Americas High School student Na'Sya Atkins was leaving it all on the field long before she and her fellow Trailblazers made history by winning the first Region 19 Female Flag Football Championship.
A straight A student, Na’Sya was a champion basketball player and a record-breaking track and field athlete, before becoming a trailblazer in women's high school sports.
For her outstanding performance during the flag football championship game in May, she was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after scoring two touchdowns and leading her team to an unprecedented victory that she felt was theirs even before the season began.
“I know my school and my teammates,” said Na’Sya, a rising senior. “I know they're good at what they do. When we came out there, we were ready to practice. I saw all of them, and I was like, ‘Yeah, this is a winning team right here.”
In recognition of her outstanding accomplishments, Na'Sya was selected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees regular meeting in June 2025.
After achieving so much in her first three years of high school, Na’Sya is determined to go even bigger in her senior year. She plans to dominate on the court, excel on the track, and lead on the football field, inspiring girls everywhere to participate in sports and experience the feeling of being a champion.
“That was crazy! I loved it!” Na’Sya said, describing her feelings after the championship game. “Like all the energy that I felt right then, and there was just happiness. We just made history out here.”
The championship game was part of a pilot program sponsored by the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans, in partnership with the NFL and the El Paso Sports Commission. The program aimed to empower young female athletes and promote the growth of women's sports in the community. Americas was included in the Houston Texans division.
“I definitely did feel empowered because we all came together,” Na’Sya said. “We were good at practice. Yeah, we had our rough times at practice, but we locked in, and we saw what we wanted. We played as a team, and we built our friendship. It was crazy cool.”
Na’Sya has not only left her mark on the football field. As a center on the Trailblazers basketball team, she helped the team win back-to-back district and bi-district championships during her sophomore and junior years. In April, she set a new school record in the triple jump with a distance of 36 feet and 6 inches. Recognized as All-District in track, she qualified for regionals in three different events.
Above all, sports have provided her with an excellent opportunity to make friends and fit in at a new school after her family moved to El Paso seven years ago when her father, who was in the military, relocated here.
“Americas was probably the best place I could have done this at because the support system is strong, and they make you feel better about yourself as a student and as an athlete,” Na’Sya said. “They don't let you forget like how much they're proud of you. They give you confidence to be better.”
Na’Sya credits her basketball and flag football coach, Elizabeth Boulden, with keeping her grounded and helping her navigate high-pressure situations with confidence.
Boulden remembered that during a flag football game against Bel Air High School, the Trailblazers were having a tough time on the field. Boulden challenged Na’Sya to achieve a pick-six, which is an interception followed by a touchdown worth six points. On the very next play, Na'Sya intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown. As her teammates and fans celebrated, Boulden stood on the sideline amazed.
“It was like boom,” recalled Boulden with a laugh. “The crazy thing is, she was standing there, and she points at me, like, ‘I got what you needed!’”
Despite the numerous sports accolades she has achieved, Na’Sya’s top priority continues to be her academic performance. She is currently enrolled in the biomedical pathway and aspires to have a career in forensics. Na’Sya encourages other student-athletes to prioritize their studies, emphasizing that academics are essential for long-term success, both on and off the field.
“Teachers are not only looking at me as an athlete, but as a student-athlete,” Na’Sya said. “I'm a student before I'm an athlete, so I need to keep my grades up. I've always enjoyed going to school and keeping my grades up and proving that I'm smart. I like seeing those As and Bs on my stuff and knowing that I did good. It makes me happy. It makes me feel like I’m achieving in life.”