Harper is not hyperbolic when he talks about Milne. She
might be a girl playing boys varsity football, but he doesn’t
pump her tires and try to make people believe that she’s a star.
She’s a three-year varsity veteran who started in Grade 9. She’s
listed on the roster at 5-foot-9, 160 pounds and she’s expected
to do what everyone else does.
“She’s a hard-working football player who doesn’t quit,”
Harper said. “I like having her on my team. She’s been with us
for three years now and she’s one of the family.”
As for the dressing room situation: “I’m not going to put a
rule on her,” harper said. “If she wants to dress somewhere
else, she has that right, but we’ve never discussed it. She can do
whatever makes her comfortable. He’s part of our team.”
All three young women will admit that deciding to try out
for a high school varsity boys football team was not an easy
decision. All three will admit that their parents weren’t sure
about it at first.
“When I started, I don’t think my parents wanted me to
play,” said Pirrie, “but they told me to try out and if I liked it, I
could stay. I loved it.”
“My mom was iffy about it,” said Maisey, “but if I want to do
something, I’ll do it. My mom said, ‘Go ahead and try out and
if you don’t get killed, we’ll see. Just be careful.’ It’s been great.
I love it.”
“I wanted to play Terminator when I was like seven, but my
parents wouldn’t let me,” said Milne. “But I kept asking and
they kept saying no until I got to Grade 9. So my first year of
football was varsity with Churchill.”
Despite the fact all three appear to be comfortable with their
decisions, they’ll also tell you that it hasn’t been easy.
“It’s harder being a girl,” said Milne. “I have to prove myself
every day.”
“That’s right,” said Pirrie. “You’re not really part of the team
until you prove yourself. But if you love it like I do, you just
keep playing until you know you can do it.”
As far as the WHSF