Kathrine Alderman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Brooklynn Kirkpatrick, a 16-year-old tenth grader at Jefferson-Somerset, has been playing on the football team for three years now. Though she is a girl, she wouldn't let that stop her from doing what she enjoyed, even if it was a male-dominated sport.
Kirkpatrick plays as number 63, though her old number was 70, and is the offensive tackle for the Tigers; she is the second girl to play football for the Jefferson-Somerset team.
When asked if the process for trying out was the same for her as for the boys, she said, "pretty much, but it was kinda different for me. I kinda had to prove that I wanted to play more than the guys would have to." And prove herself she did, as she now plays right alongside all the boys. "It's really fun and was really worth it," she mentions.
She has always been surrounded by football, it's what made her want to play. Growing up as a child, her brother would play flag football, and she wanted to join in, but nobody gave her the opportunity, "nobody really wanted me to," she said, "so, I motivated myself." And that's why she decided to join the high school football team; she just wanted to, so she motivated herself to do it. She says her favorite thing about playing football is the brotherhood, "slash sisterhood," she added with a smile.
She wants to continue playing sports in her college career. She's trying to get a football scholarship and would love to play for the University of Florida. "But I know it's out on a limb," she said, so her back up is track and field, "specifically discus."
Though she may have faced some scrutiny because of her gender, Kirkpatrick won't let that stop her from trying her best to fulfill her dreams, as she's doing a fantastic job right now as a member of the football team for Jefferson-Somerset.
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