Orange Lutheran senior AJ Hendrix was one of the only girls on her flag football team when she first tried the sport as a kid. At the time, Hendrix had no idea she would have the chance to be part of the inaugural flag football team at her high school.
 
A multi-sport athlete who also plays soccer and lacrosse for the Lancers, Hendrix sees both similarities and differences in the three sports she plays, and she appreciates the unique opportunities that flag football provides. As a player who contributes on both sides of the ball, inside receiver and outside linebacker are where she feels most at home.
 
"It's very tactical…and it's a whole different process," says the 17-year old of flag football. "I love to play outside linebacker because it's a lot of where you move your body more left and right and you just trust everyone else that's in the middle. And on offense, I love to play inside receiver. I think it's a lot of fun to have all those routes in the middle."
 
OLu recently earned back-to-back Trinity League titles and is 19-2 overall heading into CIF's first year of playoffs for the sport. Not only are the Lancers one of the top teams in the state, they are ranked #2 in the nation by MaxPreps.
 
Hendrix aims to build a legacy that inspires future flag football athletes at OLu to want to be part of something truly special.
 
"I want us to go out there and be the best that we all can be and make a name for ourselves," says Hendrix. "Even though it's (only) our second year, I feel we've already started doing that. I want to make sure that this team stays well connected and has fun but continues to win and pushes themselves."
 
As a senior leader for the Lancers, Hendrix blends honesty with a helpful attitude and works to ensure that her teammates are having fun.
 
"AJ has really embraced the role of being a seasoned leader for our team," says OLu flag football head coach Kristen Sherman. "She was a significant contributor to our league championship team last season and looks to again be an important part of our linebacking corps. She is a very smart and physical football player who doesn't back down from a challenge. In addition to being a key part of our football team, she has been a three-sport athlete, is an excellent student and serves as a leader in the school community. She is a great embodiment of what we want from a well-rounded OLu student athlete."
 
Learning a new sport has its challenges, but Hendrix has been up to the task. And while she has played soccer for the longest period of time, she has embraced both flag football and lacrosse, in large part due to the camaraderie she has experienced as a Lancer student athlete.
 
"It really feels like a family," says Hendrix. "You really create a tight-knit group of friends, and I've been blessed with having three of those groups."
 
Hendrix gives back to the Lancer community as an Ignite Mentor and hopes to help freshman students enjoy the same welcoming high school experience that she has had. She is also a strong supporter of the Jessie Rees Foundation and frequently helps the nonprofit pack JoyJars for kids who are fighting cancer.
 
While she isn't certain what she will study in college as of yet, Hendrix is open to continuing athletics at the collegiate club level. She is grateful for her parents and recognizes that she wouldn't be playing three sports without their encouragement. She is also thankful that her faith journey is supported by OLu's athletics programs.
 
"Faith in sports here (at OLu) is the center of everything," says Hendrix. "We do what we do for God, and we do it because he gives us his unconditional love. OLu does a good job of keeping that at the center and always making God the number one priority."