The Girls of Fall

Sia Billington knew this was the year.

The Green Bay Preble junior was finally going to get her chance to play tackle football.

She’s making the most of her time on the gridiron.

“I knew I was going into football,” Billington said. “I wanted to do it since fifth grade, but we moved so much. My mom put me in this year, and I’m just so happy that she did.”

Her team is as well.

The 5-foot-3 running back is providing a spark to the Hornets as she takes on the challenge of tackling her goal.

“She gets us going during practice,” Preble senior Gavin Buergi said. “When she makes a big play, we’re all cheering. She gets the energy up.”

Billington is not the only girl who plays high school football.

You’ll find many girls across the nation putting on a helmet and shoulder pads every Friday night to compete in what is stereotyped as a boys’ sport.

Much like Billington, Denmark junior Hailey Aschenbrenner was inspired to do so by her brothers.

“My brother, Cody, really showed me how to play,” Aschenbrenner said. “We always played on my front lawn with my little brother, Logan. I always wanted to get out on the field and hit somebody when I was younger.”

Aschenbrenner has played for several years and is in her second season on the Denmark varsity team, getting opportunities to handle kickoffs and kick extra points.

Billington, who moved to Green Bay last year after previously living in Oshkosh and Lomira, knew she had a lot to learn in her first season this year.

“A lot of the guys were really impressed,” Billington said. “They were like once you get through camp then you’re good. They were really shocked because they never had a girl on the team before.

“I remember we were on the bags and stuff and Jack (Rentmeester) was like, ‘Come on! You can do it! Hit harder!’ I gave it my all, and they really helped me out. It’s fun when I run the plays and all of them are like, ‘Good job, Sia!’ It makes me feel really good.”

Billington can bench press over 100 pounds and wants to break the Preble school record for girls before she graduates.

She showed true strength, however, in how she handled an unfortunate circumstance earlier this season.

Billington was walking towards her locker room following a game and passed a couple of players in the hallway from an opposing team, who made ignorant remarks towards her.

“I just shook it off,” Billington said. “They were just laughing at me. I turned and looked at them and was like, ‘It’s not a joke.’ Another one was like, ‘You shouldn’t be laughing at her. We’re the ones that loss right now.’ There is going to be negativity and stuff, but I just need to keep my head up.”

Aschenbrenner has taken on ignorant remarks as well.

“My team really respects me,” Aschenbrenner said. “But there were some other teams last year that were laughing at me because I’m girl and I’m in a boys’ sport. But I honestly don’t even care. It’s what I want to do. I don’t care about what other people think.”

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Aschenbrenner said she is undecided on whether she will pursue playing football at the college level in a couple years or playing softball.

Billington is thinking about going out for track and field this spring to help her get faster and stronger to make more plays like the one she made a couple of weeks ago in a win against Sheboygan North.

“I got in on punt team and made a play,” Billington said. “It was great. I got to hit someone.”

When asked about getting the chance to score a touchdown next year as a senior, Billington’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“It would be a great opportunity,” Billington said. “I would be so happy. It would be amazing.”