Student Heroes: North Farmington High School Kicker Breaks The Mold

FARMINGTON (WWJ) - Football is a game traditionally thought of as a male dominated sport. But one North Farmington high school girl is challenging that impression and leaving her mark on the football field.

Fourteen-year-old Lynn Lerner is a junior varsity kicker and she admits it took some time for her teammates to warm up to the idea of having a female on the squad.

"At first you could kind of tell they didn't really want a girl on the team but once they saw how I could kick and stuff - they warmed up to me. They really accepted me like one of the guys."

The turning point came when Lerner booted the game-winning 32-yard field goal against Rochester Adams.

Coach Scott Fifield admits it wasn't just the players who had to adjust to having a female on the team but also the coaching staff.

"I think we kind of treated Lynn a little differently - knowing that she was a girl and typically we coach a bunch of boys - but I think as the summer progressed and the season progressed, I think we've ... learned to figure out and treat Lynn just like any other boy, really the only difference is she goes in the girls locker room to change and the boys go into the boys locker room - that's about it," said Fife.

As for the support Lynn has received; she says that at first her mom was against the idea - while her dad was all for it, but now everyone is behind her.

Lynn has a message for any other female considering the challenges of a cross-over sport.

"Do what you think you can do, like if you want to be on an all boys team ... I don't see why you can't - there is no reason why not to," says Lynn. "

WWJ Newsradio 950 will run a weekly Student Hero feature. If you know someone who could be labeled a student hero and would like to nominate them for consideration, email us at wwjnewsradio@gmail.com.