NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WTHR) — If you ask Noblesville head football coach Justin Roden about Maggie Shafer joining his football team, he’s honest. He admits he was a bit skeptical at first. He’s had female kickers on his teams in the past, but a female playing wide receiver was something new.
“What’s different about Maggie is she’s here every day,” Justin Roden says with a smile. “She wants to he treated like everyone else.”
It didn’t take long for Roden to see the sophomore’s work ethic and determination. Shafer is the only female on Millers’ football roster and plays wide receiver on junior varsity.
“Proving people wrong takes a lot of time and effort,” Maggie Shafer admits. “Ultimately, if I can do it, other people can too.”
Maggie first started playing in middle school. Like a lot of kids, she was bullied growing up for her size and her weight. So she turned to sports-football in particular. When she got to high school, Maggie continued to pursue her passion and says she’s found a family here one the field.
“They’re so supportive it blows my mind. When I fail they pick me up,” Maggie said.
Sure, Maggie is a girl but she wants her teammates and her opponents to treat her like they would anybody else.
“She’s not scared to run across the middle. If our varsity players don’t hit her they take grief,” admits coach Roden. “She’s not getting special treatment for being a female, running across the middle and no one’s gonna hit her. She has pads on just like everybody else.”
And while Maggie is working hard to get better and earn an increased role, she’s hoping this is only the beginning.
“I would love to play at the University of Florida for college,” Maggie said. “If I could make it to the NFL that would be amazing, but you never really I guess know.”
Papa John’s is proud to begin a new partnership with WTHR honoring student athletes in Central Indiana via the Student Athlete of the Month program. The Student Athlete of the Month program honors well rounded central Indiana high school students who have demonstrated excellence in athletics, academics, or clubs/ co-curricular school related hobbies. Monthly winners receive a $500 scholarship funded by Papa John’s and WTHR donated to the winner’s high school in the winner’s name.