00:05I feel like not being nervous is the secret to being a great kicker.
00:11I feel like I'm just focused on making the kick and there's nothing else really going through my head.
00:21If you let your nerves take control of you, you're more likely to mess up.
00:24And I think by keeping a clear head you're focused on the goal and the one thing you have to
00:28do to get it through the uprights.
00:41There's 64 of us on the team. I'm the only girl on the football team.
00:46I started as a freshman on varsity. I remember trying out a bunch of different sports.
00:51I played softball for two years, basketball.
00:54I started playing soccer when I was four years old, just for rec mostly.
01:01I just really like to be part of a team.
01:03My friends came up to me, I think it was after a soccer game.
01:06And they're like, why don't you kick for the football team?
01:08And I don't know, it was just kind of a joke at that point.
01:10And they kept saying it and I guess I just got that idea in my head that maybe I could
01:14actually do that.
01:16I had already been convinced and I was excited for the season.
01:19But the hard part was convincing my mom.
01:21My mother was just worried I'd get hit. But I think she gradually came around to that idea.
01:27We needed a kicker because ours graduated. She talked about wanting to play.
01:31And I'd seen her kick in-game soccer and I saw her make a kick from like 40 yards out.
01:37And so I told her if she was serious, I'd come help her kick.
01:42Normally people would take a little bit to adjust to kicking a football.
01:45And that thing, I don't know, she just like booted it.
01:47So as soon as she did that, I got my phone out and taped the next one and sent it
01:54right to Coach Miller.
01:57The kids send me videos over out here kicking on the game football day.
02:00Of course I called them, I was like, how far is that?
02:02They're like, that's 40 yards. I said, that's pretty impressive.
02:05So that's the first video I had of her that she just came out and kicked.
02:08Never kicked a football before in her life.
02:11So I told her, you know, I'd give her a chance and let her know at the very beginning
02:14that nothing's given on this team, everything's earned, and we're not doing a publicity stunt.
02:19And I asked her how genuine she was, did she really want to kick?
02:22And she, you know, she assured me she was, and she's worked very hard since that decision.
02:29She's so good at what she does.
02:32She's a key contributor on the team, which I think is what makes it.
02:35Reading the conference, you're up top of the conference in kicking.
02:39She's like sixth in the state in scoring from kickers.
02:42She's excelling.
02:45Being the only girl on the football team, it's a little weird, honestly.
02:50Especially since I've been used to being on teams with all girls, I was a little scared of what the
02:55boys would say,
02:56how they'd treat me, just like the overall response to me being on the team.
03:00But I'm glad to say that there's been no problem.
03:03All the boys have been really great to me, and I've made some really good friends through it.
03:07It's just a very different dynamic in the way that they act and the way that they mess around with
03:11each other.
03:14They have no filter. They say whatever comes to mind, and I think that's really different from the way girls
03:19act.
03:20But I think I've gotten used to it, and I think it'll be weird switching back to all girls after
03:24the season's over.
03:26You know, we got good kids here, and they know I don't tolerate any kind of hazing, bullying, anything like
03:31that.
03:31Everybody's accepted.
03:33We've been friends with her so long, so the bond is already there, so she just fit right in with
03:37the group that we already had.
03:39I don't know. I don't really think about it. She's just kind of one of the guys, I guess.
03:43She doesn't get coddled at all, just because she's a girl.
03:46I guess people would expect us to try to treat her like she's fragile or whatever, but not at all.
04:02Troutman, I think, runs on football. That's like a big part of this town.
04:06It's something that just draws our community together.
04:10I play soccer with Julia. We've been friends since about freshman year.
04:15Honestly, I think she's always been pretty fearless.
04:17She's really inspiring going out here and breaking stereotypes by becoming a kicker on the football team.
04:22I couldn't be more proud of her.
04:23We all are behind her. We all support her.
04:26I mean, she won homecoming queen two weeks ago.
04:32I'm so proud of her. I'm so glad she's one of my friends.
04:35My closest friends, I'm so proud of her.
04:37I used to play football my junior year.
04:39I was like, Julia, go out there and do the best you can. I'm going to support you 100%.
04:44Girls, if you guys really love football, just go out there. Don't be scared.
04:48And show them not only boys can play a dominant sport, but girls can too.
05:04My parents have always been really supportive. They've never missed a game yet.
05:11After we score a touchdown, I'll be standing on the sidelines next to Coach Miller.
05:15And then he'll send me in.
05:21My advice to a young girl who wants to play football is,
05:23don't be scared of what people are going to say or what people are going to think.
05:38You can be great at anything.
05:43I feel like a lot of women just need to be empowered.
05:46And it's not just men who rule the world.
05:49Your looks never going to think!
05:50It's one of my brief thoughts with people on going realsolo.
05:52Uh...
05:53Right, man!
05:53Where in the world are you?
05:55You're confident they're not behind either.
05:55There's so many connections.
05:56No doone yet.
05:56Those are so many connections.
05:57Just a few minutes.
05:57Certainly never kills people.
05:58Hmm.
06:04No, not!
06:04It's too much time.
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