Girls can’t play football. There is no place for them on the field.

“When I first saw a player with that long hair sticking out of the helmet, I thought a boy needed a really bad haircut or a girl was on the team,” said JV Coach, Mike Croell, when he first saw junior, Lexi Martine-a girl- out on the field at tryouts.

Thinking that football was a cool way to end junior and senior year, Martine dared to be different and tryout for the all-boys football team.

Martine’s parents worried that she might hurt herself and strongly disagreed with her wanting to be a kicker. However, seeing her on the field in action, their minds were changed. When asked what sparked an interest on trying out for the all-boys football team, Martine said, “Just because it’s a guy’s sport, it doesn’t mean a girl can’t tryout.” With the determination, commitment, and practice she put in, she made JV.

She hopes to improve her skills in soccer by being a kicker for the football team. Martine is known for playing club soccer and previously playing as goalie for the Eagles soccer team.

Not just the fact that she is a girl on the team, but the only girl, can be awkward. “At first I was super nervous and confused when we first did warm ups because I just followed along and was behind,” said Lexi, “But now I know all the warm ups, and I’m like one of the guys.”

During tryouts, Martine was treated like an ordinary player. There was nothing out of the norm. With help from varsity kicker, Bryan Tanigawa, Lexi’s skills continually developed. “It’s different, but it’s fun having her… Lexi being on the team is normal and the boys have gotten used to her already,” Tanigawa said.  “She’s proven that she belongs,” Coach Croell said. “She blends right in.”

Lexi practices alongside the rest of the boys, and during games she is a kicker for PATS (Point After Touchdown). She plans to finish off her high school career with football, yet, she will pursue soccer in college. Varsity Coach, Gary Davies, has been head coach for 28 years at Broomfield. He said, “It’s been a long time [since a girl has been on the football team]. Girls have to be given an opportunity to be on the football team.”

Next time there is a player on the team with hair sticking out of the helmet, maybe no haircut is needed; maybe it is a girl on the gridiron.