This is Holly Neher, a junior at Hollywood Hills High School in Florida. As you may be able to tell from this photo, she recently did something that she's super jacked about. Not only was it a great moment, it was also historic.
For two years, Neher had played quarterback for the girls' flag football team. But she felt like it was time to go to the next level. So she tried out for the varsity tackle football team.
Neher didn't think her gender would prevent her from making the team. "I wanted to continue playing the sport so I tried out for the team," she said. "I knew that I was capable."
From her first intra-squad scrimmage while trying to make the team, Neher showed her potential. On her first pass in that game, she threw a 60-yard touchdown. Could she keep it up enough to make the team?
When it was all said and done, Holly Neher made the varsity team as the backup quarterback. "She earned it and earned the respect of every player on the team," said school athletic director Kevin Perry. However, we still haven't reached the historic part yet.
As the team's backup, Neher didn't play in Hollywood Hills' first game. However, in the second game, the team was trailing 21-0 when the coach felt like Neher's time had come. Neher was put in the game.
Neher, wearing number 14 went in at quarterback. Nothing happened on the first play. But on the second play, she went back for her first pass attempt.
Down the field, Neher spotted a receiver, and decided to go for it. The pass was in the air. However, one defender was close by, and another was closing in fast.
One defender closed in on the receiver, coming close to knocking the ball away. But the receiver managed to hang on and break free. From there, the end zone was in sight.
Once the receiver reached the end zone, history had been made. And that's because Neher became the first female high school football player in Florida to throw for a touchdown. And she did it on the first pass attempt of her first game.
After completing the touchdown, she was congratulated by her teammates and cheered on by the crowd. “I started jumping up and down. My teammates started jumping on me,” Neher said. “Coaches were screaming from the sidelines. Everyone started hitting me on the helmet.”
Coach Brandon Graham said he could tell Neher has what it takes for the demanding position. "Whether it’s a female or male quarterback or a ninth or twelfth grader, you want someone who isn’t afraid to make a mistake and who knows they’re going to get yelled at from time to time,” he said. “There is something about her that is so inspiring for her teammates."
in the end, Hollywood Hills lost the game, 21-7, with Neher's touchdown providing the team with their only points. And that performance in her very first game may well earn her more playing time in the future.
Neher hopes that her performance can inspire other female athletes. "Now younger females who want to play a male dominated sport, maybe seeing me and how small I am and how my teammates support me, they can see there would be people that would support them," she said.
Neher added that she hopes that other kids "all see how small how I am and no matter what mindset or color, race, size, gender, you can do anything you want.” To see Holly Neher's historic play, watch the video above.