Wash High’s female footballer kicking down barriers
Football is typically viewed as a male-dominated sport. Lilly Christy, a freshman at Washington High School, has begun to change that view.
The new kicker of the football team has drawn a lot of attention, having articles written about her and the crowd cheer when her name is called during the games.
“I didn’t think it’d be such a big deal,” Christy said. “I thought that others would think it’s interesting, but people know my name now and I can’t figure out why.”
Christy didn’t expect all the attention and doesn’t understand why her playing football is such a big deal.
Soccer was her main sport until she joined the football team. The coaches already knew she was a good athlete and she could kick.
But kicking a soccer ball is different than a kicking a football. Christy began practicing in the summer and got used to kicking a football. Even though she was confident in her kicking, she was nervous when it came to the first game.
“I wasn’t sure how it would work out. My name was called, and I just went out there and kicked,” she said.
According to head coach Mike Bosnic, she had nothing to worry about.
“She ran out calm and collected, and did a perfect job,” Bosnic said. “I couldn’t have asked more of her, and she made us proud.”
As of Oct. 30, Christy has kicked 17 of 20 extra points. Bosnic said coaches and staff treat her like any other player.
“I knew with how the team is, she would be accepted,” Bosnic said. “At the end of the day, she’s a kicker performing and adds another dimension of strength to the team.”
Although a part of the team, Christy’s gender still factors in to some decisions, including where she can change into her uniform and what plays she participates in. For now, she changes in the trainer’s room and only kicks extra points.
Christy and her coaches also had to consider her weekly football and soccer practices and back-to-back games.
“It’s different and interesting working with soccer players in football,” Bosnic said. “It’s a challenge working with their schedules, but we make it work.”
Christy isn’t the first female to compete in male dominated sports. She isn’t even the first to play for Wash High, just the first to score a point.
“I believe that more girls will become interested because of the success they see Lilly having,” Bosnic said of possible future female players.
Over time, many sports that were originally just for males have branched out to female teams, like basketball, soccer and baseball.
“I really hope that girls will follow in my footsteps and people begin to see it as normal,” Christy said. “It would be cool to be the only one, but it (would) be better to see others try to do what they want, as well.”
By Amanda Reilly
Freshman, Washington