CORONADO, Calif. — Two women at Coronado High School have taken their talents onto the gridiron and are challenging gender norms while they do it.
Lindsey Balsley and Emilia Alpert are both Seniors at Coronado High, and both are on the football team. Balsley is a kicker, and Alpert is a running back and linebacker. These two play different positions and contribute to the team in myriad ways, but both share the same love for the sport.
For Balsley, she was recruited by Head Coach Kurt Hines.
“He saw me punt and kick in the powder puff game here at the school, and recruited me to come onto the team,” Balsley said.
For Alpert, she wanted to find something that would fill the void she'd been trying to fill with other sports.
“I did horseback riding and played rugby, but I wanted to find something that got me in shape faster," she said. "I had conversations with my friends on the team about joining the football team, and then I did it.”
Both have felt an overwhelming amount of support from both the players and the coaches. Balsley remembers stepping out on the field for the first time. She said it helped her realize she is right where she belongs.
“Yeah I was nervous, but I was also excited," she said. "I remember one of the other kickers on the team came up to me before I kicked a field goal and told me that I got this. Once I saw the ball go through the uprights, the crowd was screaming and everyone was celebrating like, you did it!”
Coach Hines said he is continually impressed by the women, and he supports their efforts to better themselves.
“Both of these women have put themselves in a male dominated sport, and they are not just thriving in it, but competing every day," he said.
As Alpert and Balsley continue to overcome obstacles, they inspire others to do the same. They make it clear that it's about taking risks, and having the right mindset.
“Just do it, it doesn’t matter what others will say, it doesn’t matter the risk, just go for it. “said Balsley. Alpert added “ If you really want to do something, you will find a way to do it, you just have to have the right mindset.”
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