IMAGE VIA INSTAGRAM/BECCA LONGO
An 18-year-old high school student at Basha High School in Arizona, Becca Longo, was recently announced to be the first female athlete to kick her way to an NCAA football scholarship at the Division II level or higher.
“I had no idea,” Longo told People Magazine. “It didn’t really kick in until a couple hours after, I just thought I was signing a piece of paper to go play the sport I love again. Even right now, I’m still shocked. It just doesn’t feel real.”
Longo will play college football for Adams State University. After receiving a number of responses to her highlight reel, from different schools, she decided Adams State was her favorite. On her visit there, she said that everyone treated her like any other athlete, not like a girl. Even Head Coach Timm Rosenbach, who used to play in the NFL, told the Arizona Republic, “I don’t look at it that way. My wife is a former pro athlete. I see her as a football player who earned it.”
“I’m going to go in, I’m going to be ready to compete,” Becca told CNN. “I’m not one to back down to anybody.”
Becca's achievement couldn't have come at a better time in history, when the women's rights movement is at its strongest. She is a great inspiration to every young female who's been bullied or lacks confidence to pursue their passion in any male-dominated sport. Becca even spoke to People about the difficulties she had with her classmates:
“I got a lot of negativity, and people saying I couldn’t do it,” she says. “But that’s just what pushed me to do what I’m doing.”
But football isn't the only thing Longo is awesome at. She will also be playing on the women's basketball team at Adams State. You go girl. Sky's the limit!
“I’m ready to compete. I don’t really have any expectations beyond that,” Longo told ESPN.
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