Orange Lutheran senior Julia Oberholtzer discovered her love for flag football unexpectedly. After giving the sport a try in middle school, she joined OLu's team as a sophomore, the first year the program was offered, and has been hooked ever since. She enjoys the competition, camaraderie and community she has found in OLu flag football.
"I met my best friends there, and I love playing with my friends," says Oberholtzer. "I love the coaches and the competition. Joining sophomore year, I never imagined we'd be one of the top teams. The competition is crazy. I love that probably the most."
On offense, Oberholtzer plays wide receiver for the Lancers, and defensively, the three-year varsity player is a versatile presence, lining up at linebacker safety. She is also a two-time Trinity League champion, is a member of OLu's 2024 CIF-SS Division 1 championship team and is serving this season as a captain for the Lancers. On top of her accomplishments on the field, she is carrying a 4.51 GPA and is part of OLu's STEM Academy.
"Julia is the embodiment of what we are looking for at OLu in terms of being a true student athlete," says OLu flag football head coach Kristen Sherman. "She excels on the football field where she is a multi-year all-league player as well as being awarded Trinity League Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-CIF for her efforts in the 2024 championship season. She is an excellent model to future Lancers on how to excel academically, athletically and in service to the wider school community."
As the Lancers prepare to defend their CIF title on November 8, Oberholtzer plans to leave everything on the field for OLu.
"I want to give 100% every time I'm out there, whether it be at practice or in the games," says Oberholtzer. "But I also want to remember who we're doing it for, what we wear on the back of our jerseys and that we need to represent God in everything that we do."
The friendships Oberholtzer has formed through flag football have made the sport especially meaningful to her, and she takes pride in representing OLu while helping to grow the game. The sport has taught her what it means to trust in her teammates.
"I think playing flag has taught me the importance of working together to accomplish a goal," says Oberholtzer. "Last year, we only lost twice and we won CIF, but that wasn't easy. We had to work at it every single day and work together and trust each other."
Oberholtzer is also a four-year varsity lacrosse player for the Lancers and serves the campus community as an Engage mentor, where she helps transfer students acclimate to their new school home.
"I just love fostering these new transfers into our school and showing them what I love most about OLu," says Oberholtzer. "There is something for everybody here, and you're going to find your place. Being the person that they can go to and they can talk to is really special to me, and I hope that I can make an impact on them."
Oberholtzer plans to study industrial engineering and hopes to continue athletics on a club or recreational team while in college. She considers her parents to be her most significant role models in the way that they support and encourage her in all that she does.
"He's always the most compassionate, kindest and truly my biggest cheerleader," says Oberholtzer of her father. "Same goes for my mom. She's always cheering for me…It really makes me feel so blessed that I have both of them in my life."
Oberholtzer says that no matter what she faces, trusting in God's plan for her life is what grounds her and keeps her focused.
"There's a lot of challenges in daily life…and sometimes I forget that truly God is always there for me," says Oberholtzer. "He is right next to me. He is everywhere. He is always there for me. And I know that we're winning or losing for a reason, and to trust in His plan is really important to me."
