoming game is set for Oct. 17, as well as a bittersweet and spooky last game on Oct. 30 to celebrate the team’s seniors.
Defending the turf
Northwood girls flag football made history last fall, capturing the inaugural CIF Division II championship. Led by Orange County Chargers coach of the week Harry Lee, league co-MVP senior Natalie Keith and three all-league athletes, the only question is: Can they do it again?
“The team’s mindset going into this upcoming season after our win for CIF is competitive and eager to win,” varsity flag football junior Emily Wang said. “Yet still remembering the small details of what made us a good team in the first place.”
Over the summer, their practices have focused on increasing their endurance, familiarizing themselves with plays and toughening their skills.
While the graduation of seniors has impacted the team greatly, according to Wang, the team is retooling. Through athletes continuing to lead like Keith, the return of NHS alumna and last year’s offensive player of the year Elisa Kung as an assistant coach, the team is stepping up.
Stepping into the spotlight
Senior Hakeem Ebrahim is a runner who hopes to no longer fly under the radar this year. Ranked number one in California for the three-mile, fifth all-time in Northwood history for the 3200-meter event and owner of a sub-10-minute two-mile, he’s been focused on getting noticed.
“If you’re not a national champion and you want to compete in college, you have to be the one reaching out to colleges, not the other way around,” Ebrahim says. “Whether it be recruiting forms, messages and email, I’m currently exploring my options to figure out what I want from the college and athletic experience from schools.”
Bouncing back
A CIF championship on your birthday sounds like a Hollywood blockbuster script. In the CIF water polo championship final on Nov. 15, second-team all-league senior Sidney De Paula Francesco Jr. is trying to make that a reality. As the leading defensive anchor for Northwood and a future Division I commit, he hopes to write a sequel to Northwood’s championship days as a dominant water polo team.
Last year, the Timberwolves finished with a 14-16 record, falling to rivals like Portola, Irvine and Woodbridge.
“We relied too much on our seniors to score goals, which didn’t always work,” Francesco said. “This year the team is looking like we are getting a lot more chemistry compared to last years, and it looks like we are improving a lot.”
Francesco recently participated in the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics with his club team, Patriot Aquatics. Aside from a 4-2 record, he was able to get his name out and talk to Division I recruiters. California State University Fullerton and California Baptist University are his top choices.
Off the field
What’s the best part of sports, aside from the accomplishments? It’s the fans. As finalist for the best student section in Orange County last year, Northwood takes pride in its performance in the stands as well as on the field. And behind it all are the ASB athletic commissioners.
This year, Northwood has three commissioners: junior Avery Empalmado and seniors Alessia Krasnow and Georgia Downs.
As the backbone of Northwood sports, they plan and promote spirit games, coordinate with team captains and coaches and ensure every athlete feels seen and celebrated.
“This year we’re trying a couple new games to get students involved and spotlight smaller sports,” Downs said. “The goal is to ensure every athlete feels the same love and school pride.”
Commissioners encourage students to show up and cheer loudly, but also to respect opponents. Even if you don’t understand the game or know the people playing, it makes a huge difference to go into it with positive energy.