Image Credits: Instagram/beccalongo5
?If you believe in something, you will achieve it?. These words truly define Becca Longo, the first female athlete to earn a football scholarship at Adams State University, an NCAA Division II school at Alamosa, Colorado. She was believed to be the NFL?s first female football player. The then 18-year-old had no idea that her diligence and passion would not only turn into an inspiration but a benchmark in the history of athletics.
Let?s dive deeper into the life of Becca Longo and throw some more light on her journey to becoming the first supposed NFL female football player.
The Beginning
Image Credits: Instagram/beccalongo5
Born in the city of Chandler, Arizona, Becca always had the athletic embrace in her genes. Sports had been her companion since birth. She mastered the art of standing on water skis at the age of 4 and at 9 she was as good as an experienced soccer player, kicking the soccer balls with utmost accuracy. The passion induced in Becca was the result of her inner conscience motivating her to follow her brother?s footsteps each time she saw her brother nailing the art as a defender in his football team. Despite the zeal in her heart, there was a constant nag from the society of her being hurt by it or being knocked down on the ground. However, there was not a single obstacle that could deter the courageous Longo from turning into what she is known for today.
Turning point
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It was a normal day at Queen Creek High School which changed Becca?s life forever. Walking down a friend after school, she saw the football team practicing that brought back the rattling sound of pads and lingering thought of her following her brother?s footsteps in action. The well-known soccer and basketball athlete of Queen Crick were now adamant to try her hands in the football field breaking all the ties that could restrain a woman from playing a sport she desired. Her decision of taking a transition to football was something that was well anticipated by her father as he had seen the athlete in his daughter nurtured from a very tender age.
The wheels were turning
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The week following Becca?s decision of turning into a football kicker saw the young Becca standing out amidst the most impressive NFL and non-NFL kickers in a kicking camp hosted by Arizona Cardinals. The unborn star was observed by one of the former players in the camp who offered to train Becca and help her shine like a star but her family wanted to join hands with Alex Zendejas, the owner of a prestigious kicking academy in Phoenix and an outstanding state-level coach. Alex would not invest his time until he was satisfied with the player?s performance and opted for a try-out. Becca?s performance was an obvious indication to him that she could rise to be the next star.
Traditional Laws
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Just like a coin has two sides, so was the face of life towards Longo. By being independent in her thoughts and courageous in her dreams, she was doing something that was against the usual. She was going against the traditional custom by being a female football player. It was not a fight against the enemies, but a challenge to the mindset of individuals caught in the webs of old customs and traditions. Despite the challenges that hindered Becca?s way, she did not lose hope and emerged victoriously.
The bumpy road
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The problems were yet to begin. The fearless Becca did not receive a remark that was positive enough to embrace from the athletic director of Queen Creek. This added fuel to the fire burning in her heart. During her sophomore year of 2014?15, she joined the junior varsity team at Queen Creek. A perfect 4-for-4 on field goal and 30 of 33-point-after-attempts was no doubt a cakewalk for Becca. There was still something that could not let her become the star, something that could have inspired her rather than bullying and demotivating her, the support. The lack of support and immense bullying on social media as well as the grounds, made the young athlete transfer to the Basha High School.
The talent was no longer unknown to the world
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The new life brought the happiness Becca was looking for. She had positivity around her by her peers and the love of her supporters although she had to sit for the junior school again.
Following the star kick in the year of 2016 by connecting on 35 of extra 38 points, the NCAA took notice of her and Josh Blankenship headed to Basha for fulfilling the need of a female kicker at Adam State. It was the February afternoon where Becca was just one step behind the goal to attain the NCCA scholarship. Needless to say, she nailed the try-out by a score of 23 out 25 first field goals and impressed the head coach who saw her performance secretly. Becca was not only awarded with the scholarship but also regarded as an equal teammate as others on the ground. Unfortunately, in 2018 she suffered an injury that refrained the star in her.
In the year 2019, she joined the Gila River Hawks of the newly formed 4-team Hohokam Junior College Athletic Conference.
