HOWARD — Standing on the pitcher’s rubber, wrestling in your weight class, putting on the 18th green or addressing the football as a placekicker. Even team sports can make one feel a bit lonely — just ask Gracie McDonald, freshman kicker for the East Knox Bulldogs.
McDonald said confidence is one of her most powerful weapons.
“Some kids do not have the confidence to get out there; when you are a kicker, it is just you,” she said. “You have your guys blocking for you; it is just you and them against the other team, and you just hope for the best.”
Even though she knows all eyes are on her, the kicker knows she has an abundance of support.
“My long snapper, holder, blockers- I am nothing without them,” McDonald said “My coaches are wonderful and supportive, and my parents, Jayme and Mitch, could not be better for me. I am also the proud older sister of Grayden; I am beyond proud of where he is.”
McDonald had her best game last weekend, when she went 4-for-4 in extra-point attempts at Cardington.
East Knox coach Gage Stinemetz knows results like the one against the Pirates don’t happen by accident.
“She’s (McDonald) here every day for practice, working on different angles, our extra points and field goals,” he said.
The coach believes that it adds another dimension to the Bulldog arsenal.
“It’s really cool for us to be able to put a point of emphasis on the special teams as a part of the game,” Steinmetz said.
McDonald is not the only kicker for East Knox, and Steinmetz is pleased with that.
“We are trying to gain as much depth as we can and make that an offensive weapon for us,” Steinmetz said. “We want to feel comfortable with any of our kickers, knowing we can call on them for a field goal, and she has been very intentional about working on that.”
Why did McDonald choose football?
“I like to be an example to others. Some kids don’t have the confidence to get out there, and I want to show them that it is possible,” she said.
The coach believes his female kicker has been good for the team in more ways than one.
“She brings energy, always smiling,” Steinmetz said.
The fans in Howard are boosters, too.
“I would like to thank this community for being so supportive and coming out to watch,” McDonald said.
Offensive lineman Cayden Ridenour believes the best is yet to come for McDonald.
“It is great, the uniqueness of having her on the team; this year she will only get better and so will we as a team,” Ridenour said.
One of the other varsity kickers, Colton Armstrong sees no competition.
“When she kicked the four PATs I was one of the first one’s out on the field,” Armstrong said.
As a freshman, the Bulldogs may have the strength of the legs on Gracie McDonald for sometime to come, with her trademark smile she said.
“I just want to play as long as I can and see where it takes me,” she said.