Sophie smiles as she rests on the ground after a hitting drill during practice on Sept. 29 in Midland, Mich. Hitting days are Sophie's favorite practice days.
Sophie works on an assignment despite a football-related injury during Mr. Dale Laughner's math class on Oct. 16 at Bullock Creek Middle School in Midland, Mich. Math is one of her favorite subjects. Sophie jammed her fingers during practice that week.
Sophie runs a play during the game against Saginaw Township on Oct. 3 in Saginaw, Mich. The Bullock Creek Sixth-Grade Team beat the Saginaw Township Sixth-Grade Team 42-0.
From left, Bullock Creek middle schoolers Ella Dufort, Hillary Anderson, Sophie, Rita Grouch, Alana Chadwick, Neveah Moore and Ashley Fleming, give each other piggyback rides during recess on Oct. 16 Midland, Mich. Football players wear their jerseys to school each Friday before a game.
From left, members of the Bullock Creek Youth Football Program Sixth-Grade Team Drew Nestle, Parker Grzegorczyk, Dominik Gohl, Austin Chapin and Sophie take a water break halfway through practice on Sept. 29 in Midland, Mich.
Sophie reviews her math homework with mother Heidi Sherwood on Nov. 18 in Midland, Mich.
Bullock Creek sixth-grader Dominik Gohl runs alongside Bullock Creek sixth-grader Sophie Sherwood during a drill exercise ending practice at Bullock Creek High School on Sept. 29 in Midland, Mich. Sophie, who is in her second season, plays wide receiver and safety and is the only girl on her team.
Sophie brushes back her hair during the Bullock Creek Middle School Halloween Dance on Oct. 29 in Midland, Mich.
Head coach Pete Kirk motions to Sophie as she and her teammates review tape from their 14-0 victory over Chesaning at practice on Sept. 28 in Midland, Mich.
Sophie holds her helmet as she walks behind her teammates to a scrimmage against the Bullock Creek Youth League Program Fifth-Grade Team on Oct. 14 in Midland, Mich.
The Grit of a Girl
For the Midland Daily News
For Bullock Creek sixth grader Sophie Sherwood, her favorite days are hitting days.
“It’s fun to hit and tackle people,” the 11-year-old says through a smirk while playing Madden NFL ‘15 and sporting a Spartan sweatshirt.
Her mother Heidi Sherwood laughs and agrees, “When she played t-ball it was full contact.”
And even her Bullock Creek youth football program coach Pete Kirk notices it. “She hits tough just like any of her teammates.”
But now, Sophie is tackling not just players but the stereotype that girls don’t belong in football. Inspired by Bullock Creek seventh grader Allie Young, who plays on the seventh-grade team’s offensive line, Sophie has continued the legacy by playing for the middle school program for the second year in a row as wide receiver and safety — the only girl on her team. The teams range from the fifth to eighth grade students and span the months of mid-August to mid-October. This year, Sophie’s team ended with an even record of 3-3.
Sophie’s love for football started by watching games with her dad Robert Sherwood on the weekends. Her favorite college team? The Spartans. Professional? The Seahawks. And if you ask her who her favorite player is she’ll give you a list and still rattle off some more.
After watching Allie Young, Sophie, who was in third grade, begged her mother to let her play. Despite Heidi’s reservations about her daughter’s safety, Heidi decided to let Sophie play once she was eligible for the fifth grade team and after a talk with her husband and Allie’s parents.
“It’s not for the faint of heart,” Heidi says. Although she admits that any contact sport is difficult for parents, Heidi urges other parents of daughters who want to play football to let them try.
“Expect some hard times,” she says. “They may not be accepted right away.” In fact, Sophie has had to fend off unnecessary roughness.
“Some of the players would be like, you’re a girl, you can’t play,” Sophie mentions about the attitudes of some teammates or opponents when she first started.
However, Heidi notices a difference between this year and last and the attitudes of both the community and the team.
“A lot of parents will come up and say, ‘Good for her!’”
Perhaps that attitude will help fuel her forward to high school ball, which Sophie does want to play. She might have to choose between her second-favorite sport — soccer.
Sophie’s parting words for girls who want to try male-dominated sports? “If the boys give you a hard time, ignore them, and keep doing it.”