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Proving her place

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KICKING OFF – Decatur senior Katelyn Chaney will suit up as a kicker for the Eagles against the Graham Steers Friday. Chaney began practicing with the team this week. Messenger Photo by Micah McCartney

It was a standard scene at Decatur’s indoor practice facility Thursday morning.

The offense and defense put in reps, coaches stressed adjustments and a pair of kickers punished the practice net with booming kicks ahead of Friday night’s game against Graham.

There was one minor change – a new player on the field.

With a focused stare and blonde braids peaking out from her helmet, Decatur senior Katelyn Chaney showed off the leg that’s turned heads on the soccer pitch, and now, the football field.

For the first time at Decatur High School, at least during Mike Fuller’s tenure, a young woman has joined the varsity football team.

“Katelyn has a gift for kicking the ball, and I thought she might could help,” Fuller said. “We gave her a shot, and she’s looked really good.”

Following in the footsteps of several female soccer players that have suited up to kick on high school and NCAA football teams, Chaney decided to challenge herself and break a barrier in a new sport.

“I was like, ‘I can do this,'” Chaney said.

Chaney was just another athlete on the team, Thursday, working to improve in case her number gets called.

While having practiced kicking field goals for only a week, she’s made the varsity team. In that short time, Fuller said Chaney’s shown her leg could be a useful weapon.

Her ability shouldn’t come as a surprise.

THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS – Decatur soccer star Katelyn Chaney takes practice kicks Thursday inside the Eagle Activity Center. Chaney will wear No. 41 on the sidelines against the Graham Steers at 7 p.m. Friday at Graham High School. Messenger Photo by Micah McCartney

Chaney was the District 7-4A soccer Offensive Player of the Year last year. In a season cut short by the onset of the novel coronavirus, Chaney had 11 goals and 14 assists, leading the Decatur girls soccer program to one of its best seasons to date.

Now she’s taking on a brand new sport, seeking to prove she belongs on the football field.

Over the summer, Chaney started kicking footballs for fun. It was something to do on the side with her dad, Decatur head softball coach Bryan Chaney.

“We were up here over the summer one day, and there was a football out, and she was kicking a soccer ball,” Bryan Chaney said. “We stuck a football out there and she kicked it, and I was like, ‘wow that’s not bad, babe.’ And she was just joking around, ‘yeah, I should kick for the football team.'”

Two months ago the idea was a joke. Now it’s reality.

During Chaney’s athletic flex period, she said Decatur freshman and junior varsity football coaches asked to see her kick.

They saw the power as she sent long crosses across the field, peppering shots on goal. Chaney said they were curious to see if it would transfer to field goals and extra points.

After seeing her accuracy, she said they were impressed.

“They asked me if I would consider [playing football],” Chaney said. “They were like, ‘we’re on board; you just have to go talk to Coach Fuller.’ The next day I went, and he told me, ‘yes, let’s give it a shot.'”

She’s practiced with the team for a week and is set to dress against the Steers Friday night. She’ll wear No. 41.

Fuller said she’s brought welcome competition to the kicking position, with Reiner Reyes the only other kicker on the roster. Fuller said Chaney has already made the team better.

“If she comes out and provides some depth for us, and provides competition for Reiner, that’s great,” Fuller said. “If she earns her way to kick in games, that’s great, too. Either way our team gets better.”

Chaney said the team has welcomed her, but it still feels a bit strange. She’s the new player on the team who just happens to be a girl. So far, her talent has done the talking.

“Obviously, it’s different from playing sports with girls. The guys, they’re all nice to me. There’s nothing different about that. But it’s more intense here, and obviously, I’m getting more attention because I’m a girl,” Chaney said.

Chaney didn’t pursue football to be noticed. She said she wants to go to work and be considered as just another player on the team.

So far, she’s been doing her part, learning to kick in full pads and a helmet. From what he’s seen, Fuller said her accuracy stands out.

“Today we worked on a lot of PATs and field goals in practice, she and Reiner were both perfect,” Fuller said. “They both made all of them, right down the middle. It’s one thing to be able to do it, put the ball on the tee with nobody around. It’s another thing when you have a rush coming at you, and you have 21 other people on the field. She handled that well.”

Bryan Chaney didn’t expect Katelyn to pursue football. He said his daughter doesn’t often put herself out there. Being the only young woman on a football team of guys was quite a change.

“The fact that she even agreed to do this surprised me,” Bryan Chaney said. “It makes me proud. It’s not something that happens every day. … It’s a big challenge, and it’s so far out of her comfort zone.”

Through a week of practice, Chaney’s proven she deserves a spot on the team. She’s not an honorary mascot or token member, she’s a legitimate kicker vying for playing time.

Decatur senior Katelyn Chaney joined the Decatur Eagles varsity football team this week. Messenger photo by Micah McCartney

If her number is called, she said, there will be pressure. There’s no lack of scrutiny on kickers already. A fraction of an inch could result in a kick sailing wide right or wide left.

Additionally, Chaney said the pressure will be ramped up because of her gender.

But she’ll pull from her experience in late-game situations during penalty kicks, where she’s shown the ice in her veins.

Through all the noise, the eyes and the bright lights of Friday night, Chaney plans to channel the adrenaline through the uprights.

“Under pressure, it helps,” she said of her soccer experience. “It’s still very nerve wracking because I am a girl and this is football. Really, I’m just trying not to think about it, just go out there and kick like I know I can and don’t make it this big deal. … I have all that on me; I’m just not going to think about it and kick.”

The post Proving her place first appeared on Wise County Messenger.


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