Sports

Crossing Midfield, Along With The Gender Barrier

White, Yates may be female, but they are part of the football team.

Under the pads and the helmets, opponents see South Lakes High School junior varsity linemen No. 78 and No. 71 as players blocking the way.

Only when they see the fingernails, do they have a clue. That's because Nos. 71 and 78 have manicures - this week in sparkly blue and green, the Seahawks' school colors.

No. 71 is Sumiya Yates. No. 78 is Chermara White. They are junior girls returning for a second season playing offensive and defensive line.

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For Chermara, playing football was a long time coming. She was a freshman cheerleader at South Lakes. She's played lacrosse, done gymnastics, played basketball, ran track and participated in South Lakes' annual powder puff football game. But something was missing. She wanted to play football like her idol, Troy Polamalu of the Steelers.

"I am the biggest Pittsburgh Steelers fan," says Chermara. "Sumiya and I were cheerleaders freshman year, but we got in trouble for yelling too much. We wanted to play football!"

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Latasha White, Chermara's mother, said she hoped it was a phase. Perhaps the girls would attend a training camp and be dissuaded. Nope. Perhaps they would get hit hard, early and often. Also, nope. Maybe if they chipped a sparkly blue nail?

"I was just trying to avoid the thought of my daughter playing football," says Latasha White. "But Chermara came back from training camp in 2009 and said 'this is all I want to do.' "

The girls were a little frustrated with their lack of playing time in 2009 under coach John Ellenberger. However, with new coach Andy Hill in charge, they feel this could really be their year.

Coach Hill says the girls will play JV and will dress for varsity games. At his previous position at Park View High in Loudoun County, there was usually one girl who came out for the team each year, Hill says. For various reasons, most did not last a season.

The girls say they have already shown their commitment to the team.

"Last year, I think some of the players tried to scare us off," said Sumiya. "That only made us push harder."

Senior Mike Bissonnette says the girls proved themselves last year.

"It is cool they are out there," he said. "Last year they proved they are here to play and not just wear a jersey."

Hill says when it comes to tenacity, there is no gender division.

"They are members of the team like their 68 other teammates," he said. "They are respected by their male counterparts, but not in a way that sets them apart simply because of their gender.  They come to practice, work hard, and do what the coaches ask.  Male or female, that's what the team demands, and they are living up to their responsibilities."

The girls dress at South Lakes in the girls' locker room. At away games, the entire team arrives dressed, so locker rooms are not an issue.

The girls say their favorite part of the game is defense. Sumiya (6 foot 1, 185 lbs.) plays defensive tackle. Chermara, 5-4, 152, plays defensive end.

"I wasn't surprised when they wanted to be lineman," says Hill. " That's a position where you think of the biggest, toughest players, but it's also a position that's involved in every play.  We had talked about moving Chermara to fullback, but she seemed more comfortable on the line."

Chermara is so comfortable, she hopes to stay a while. She says she would love to play for the DC Divas, the women's pro football team, after a representative from the Divas came to South Lakes for a presentation last year.

"She's been addicted to the notion of football ever since," Latasha White said.

The junior varsity begins its season Wednesday against Falls Church High School.

 

 

 

 


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