There is not much argument that football is a male-dominated sport, but Tech High School sophomore Amanda Keena hopes to change that. Keena is one of only a few girls to ever make the Tech Tiger football team. She recognizes that other girls have played before her; however, she’s unaware of any other girl who has made it through an entire season.
Keena has loved football since she was a young child, so when she enrolled as a sophomore at Tech, she thought what better way to get to know people than to participate in a sport she’s always loved.
Currently, Keena plays right offensive tackle for the Tech Tiger football team.
“I get to tackle the person in front of me which I really love to do,” explains Keena. “It motivates me to put all my strength into the tackle. Originally, I wanted to be a quarterback, but I tried out a couple of different positions … and ended up loving that [offensive tackle] position.”
Keena knew there would be challenges in being the only female on the team and was prepared to face them head on.
“At first, I sugar-coated it, but then it hit me really hard,” shares Keena. “I think there are still some that don’t think I should be on the team. [Yet] I can do everything the guys can do for conditioning. I love doing push-ups.”
Keena recognizes that on the days she hears, sees or feels doubt, she has to rise above.
“I keep telling myself when I think of quitting,” says Keena. “‘No. I can make it further than the guys.'”
Keena has a friend, Sami, who also played high school football and is currently plays for the Minnesota Vixen, who helps motivate her to stay the course.
“She also thought about quitting in high school, but her story motivates me,” says Keena. “I can keep playing and push myself even harder- to outrun, outlast and out push-up all these guys on my team. My goal is to be a starter right tackle on varsity before my senior year ends.”
When Keena walks up to the line and sets for a tackle, it feels like a big weight has been lifted from her shoulders.
“Every single game I play in gives me that self-encouragement,” shares Keena. “It reminds me that I am good enough. I made it here. Being in that game and under those Friday night lights is an experience. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be on the sidelines or on the field, not in the bleachers. Now, everybody knows me as ‘Tech’s Football Girl.’ Every game I go to, everyone chants, ‘Put in 46.’ That’s my number. I love my Tech community who do that.”
Coach Jon Benson says it’s been cool to see the process of Keena becoming a part of the team.
“From the beginning of the year, I tell the kids to remember it doesn’t matter what race, what gender, what sexual orientation you are. It’s all about having a flat back and butt to the grass for 48 minutes. That’s all that’s important.”
Benson recognizes, however, there can be a distance between talking acceptance and seeing the action match up. He’s proud watching teammates who support and encourage her.
“I’ve said to her,” Benson reflects, “what you’re doing is remarkable.”
Keena agrees many of her teammates support her on the team, and she considers them her brothers.
“I’d do anything for them. I’m overprotective of them. Although, some of them come to me for girl advice,” laughs Keena. “It’s so sweet.”
The mental toughness she’s developed on the team carries over to her academics. Keena loves math and science. Her career goal is to earn her PhD in chemistry. As an Alaskan Native, one of the big reasons she wants to earn her doctorate is to be a role model.
“Back home, a lot of my relatives and people of my tribe haven’t made it as far as I have educational-wise,” says Keena. “I’m really proud of myself. I’m going to get my high school diploma … and PhD which is further than 99 percent of my people. I … just want to make them proud.”
Right now, Keena concentrates on paving the path for other young girls who love football.
“Even when we used to do youth football with the little kids,” says Keena, “their mothers would come up to me and say, ‘Good for you. Stay strong. Thank you for being such a good influence on these young boys.’ That motivates me.”
She’s heard there are other girls in school who wanted to play but were too scared. She hopes they will go out for the team next year.
For now, Keena is happy to be known as Tech’s Football Girl because it means she’s managed to tackle a future path for girls.
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