MONMOUTH, Ore. – You hear the stories of two-sport athletes, but generally that happens during high school or college. Current Western Oregon University women's basketball assistant coach Katie Girten got the chance to showcase her skills on the gridiron recently and her abilities helped her earn All-American honors and a chance to play in the All-American game in Canton, Ohio.
What started out as an email from a fellow WOU employee in Maria Bonifacio-Sample, Director of Student Conduct and Residential Education, looking for participants then turned into an experience of a lifetime.
"Bonifacio-Sample is a member of the Capital Pioneers and had sent out an email to WOU Director of Athletics Randi Lydum to see if we might have any female coaches that would be interested in participating in the upcoming football season," Girten said. "The email sparked my interest immediately. Basketball will always be my first love, but I also grew up watching a lot of football, but didn't have real opportunities to do so. So I thought, this is my chance to give it a shot!"
The Capital Pioneers, based in Salem, Ore., compete in the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) and is part of the longest-running and most competitive women's tackle football league in the world. The team began the season in early May and recently finished the seven-game season on June 26. The Pioneers competed against teams from Sioux Falls, Portland, Seattle and Arizona.
"What's remarkable about the Capital Pioneers and other women's tackle football teams is the main focus is to try to grow the game and make the game visible to younger girls," Girten said. "Visibility can be so powerful and I think for younger girls to see women playing tackle football, it can provide hope that if they want to play football one day, they can."
Girten played both offense and defense for the Pioneers, lining up at wide receiver and safety. She helped lead the team to a 6-0 regular season as they advanced to the first round of the playoffs. Girten caught 16 passes for 263 yards and eight touchdowns, while on defense she recorded four interceptions. All of those stats helped her earn First Team All-America accolades.
"I'm extremely humbled and honored (to be selected as an All-American). I feel very grateful to have played with some wonderful, selfless teammates," Girten said. "I couldn't have made the All-American team as a wide receiver without an amazing quarterback, a great offensive line protecting and the support and effort from the rest of the team and coaches. I learned a lot from teammates and coaches in such a short time, so to be selected on the First Team in my first year playing women's tackle football is something I will cherish forever!"
By earning All-American honors, Girten was able to then participate in the All-American game that was played at the NFL Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
"What a cool experience! We got treated like first-class with nice uniforms, a great locker room, and the works. We got to play in the Hall of Fame Stadium where some of the great NFL players have also played," Girten said. "There were so many gifted football players out on that field and most of the game I was just in awe of their talent! I got to meet a lot of people from all over the country and the amount of support you could feel for one another was incredible. An experience I'll never forget."
