Kicks Like a Girl

The crowd watched with anxiety as the kicker prepared to make the first field goal of the season. Judging by the way last football season went, of course, everyone was nervous. The kicker charged forward and punted the ball so high that it seemed to soar, and as the ball flew through the goal, the crowd was in awe, especially the band directors stood in awe. Normally, this kicker would be playing with the band, but tonight this kicker was playing with a new team. With a ponytail sticking out of the kicker’s helmet; this player looked different from the other players.

Courtney Heinz, a senior at MHS, has been playing football since she was in 8th grade.

“I’m not really sure what made me want to join football,” Heinz said,”I just woke up one morning and realized there were football tryouts, got bored, and went and tried out.”

Heinz is both an athletically and academically skilled girl. She plays football, soccer, and marches in the band.

“Being in band and football is really stressful actually,” Heinz said, “I have to go back and forth from one practice to another, and since band has been my first priority for the past three years, I now have to dedicate my time to football, but it all works out.”

Now that Heinz is on the varsity football team, she will be marching in her football uniform at the games.

“I think it’s really neat [that Heinz will be marching in her football uniform]! I used to see band kids march in their [football] uniforms a lot a long time ago and I don’t see that very often now,” Coach Hulme said, “I’m glad she’s doing that cause I think she’s showing people that you can do more than one activity.”
Courtney spends roughly 20 hours a week at various after school practices.

“I get to school at 6:30 but I have senior release [last block], thank gosh, or I’d be so stressed, and I come back to school for football, then I go to band, then soccer, and I’m home for homework by 8:30 every night,” Heinz said.
Heinz is the first girl that Coach Hulme has ever had on the football team.

“I think it’s great, you know, she comes out here every day and does everything we ask her to do,” Coach Hulme said, “She’s working hard and getting better; it’s fun to have her out there!”