Female JV Football Players Made Their Mark in 2006

December 13, 2006

Kaya and Tori, the first girls ever to play out a season on Big Red football

2006 was a banner year for Exeter football – the first year a female player scored for Big Red. “I’ve wanted to play football since I was in second grade,” says Tori, a lower, who made Exeter history in October when she scored a point during the JV football game against Northfield Mount Hermon. “But, until now, the closest I ever got to actually playing was at recess in elementary school and at family reunions,” she said.

Tori, a kicker, wide receiver and defensive back, was joined by Kaya, a prep who played wide receiver and defensive back. The two became the first girls to play out a season for Exeter football. Twice in the past, female managers have joined the team, only to drop out in the early days of practice.

Athletic Director Rob Morris, who coaches the JV team, said: “Football is probably the most team-oriented of any sport; kids get a lot of life lessons out of playing it. It is a difficult game physically, emotionally and intellectually; I am thrilled when anyone – male or female – takes on the challenge of the game.” 

Morris said he evaluated the girls and boys the same way, noting, “Many students who play on the JV team have never played football or a contact sport before. I deal with everyone the same way, matching players up based on size and ability.”

Teammate J.D., a lower, noted that Kaya and Tori showed a "great love of the game.” Benjamin, another lower on the JV squad said, “We treated the girls just like any other member of the team, which is the way I think they wanted to be treated.” 

Tori, who also plays basketball and rows crew, credits her positive experience on the team to the male players “for treating us as teammates, not aliens,” to Coach Morris for his help and encouragement, and to Kaya, for making football fun and worthwhile. “I’d never take back my choice to play this season. It’s something I’ll look back on and be proud of. I learned not just about football, but also about myself.  I got through it, and came out better and stronger.”