PEORIA, Ariz. - A Centennial High School football player is breaking barriers and says the best part about playing football is that she gets to hit people!
Senior cornerback and wide receiver Julissa Inzalaco is the first female football player to play at Centennial High School. At those two positions, she is a skills player, meaning she is right in the middle of the action.
"A lot of people don't know I'm a girl until we shake hands and they're like, 'Woah she's a girl?!'" Julissa Inzalaco said.
"She has done everything that was expected of her and she gets no special treatment (because she is a girl)," Centennial head coach Richard Taylor said. "She's a football player."
This is Inzalaco's first year playing football, but she was set on playing for one of the best teams in the state.
"Centennial is where I wanted to play because I wanted to play for a level of excellence," Inzalaco said.
When I asked her why she wants to play cornerback and wide receiver, her answer was simple.
"I wanted to hit people, get hit, and be hit," Inzalaco said.
Inzalaci said the most rewarding part has been inspiring other women and girls to pursue their dreams.
"I've had a lot of people come up to me and it's just really cool," Inzalaco said.
Centennial hosts Chaparral High School on Friday, Nov. 10.