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By Frank Smith
The San Manuel High School Miner Football program boasted Samantha Gonzales, a female, and a senior at the high School.
High School football is usually reserved for young boys who have rough housed throughout their years, but this year the Miners added Samantha to their roster.
This was Samantha’s first year of playing organized football at any level, when asked of what made her decide to play – she said, “It was Spontaneous! One day over the summer I decided to play, no one would believe me but I just wanted to try something different. I had played softball, track, and I was a mat-maid”
What did your mom say when you said you wanted to play?
“My mom said…whatever! She did not believe me either-she didn’t believe me until it was time to buy cleats, then she was freaking out. She wasn’t comfortable with me playing but she let me play.”
What did your friends say? “They said I was beast for doing it, some others said I was crazy and that I would get hurt.”
How did the team react? The team would watch out for me and help me out, they were very supportive.
Were you scared? “Yes…it was on the first day of contact. I actually screamed on contact as I lay on the ground.”
What would you tell your kids & grand kids? “I would let my kids play and I would bring out the pictures for the grandkids if they didn’t believe that their grandma played tackle football.”
What would say to another girl who would want to play? “I would say just to try it out; it is a lot of work and conditioning. Go for it…its fun!
What was your favorite moment? “It was when I panicked my first guy in the Tanque Verde game…he number was number 75! I didn’t think I would get anybody down but I did.”
How do you think your season went? “We did good even though we lost some games. I have an awesome great respect for our coaches, they were very patient and they took their time with me.”
How will you feel when the season is over? “I regret not playing football all four years…I will really miss it! To the future Miners – I would tell them not to quit and never give up, some guys quit it was hard for me, if I can do it – they can do it!”
Has another female played before? “Yes, but I think she didn’t finish the season”
When asked if she would wrestle, it was a quick no but that she would probably be a mat maid.
Samantha is the daughter of Patricia Gonzales of San Manuel.
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