For Stella Carter, stepping into tackle football was an opportunity to try something new and challenge herself. Already an All-Gateway Conference flag football player with a background in soccer, this member of the Class of 2028 recently decided to take her athletic experience to the next level by joining the boys football team.

After deciding to pursue tackle football, Carter quickly realized that getting involved would take more than just simply showing up to try out. “Getting started into it because it's not really as simple as you just kind of walk in and you just say you want to try out.” Carter said.

“It does come with challenges, and I have faced a lot of like setbacks just trying a new thing that's out of I guess the normal.” Carter said. “It's been a really good experience, and I would recommend it for like even other girls that like want to start.”

Her experience in soccer has helped her transition into her role as a kicker. Playing flag has also given her previous experience with football and helped prepare her for the tackle environment.

“I got a lot of encouragement through my flag coach through last season and heard about Gaby Rourke my last season while I was playing flag football” Carter says. Rourke, a 2024 ACHS graduate played several sports for the Stingrays including 2 seasons on the varsity tackle football team as a kicker. She was the first female in school history to accomplish this feat.

Although joining tackle football has come with challenges, Carter says the experience has helped her step outside of what is familiar. She has faced setbacks while learning a new sport, but the experience has encouraged her to continue.

“It does come with challenges, and I have faced a lot of like setbacks just trying a new thing that's out of I guess the normal. It's been a really good experience, and I would recommend it for like even other girls that like want to start” carter said.

For Carter, becoming the second female to play on the AC football team is about more than simply joining a team. She saw the opportunity as a way to push herself and take on a new challenge.

 “I thought it was a really good opportunity for me and a way to challenge myself.”

As she continues her season, Stella hopes her experience can encourage other girls at AC to consider trying tackle football and other sports that might be outside their comfort zone.

For more about this talented athlete, check out this recent story from The Morning Rays courtesy of Andres Perez-Garcia: Click Here