First all-female officiating crew in City Section football history takes the field

HUNTINGTON PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- History was made Friday night in Huntington Park as the CIF Los Angeles City Section's first all-female high school football officiating crew took the field.

The crew, comprised of five women, called the game between Marquez High School and the Maywood Center for Enriched Studies.

They included: referee Crystal Nichols, umpire LaQuica Hawkins, head lineswoman Kim Bly, line judge Zina Jones and back judge Connie Wells.

The crew comes with experience -- Nichols once filled in as an official in the National Football League.

"This is what I do. I am blessed and thankful to the board for putting this crew together," Nichols said, referring to the California Football Officials Association's board of directors. "All these women are trailblazing in their own leadership capacities, in sports and their professional careers. I am grateful for my 'sisters.'"

Before the game, the mayor of Huntington Park handed out commendations to the history-making crew.

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