In 2025, we announced our inaugural flag football Player of the Year and all-stars.
In 2026, we will again be highlighting the best performers of the high school flag football season in the Lower Hudson Valley. But first, we want to know your opinion on who the Reader’s Choice is for the top player of the year in a poll presented by White Plains Hospital.
This is an entirely a reader vote and will not factor into who is named Flag Football Player of the Year by The Journal News/lohud.
We’ve narrowed the field down to four candidates based on postseason honors and coach nominations.
Juliana DiMarino, Westlake/Briarcliff
The sophomore quarterback/safety was a force for the Section 1 Class C champion Wildcats, who fell in overtime in a state semifinal. She rushed for 2,931 yards and passed for 2,199 yards. She totaled 91 touchdowns – 43 rushing, 43 passing, two interception returns and three punt returns. She also had seven interceptions on defense.
Eve Girardi, Tappan Zee
The senior quarterback/linebacker was 319 for 455 for 2,832 passing yards with 55 touchdown passes for Tappan Zee, which finished as runner-up in Section 1 Class B. She also had 1,125 rushing yards with 16 touchdowns. On defense, she had seven interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown, as well as 77 flag pulls.
Sarah Sherman, Mamaroneck
The senior linebacker/receiver was the Section 1 Class A Defensive Player of the Year, She led the Section 1 Class A champion Tigers in sacks and in interceptions, with nine, including two in the Section 1 championship game. She also had nine touchdowns on offense. Sherman was an anchor of a Mamaroneck defense that only allowed 13 points in three Section 1 playoff games.
Sydney Soliz, Yorktown
The senior linebacker for the Class B state champion Huskers was the Section 1 Class B Defensive Player of the Year, picking up 55 sacks, as well as 115 flag pulls, including 72 for a loss.
Hope Ziogas, New Rochelle
The sophomore wide receiver/running back/cornerback was Section 1 Class A Player of the Year. She had 69 catches for 829 yards with 15 touchdowns and also had 35 carries for 396 yards and six touchdowns. On defense, she had nine interceptions, three interceptions returned for touchdowns and 78 flags pulled.
Phil Strum is local sports editor for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Flag football 2026 readers choice vote, presented by White Plains Hospital
Reporting by Phil Strum, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Phil Strum, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
