Aubrie Strickland runs across the football field at her flag football game at Manteca High School on Oct. 14th, 2026 (Photo contributed by Matteo Rudes)
By ALEENA SHAFAQ
The Tower
MANTECA – From catching passes in flag football to competing on the wrestling mat and performing with the Manteca High cheer team, Aubrie Strickland stays involved in three different sports.
As a multi-sport athlete, Strickland, a sophomore, has experienced different challenges that have built teamwork skills, and she continues to grow as an athlete through each activity.
For Strickland, being a student-athlete means being involved in not just one, but three different sports. Strickland takes part in wrestling, cheering, and flag football. Each sport came into her life for a different reason, but they all give her something to enjoy and look forward to.
Strickland enjoys wrestling the most.
“… Because it’s like everything that I’m looking for,” she said. “I can do my flexibility. I can contact other people, and then I have a whole bunch of friends, and I love my coaches.”
Aubrie Strickland performs an aerial stunt during a cheerleading event at Manteca High School on Nov. 22, 2025. (Photo contributed by Chandler Harris)
Wrestling is Strickland’s favorite out of the three sports, because she can use her flexibility and compete against other people. She became interested in wrestling because she enjoys combat sports. Having friends on the team and coaches she enjoys also makes wrestling more special to her.
Strickland was a first-year varsity wrestler in the 100-pound weight class and finished first in the Valley Oak League. Coach Vince Bordi gave her the nickname “Milo,” because she likes to climb on things and act like a cat in the weight room.
Cheer also came naturally to Strickland, who began to cheer because she used to do gymnastics and felt like cheer was her next step.
Strickland cheered on the freshman team, where she was both a flyer and a tumbler. Her gymnastics background helped her develop strong tumbling skills.
She especially enjoyed cheering for her team, dancing during halftime and showing school spirit. Strickland brought a lot of energy to cheer, making it clear how much she loved the sport.
For flag football, her friends encouraged her to join, and she also grew up watching football with her family.
Strickland made a big impact on her flag football team, playing running back and defense. Before her injury, she rushed for 265 yards and scored three touchdowns in just four or five games. On defense, she recorded six sacks and pressured the quarterback 41 times. Her team finished with seven wins, 10 losses and four ties, doubling its win total from the previous year.
Manteca High junior varsity flag football coach Anthony Nicastro described her energy as a positive force.
“Even uncontrolled frenetic energy can be super positive sometimes,” Nicastro said.
Doing three sports can be a lot to manage, especially while keeping up with school. Even with a busy schedule, Strickland continues to participate in the sports she enjoys. Being involved in wrestling, cheer, and flag football shows how much she enjoys staying active and being part of different teams.