The beginning of any sports season or school year creates many changes, and a notable change this year is the gender balance of several sports teams. While there are no girls on the golf team, there is a girl on the football team.

According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Center, only 10.9 percent of the 5.5 million Americans who reported playing football were female. Female participation in high school football can be credited to Title IX, which passed in 1972 and prohibits discrimination based on sex in education, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

In regard to high school football, according to Statista, 2,237 girls played, in comparison to 1,036,842 boys. Although a fairly low number, participation of females in high school football is at an all time high.

Junior Kiersten Reynolds plays nose guard on defense and guard on offense on the varsity football team. Just starting this year, Reynolds says she decided to try out because “someone told me [she] wouldn’t make the team.” Playing rugby since eighth grade has also helped this athlete gain experience and made trying out “a little easier.”

Being smaller and less experienced in football doesn’t stop Reynolds from trying to improve and get better. Her goals for the season are “getting closer with the team and pushing [herself] to be a better player.” Reynolds says the other players do try their best to treat her the same and “coach her when [she] needs help.”

Contrary to the surplus of female participation in football, the golf team has no girls this season. In prior years, at least one female had participated.

The trend in the United States for female golf players has increased by 10.9 percent in recent years (golf.com). In last year’s championship, North Harford student athlete Sarah Richardson won runner up in the female division. Since her graduation last year, no other girl has been on the team. The winning team, C Milton Wright, according to the Aegis has no females, while Aberdeen and Patterson Mill did.

Having a female on the team, according to Jacob Nemeth, helps their chances at making it to states, Nemeth said, “If you have a girl on the team, you can shoot a high score and still go to states.” Regardless of having a girl or not, the season is looking good for the Hawks, having a score of 5-0.

Photo credits: Kiersten Reynolds