Firestone (Akron, Ohio) senior
Alana Gaither kicked a 43-yard field goal last week during a 45-6 football victory over Ellet (Akron, Ohio). Though no official records are kept, it is believed to be a national record for a girl.
Her kick came with two seconds left in the first half.
Firestone High's Alana Gaither.
Photo courtesy of the Gaither family
"Everybody went nuts," Coach Tim Flossie recalled. "She trots off and says, 'Coach, I told you so.'"
Gaither said she "was really shocked when my coach told me (about the record). Before the game I hit a couple of 45s. As excited as I am, (I know) there are a lot of guys who can kick 40-yard field goals."
Through seven games she has these outstanding statistics: 4-for-4 on field goals (other distances were 37, 34 and 32 yards) and 21-for-23 on extra points. She set a school record going 8-for-8 in one game. One of her misses was against a college (shorter) crossbar and the other was blocked.
"I just pick a point down the middle of the crossbar, stare at it, concentrate and let my leg do the rest,” is how Gaither explains her tremendous accuracy.
The 5-foot-5, 130-pound Gaither has been kicking a soccer ball around since she was 5 years old and has played on competitive travel soccer teams since third grade.
"I always loved football," she said. "I always watched the NFL football with my dad. And I love kicking a soccer ball, too."
So, it was only natural that when Flossie came to her soccer team looking for a kicker that she was one of four girls who volunteered for a tryout.
"We graduated our kicker. We didn't have anybody (returning) and nobody wanted to do it," Flossie admitted.
As a freshman she had a year to prepare for her football tryout, so she went to work right away. She related, "From that moment on, I'd take a football and tee all the time to the gym and to empty racquetball courts."
Flossie said that he picked Gaither the next fall because she was a sophomore and the closest girl to her ability was a senior.
"I was shocked, but I was up for the challenge," Gaither said of being chosen as place kicker for the Falcons. She definitely has earned the honor because she attended a kicking camp run by former NFL punter Philip Philapovic as a sophomore and the Ohio State University special teams camp as a junior.
Philapovic taught her the proper steps and ball placement. At Ohio State, she learned more about ball placement and following through. She said OSU coach Jim Tressel told campers he spends one-third of his practice time on special teams.
This past summer she worked with between five and eight balls and practiced her kicking five days a week. She also began workouts at the Training Fitness Center, which have given her greater flexibility.
"I've noticed a really big difference from last season to this season," she said of the flexibility workouts. "My sophomore and junior years, I was consistent up to 40 yards. This year I've made a couple of 50s (in practice)."
Looking back, Flossie admits, "I was worried about guys in the locker room and how they would accept (her). They take good care of her and really protect her. (Opponents) say a lot of stuff – she kicks and they shut up. She's really tough mentally. Nothing bothers her."
Gaither agrees with her coach.
"Since the first day I walked in, (teammates) have been great to me,” she said. “They treat me just like a little sister.”
As far as her mental toughness is concerned, she explained, "I grew up playing competitive soccer and having coaches who weren't your best friends who would dig into you (in a positive way) to always push you as hard as they could."
Firestone has a junior, Bradley Shields, as a backup kicker. Gaither says they are friends and there is no hostility between them. Next year he will get his turn.
Gaither was a swimmer from age 4 until 15 and she is a standout 800-meter runner in track. She also has been a member of the homecoming court. She carries a 3.8 GPA in honors courses and has received football interest from Harvard and several Division III private colleges. She also is considering playing soccer at Otterbein College.
Before she graduates, however, her dream is to fake a field goal and either run or pass for a touchdown.
Despite her coach's protests, she's got the speed and arm to make it work. Stay tuned.
