By Rick Morwick
When it comes to sports, Maggie Shafer doesn’t shy away from a challenge.
Neither does Elizabeth Brazda.
As far as they are concerned, the tougher the sport, so much the better – which explains why they embrace their roles on Carmel Middle School’s eighth-grade football team.
Shafer plays on the offensive and defensive lines. Brazda plays wide receiver and defensive back. Both played a hand in a season that ended with the team as runner up in the county championship game.
“I enjoy being a part of a team, and the energy those guys give off is just amazing,” said Shafer, a first-year football player. “Every time we win, or no matter what happens, we always have a good spirit.”
Brazda, who played on the seventh-grade team last season, echoes the sentiment.
“I really like it. All the guys are funny and very supportive,” she said. “I just like the whole aspect of it.”
Including the contact, which she shrugs off as easily as would-be tacklers.
“Sometimes it hurts,” she said. “But for the most part it really doesn’t because you’re wearing all those pads.”
Shafer and Brazda, both 13, are the only girls in the CMS football program. But they have been embraced by teammates and are, according to head coach Guy Jewett, hard workers with quick learning curves.
“It has been great coaching them this year,” Jewett said. “They are no different than the boys. Liz has even been captain one week.”
Although Shafer and Brazda are the only female players at CMS, they are not the only females in the program.
Katelynne Hartman is in her first season as an assistant coach on the seventh-grade team. A Fishers resident, she grew up playing football, including in recreation leagues and middle school, and has walked the path Shafer and Brazda are navigating.
Although Hartman doesn’t coach either player, she knows them well. She teaches seventh-grade math at CMS and has Brazda in class.
“She’s not the loudest person around, but she’s determined to do her best and always is willing to try new things and give it a shot,” Hartman said. “So I think she tried football and liked it and told herself to stick with it, so she’s continued to do that.”
Shafer arrived at football in similar fashion. When opportunity knocked, she flung open the door.
“I’ve always wanted to play football, so I was like, ‘I have a chance, I’m going to have my parents sing the permission slip,’ and kind of went out there and did it,” Shafer said. “I’ve always been a tomboy. I’ve never really liked girls sports or anything that isn’t rough.”
