The NFL's Latino Youth Honors recognizes high school tackle and flag football student-athletes around the country, highlighting their work on the field and in the classroom. Each club selects one male and female student to represent their team.
The Buffalo Bills nominated Bella Pastrana and Yeriel Diaz-Pena as their 2026 Latino Youth Honors athletes.
"This is one of the greatest honors. I love to know that my heritage which I'm the most proud of helped me achieve this honor," Pastrana, a defensive end and running back for Greece Olympia's girls varsity flag football team, said.
Pastrana's first love was track, but she didn't rule out trying flag football at the very least. All it took was one open gym practice for her to want to keep pursuing the sport, specifically on defense.
One of her favorite moments was chasing down the opposing team's quarterback who nearly scored a 60-yard touchdown if it weren't for Pastrana. Along the sideline, she reached out and grabbed the flag, listening to the cheers from her team and the crowd.
Never giving up, no matter how difficult or impossible it seems, is something Pastrana learned from her family and Mexican American culture.
"My family is some of the hardest workers I know and I want to live up to the family name and work just as hard if not harder," Pastrana said. "… On the field I use this work ethic instilled in me to use every rep both in practice and in game to work as hard as I can and use each time as a learning experience. Off the field my heritage has taught me not only to work hard but to give back."
Family is an essential part of Pastrana's life and culture. She understands that it's not just her blood-related family she's playing for but also her "chosen family," as she described.
During her sophomore year, Pastrana recalled how she and the Greece Griffins always pushed and learned from one another day in and day out. Outside of practice and game days, they prioritized team-bonding activities, like pasta parties, to spend quality time with each other.
She aims to make her family and culture proud every single day in everything she does.
"My Hispanic heritage is not something I chose, it was a pride I was born with and I wouldn't change it for the world. It's something I am extremely proud about and hold dearly to my heart," Pastrana said. "I wear my last name on the back of all my flag football stuff to show the pride I have for my family and how far we have come together and individually. My heritage shapes my life and my future."
The Bills are important to Pastrana's family, especially her father. She said when he moved to Rochester when he first came to the United States, he instantly became a Bills fan.
"One of my first paychecks I spent on a Bills jersey for my father after saving up for a while and that look on his face was so worth it," Pastrana said. "It's a Josh Allen jersey and he wears it not only for bill games but for mine as well."
When she heard the news of her nomination, she was most excited for her father's reaction. Pastrana's joy was through the roof, as she described, and said it felt like a dream come true to earn this honor. She plans on playing flag football in college and hopes to stay close to home while also getting a good education.
"Nothing will stop me from working harder every day," Pastrana said. "I also want to major in something where I can help people and give back to the community every day. Without my community I wouldn't be in the place where I am today so I love any chance I can to give back to them and help them the way they helped me."
Diaz-Pena is a running back, wide receiver and safety for York Central School District's football team.
"[It] is an unreal feeling. I am a big fan of the Buffalo Bills, so being recognized by them feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity," Diaz-Pena said about being recognized as one of the Bills' nominees. "It means a lot to me and is something I will always remember. I am very grateful for this moment, and it motivates me to keep working hard and improving."
Diaz-Pena was drawn to the team-oriented and competitive nature of football, playing alongside his friends while pushing himself to be the best version of himself on the field.
"Being on the field taught me resilience, confidence, and how to trust both myself and my teammates," Diaz-Pena said.
One example of this is during his junior year when his coach trusted him to shift the momentum of the game on a kickoff return at the start of the second half. Diaz-Pena recalled his team being down by a touchdown and his coach telling him that it's his time to shine. From that first play of the half onward, the York-Pavilion Golden Knights had an edge and came out on top by the end of the fourth quarter.
Diaz-Pena credited his hard work and dedication to his Puerto Rican culture that taught him discipline in every area of his life, whether that's football, academics, family, or his community. He takes pride in representing his family, heritage and culture, earning everything that comes his way.
"I know I am different from everyone else – being different is actually a strength … Making a name for myself as a Hispanic athlete means a lot to me because not many Hispanic athletes are represented at higher levels of the sport, and being successful can open many opportunities in life," Diaz-Pena said.
"Off the field, I know whatever I do, I have the support of my Hispanic community. That support motivates me to work harder, stay focused, and make my family and community proud."
After high school, Diaz-Pena plans on studying sports management and hopes to continue his athletic career at the collegiate level, paving the way for a long-term career in sports in some capacity.
