Brittany Fletcher

Blue 42…set…go! When the Apollo-Ridge Vikings quarterback drops back for a pass, Brittany Fletcher is dodging her defender to get open. She is one of four starting receivers on the seventh grade team at Apollo-Ridge Middle School. With drive and determination, she is breaking trends to accomplish the goals she has set for herself.

Though Brittany is one of very few girls playing football this year, she loves every minute of it. Growing up, she played a little backyard football, but by sixth grade, she had her heart set on joining the school team. "I wanted to tackle somebody," she asserts. When the announcement called for interested students to attend a meeting, the coach was surprised to see Brittany there. He was reluctant to give her the forms to sign up. Her dad, too, was hesitant about her joining because he didn't want her to get hurt. But Brittany made her goal clear by skipping the family vacation at Myrtle Beach to be home for two weeks of tough conditioning practices. "Some days we all came home feeling like our legs were gonna pop off, " Brittany recalls.

Her dad's gentle warning that she might be a bench warmer did not deter Brittany from pushing ahead, and she's been playing in every game. She and the other receivers take turns running the plays from the coach into the huddle. Her newest goal is to earn the defensive position of cornerback.

In the beginning, Brittany encountered some ridicule from teammates, but now has gained their respect. She relates, "When they saw that I wasn't quitting, they started to respect me. Some guys starting sticking up for me." As for the girls, Brittany says, "They're shocked. They come up to me and ask, 'Are you really playing on the team?'" Following the example of Brianna Akins, the kicker on the varsity team, Brittany hopes to inspire other girls to play football. "Football doesn't have to be an all boys sport," she states emphatically.

Brittany is very grateful for the support her family has given her throughout the season. Her parents, Jeff and Renee Fletcher and sister, Brooke, are extremely proud of her for all the hard work this season. She loves hearing from her dad, "Good job, Britt!" and is elated that he's proud of her. She also appreciates her grandparents for taking her to summer conditioning for those two weeks. About her biggest supporters she exclaims, "My mom and Aunt Vinny have been behind me all the way."

Along with football, Brittany blazes her own trail with several other non-traditional activities for girls. First, she has achieved Black Belt status in Tae Kwondo and has won three first place trophies for free sparring and several others for form. Second, she recently completed the hunter safety course and obtained her hunting license. After small game season, she plans to go buck hunting.

Brittany fills the rest of her time with schoolwork and hobbies. Her favorite subject is science, because her teacher, Mrs. Polloc gives the students "really fun experiments." She likes to read, climb trees, run long distances, and play with her many pets. She has five cats, two dogs, and two fish! She also loves spending time with her family going to football games, playing board games, or just watching a movie.

With one successful football season under her belt, Brittany hopes to continue playing throughout high school. She notes that the best part about playing is "just being on the field and being part of the team." One thing is certain. The strength and perseverance she has developed this year opened the door for her to accomplish any goal she sets.