Segerstrom place-kicker Natalie Castro focused on winning game and becoming homecoming queen on same night

Natalie Castro attempts a kick for the Jaguars varsity football team.

Segerstrom High place-kicker Natalie Castro will be trying to help her varsity football team win Friday night’s homecoming game against Artesia.

But she will also try to attain another personal achievement when she runs for homecoming queen of the Santa Ana high school.

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Castro, a senior, is one of three place-kickers on the team. She is expected to handle the place-kicking duties Friday night and at halftime take part in the homecoming activities.

Castro got the idea when she saw another female football player try to become homecoming queen.

“I saw another girl, I don’t know what school she went to, she ran for homecoming queen so I thought that would be cool to be on the field and see if I can win,” she said.

Castro has had some football players campaigning for her and word has also spread on social media. Castro’s teammates on the football team have been wearing stickers that say, ‘vote for Nat,” Castro said.

“They all support me,” she said.  “They spread the word.”

TWO OTHER GIRLS RUNNING

Castro said two other girls are running for the title of homecoming queen.

“I’m very competitive but it all comes down to who has the most votes,” she said.

Castro knows she has to keep her concentration on the game Friday night. She kicked a field goal against Laguna Hills and two more against University last week to help the Jaguars improve their record to 5-1.

“I’m pretty sure I’m kicking this Friday so I have to focus on the kicks and then not get distracted, because coach taught us to be focused on the game first and then everything else that’s going on, forget about it until after game time,” she said. “I’m not going to let it distract me.”

Castro appears to have the support of the Segerstrom coaching staff and her teammates.

“It’s awesome for her to get out here and show that she’s more than just an athlete,” said Segerstrom Coach Joseph Tagaloa. “She has put in her work on the football field and she’s proven that she’s as tough as they come. But it’s also nice to be reminded that she’s also a girl and she can get dressed up and she can represent our team not only on the football field but as the queen of our school.

“Our goal is to win the game so making the halftime adjustments is critical to our success. At the same time, school is more than just football. She will be able to participate in the halftime festivity and hopefully she gets enough votes to get that win.

“I do know that the other people who are running have been campaigning just as hard as Natalie has. So it’s going to be close but hopefully Natalie gets enough support from her brothers out here on the football field and her classmates and she is able to get that win.

CASTRO WILL BE IN HER UNIFORM

Since there isn’t a lot of time for halftime, Castro will be in her football uniform for the homecoming ceremony.

“She’s coming out in her pads,” Tagaloa said.”She can wear her dress to the dance (Saturday) but to be crowned, she can wear her pads.”

Castro has been doing well kicking field goals and point after kicks this year, especially during the last two games, Tagaloa said.

“She’s had to overcome nagging injuries as a result of her knee surgeries in the past,” he said. “She works hard and gets through it and bites down on her mouthpiece and goes. She’s been doing great for us. We’re very fortunate to have three kickers (Daniel Perez and Anthony Gomez are the other two) who can all get the job done. She’s one of the top ones right now so she will be getting more and more playing time as the season goes on.”

Running back Alex Sanchez said the Segerstrom players are supporting Castro’s bid for homecoming queen.

“On the field, she’s a really good influence,” he said. “She always tells us to go hard and in the classroom, she’s really positive. She always says good things and doesn’t let anyone down. When she sees someone sitting by herself she will go up to them and have a little conversation and see how their day is going.

“We will be cheering for her. She’s a big part of the team, she’s been with us since freshman year. We’ve really bonded with her these couple, four years.”

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone

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