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Ohrt won’t let stereotypes stand in way Cowboys — are linebacker Shawn Lee and defensive end DeMarcus Ware. GAME CHANGES Size and physicality are part of the reason you don’t see many girls take up the sport. Ohrt said she started to notice those factors once she advanced out of the MYFL. “When I was in junior high that was when I noticed, ‘Oh man, the guys are getting a lot bigger,” Ohrt said. “With the guys getting bigger and stronger I had to prepare myself differently. I started going to weight lifting and doing a lot of agility work.” Ohrt said she has a friend, Cassidy Hagerman, who goes to the gym with her, but Ohrt does the same workout program the other football players use. “When I first started I was actually surprised how strong I was,” she said. “I didn’t know that I could do that much. I mean, I’m a girl so I’m still not doing as much as the guys, but I’ve really gone up in what I can do and I’ve gained some confidence because I know I can still improve.” ANOTHER LEVEL The move to high school ball, even at the freshman or sophomore level, represented another move up. “When I first started this year, I wondered if others were going to judge me,” she said. “The seniors really helped me out. They showed respect to me right away. They were always helping me up and encouraging me.” There have been no issues in locker rooms or on the sidelines. “It’s a male-dominated sport, but I’ve never been put in a position where I felt awkward,” Ohrt said. “It was something that the guys knew they had to adjust to and so did I.” It helps Ohrt is not afraid of contact. In fact, she seeks it out. “Tackling drills are the best part,” she said. “I love defense.” Ohrt, who stands at 5 feet, 9 inches, and 150 pounds, was going to be facing much larger opponents and had to adjust. “It was good. I listed to coach (Tyler) Horkey and just tried to make sure I was doing all my techniques right every day. The juniors and seniors helped too. If they saw me do something wrong they would pull me aside and show me exactly how to do it. It’s important to have good technique because it lets me use my quickness.” The work she put in helped her make an impact early in the freshman team’s campaign. “The highlight so far is when I sacked the quarterback and made him fumble three times,” Ohrt said. “That was in our second game of the season. That’s when I really started to fit in with the guys. The freshmen already knew what I could do. They had seen it. I think the sophomores were a little amazed RESPECTED TEAM MEMBER Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn freshman Maggie Ohrt talks it over with teammates during a varsity game this fall. Ohrt played defensive end and offensive tackle for the Hawks’ freshman-sophomore squad and was the only female member of the squad. by it.” Again, Ohrt credited weight room and technique work with her success. “I’m a pretty skinny girl going against some big guys, so to get through I need to know what steps to take and what play to go to,” she said. “My coaches have been a big help.” IGNORING THE VOICES Ohrt knows that a girl playing football, especially on the front line, may draw some snickers from those who haven’t seen her play. She tends to dial that out. “I don’t hear anything from the other teams, but sometimes my mom does,” Ohrt said. “They’ll be wondering if that’s a girl on the team, but we’ve gotten used to it. I don’t get offended.” Ohrt said her play has sprouted a “mini-fan club” of students who come out to support her. “Carly Byl comes to all of my games. All of the kids my age support me,” she said. “They are proud of me.” Even if they weren’t, it wouldn’t matter. “I’m going to continue to do it,” Ohrt said. “I don’t care what anyone else has to say. You do what you like and you just carry on. When I go on the field, I hope I can inspire other girls. I want them to know they can play too.” Ohrt’s advice to others is to ignore negative opinions. “Don’t listen to it if they say you can’t play,” she said. “Go out and show them you can do it and you want to do it.” 10 THE SPORTS LEADER | DECEMBER 2017
DECEMBER 2017 | THE SPORTS LEADER 11
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