Katie Whitmarsh is just one of the guys, at least when she’s on the football field.
The freshman joined the football team last year and was the only girl on the squad. Her goal is to be the first girl in Carroll County to play all four years of high school.
She played nose guard during most of the season, primarily on the JV team, but got some varsity playing time. Whitmarsh played in about half of the 12 games last year for the varsity squad.
She admits to not having much football knowledge before joining the team, but said she was inspired to play by a childhood friend who passed away. “I knew little to none, almost none at all, but it made me interested because of her. We were like sisters,” she said, noting her friend played football in their hometown in New York.
The Panthers have embraced her the same as a male player, Whitmarsh said. “I get knocked over by 300 pound dudes and I get back up. There’s no room to sit down or lay down,” she added. “Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I get special treatment.”
CCHS football head coach Lonnie Oldham echoed that sentiment. “She just comes and does the same things the guys do. She’s treated just like one of the teammates,” he said, noting this is not the first team on which he has had female players. In fact, Oldham is anticipating another female player to join next season.
The coach does play Katie on the offensive/defensive line because it’s safer and the collisions are at shorter distances. “She’s doing really well,” Oldham said.
The team is doing off-season workouts now and spending a lot of time in the weight room. Whitmarsh has her station and spotter and lifts along with the rest of the team.
Oldham said football is a sport for all body types so anyone who wants to play, can play. “If you’ve got the will to play and the heart to stay out there, then you get opportunities,” he noted.
One of her greatest qualities, Oldham said, is her energetic halftime speeches. During the Madison and Grant County games Whitmarsh spoke to the team at halftime, not the coaches. “That’s all that was said at halftime. We just went out and played the rest of the game,” Oldham said. “She’s determined and has a goal to play four years and belong to a team. I’ve no problem with her doing that.”
Whitmarsh said she’s enjoyed the entire team, but a few have been influential on her. Coaches Cooper and Obrad as well as teammate Zayn Satchwell are the top three for her because they’re good examples of hard work, effort and enthusiasm, she said.
“It’s really fun playing with the boys and being with Coach Oldham. He’s all about football and teaching us the right things,” Whitmarsh said. She also said she hopes to encourage other girls to play the sport. “It’s really moving to me to think about inspiring other girls to play.”
Oldham invited anyone interested in joining the football team to attend the daily off-season workouts in the conditioning center after school.