The guys on the football team all gather, sweat dripping down their faces, and heavily breathing from a difficult game. Then, one particular player catches the audience’s eyes—a girl wearing the same uniform and huddled up with the boys.
Meet Madisyn Hicks, a freshman girl in football for the 2025-2026 season.
“There was one day in middle school where I was running cross country and they were kicking the ball,” Hicks said. “I was making fun of them because they couldn’t kick it, and they were like, ‘You can’t do any better,’ and I was like, ‘Oh yeah?’ and I went over there and kicked it.”
Soon after, Madisyn was told by coaches that she was allowed to join the team as a kicker if she wanted. She then kicked at the next game. Being in football requires a lot of effort and a drive to be good. A player’s mindset and overall attitude sets the precedent for the whole season.
“I love to see a kid who is passionate about competing,” Madisyn’s position coach Sam Carter said. “It was even better when she got out there and could make a 30-yard field goal. She also has a great attitude and is fun to be around.”
One might assume that a girl playing a male-dominated sport might be subject to discrimination or disrespect, but according to her teammates and coach, it doesn’t come in the form one might expect. For example, in a recent home game against the Brewer Bears, Hicks kicked five field goals, making the opposing team upset.
“I think when another team sees a girl walk out on the field, they’re probably surprised,” freshman kicker Rendon Stephens said. “You just don’t see a girl playing in a football game, and people are going to talk because most teams aren’t used to it. Football’s a pretty competitive sport, so that’s probably why.”
A team supports one another, and they are together, no matter what. In the beginning of Hicks’ journey of playing football, her teammates accepted and stood up for her.
“Last year, on my 8th-grade team, it was my first two weeks coming out, and some guy said something really gross about me,” Hicks said. “My team beat them up in the locker room, and they all had to run for it. They weren’t mad at me for it, so in that moment I knew they had my back.”
Respect is earned, and not just given. Hard work pays off and can reflect character. Being a girl on a football team is challenging, but powering through with the support Hicks has been given can change everything.
“Without question, she is part of the team,” Carter said. “I think it works so well because of her attitude. She comes out and is focused on doing her job. She is competitive, and above all, she just wants to help the team. Any time a teammate is doing that, it earns respect, and I think all of our players respect her efforts.”
