South Lakes trailblazer heads to Hollins for flag football

By Matt Reider, staff writer

Lila Jaster, a Reston resident, multisport athlete and recent South Lakes High School graduate, is preparing for her next chapter as a scholar-athlete in the NCAA Emerging Sport of Women's Flag Football. She has accepted a full scholarship to Hollins University in Roanoke and is expected to compete for a spot at middle linebacker.

Jaster is perhaps best known as the first female player to score in a South Lakes varsity football game when she converted a point-after attempt on Sept. 13, 2024.

Her athletic journey began long before that historic moment. A pattern emerged throughout high school: whenever a new opportunity presented itself, Jaster was willing to step outside her comfort zone and give it a try. "I was looking for a new challenge," she said. "My older brother loved football but didn't play, so I thought it could be something that brought us together."

Her first soccer coach, Todd Shea, encouraged her throughout her athletic career, while support from coaches and fellow female player Emily Brown helped her feel welcome on the football team despite some social anxiety. Joining the team opened additional opportunities, including an invitation to play basketball. Despite limited experience in the sport, she joined the freshman team and earned a spot on the junior varsity squad the following year.

The next year, Jaster added another sport to her schedule by joining the girls wrestling team. Wrestling quickly became her favorite sport, and she qualified for the Virginia High School League girls state tournament last year.

Girls flag football arrived in Fairfax County in 2025. Even before the inaugural season began, Jaster's enthusiasm for the sport grew. At a Washington Commanders event recognizing teams from Northern Virginia and Maryland, promotional materials described the athletes as "trailblazers." By joining South Lakes' inaugural team, Jaster continued her own tradition of breaking new ground for female athletes.

Being a multisport athlete required a significant commitment. Jaster battled injuries, illness and a kidney issue while balancing a demanding athletic schedule. She eventually scaled back her participation in soccer to focus on her varsity sports at South Lakes. Along the way, she learned new skills, adapted to new teammates and coaches, and developed resilience.

Through those experiences, she gained a deeper appreciation for hard work, preparation, coaching and teamwork.

That memorable point-after kick remains her favorite athletic moment. "I remember my brother had this solo part in the band that night, and he forgot to play because he was so pumped up about my point," she said. "That night, I really felt like my team was supporting me."

As a senior, she also enjoyed serving as a leader and mentor to younger teammates on the wrestling and flag football teams.

College coaches took notice of Jaster's unique combination of leadership and athletic ability. She drew interest from Radford University, George Mason University and other schools building flag football programs. She ultimately chose Hollins because it offers a Division III varsity program, while many larger schools currently compete only at the club level.

Jaster hopes to return to South Lakes and support the Seahawks' flag football program as it grows, even as she begins her college career at Hollins. In May, women's flag football received a formal recommendation to become an NCAA championship sport, with the first national championship expected to be awarded in spring 2028—a sign of how quickly the sport she helped pioneer at South Lakes is gaining momentum.