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Orange Lutheran flag football player Josie Anderson caught one pass after another until she finished with a single-game, school-record 24 receptions against top-ranked JSerra last month.
It was an impressive display for any wide receiver but especially one who also excels in a sport that forbids field players from using their hands: soccer.
Anderson credits her sure hands in flag football to practice, and playing softball and volleyball growing up. But the junior also participated in another activity that makes her a player to watch in the CIF-SS Division 1 girls flag football final Saturday at El Modena High at 7 p.m.
Anderson competed on American Ninja Warrior Junior as a 12-year-old and finished second in her girls division.
“That also helped my grip strength (for receiving),” she said. “It all just kind of came together.”
Anderson trained for the show on an obstacle course in her backyard. She practiced swinging and hanging, and also drilled at a gym.
“I was really obsessed with the show when I was younger,” Anderson said. “I practiced a lot.”
Anderson, a first-team All-County selection last season in flag football, enters a showdown against JSerra on Saturday with a team-leading 136 receptions for 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns.
In a 21-20 loss at JSerra last month, she tallied 24 catches for 195 yards and grabbed an interception on defense.
In September, Anderson committed to Pepperdine for soccer. She plays midfield and defender, and helped the Lancers reach the Division 1 semifinals last season.
While Anderson is aiming for CIF titles in flag football and soccer this school year, she hasn’t ruled out a comeback in American Ninja Warrior.
“Right now, I don’t know if I would have enough time but I definitely sometimes want to get back to it,” she said. “It was really fun.”
