Greenwood Christian senior Izzy Cameron was all smiles during the team’s preseason scrimmage.
Submitted photo | Lydia McIntire
Izzy Cameron came into this week having deposited 26 goals into the net and assisted on 41 others during her high school soccer career.
Good things usually happen when the Greenwood Christian senior follows through.
Only now, Cameron, a four-year starting midfielder for the Cougars, finds herself in a position to possibly score as many as three points with a single swing of her right leg.
Cameron, whose personality won’t let her sidestep a challenge, is part of the Cougars’ football team. Her talents, if needed, will be utilized on short field goals and point-after attempts.
Competition won’t be lacking. GCA’s other kickers are senior Charlie Overton and sophomore Bo Campbell, the latter the leading scorer for the Cougars’ state runner-up boys soccer team last fall.
Being the lone female football player on the Cougars’ roster could have set Cameron up for some pushback. But there was none. Just the opposite, in fact.
“Before this year … maybe just playing around in the back yard,” Cameron said of her prior experience with football. “It was just something different. Trying something new, and get out of my comfort zone.
“Coach (Andre) Dobson had been my track coach, so I mentioned it a few times, and just jokingly was like, ‘How would you like to have a girl on the team?’ I liked it right away. The boys are like my family already.”
Attempting to touch many of life’s bases isn’t new to Cameron.
Besides carrying a 3.699 grade-point average at Greenwood Christian, she is part of her school’s National Honor Society, Key Club, Spanish Club and Athletics Club. Cameron also volunteers at Resources of Hope, among other places, and is part of a ministry that babysits children so that their parents are able to attend life group together.
Athletically, Cameron is in her third season as a team captain in soccer. She also competes for the GCA bowling team, the track team — and, not surprisingly, played basketball for the first time last winter simply because of the challenge associated with doing so.
“She’s one of those kids who could probably pick up any sport and do well, as she is a very hard worker,” said her mother, Suzie Cameron, the Cougars’ girls soccer coach. “She’s extremely coachable, and rises to a challenge.”
Greenwood Christian’s preseason football scrimmage against the Noblesville Lions, a collection of home-schooled students, failed to create any separation among the three kickers. Overton, Campbell and Cameron were each given two opportunities to attempt a 20-yard field goal. All three missed the first and made the second.
Cameron said her range at this point is roughly 30 yards.
“I do like competition, so I was ready,” Cameron said. “But you get very sweaty in that equipment super fast. And with a football, you can’t use the inside of your foot, where with soccer you constantly use the inside of your foot.”
Either senior Luke Chitty or freshman Will Simons snaps the football during field goal and point-after attempts. Sophomore Trey Dobson, the Cougars’ starting quarterback, is the holder. Timing and a sense of trust are crucial between all parties involved.
“I think it’s important because it’s a different sport for me,” Cameron said. “Trey has been working with me on how to set the ball up.”
Greenwood Christian opened its season last week at Park Tudor, dropping a 65-6 decision. Cameron didn’t get the opportunity to kick, however, as the Cougars went for two after their lone touchdown.
Statistics or no statistics, coach Dobson knows his program benefits having Cameron as part of it.
“Izzy is just an unbelievable girl. She has a great work ethic, and is 100% a competitor,” Dodson said. “She had been thinking about it over the summer, and as we got closer to the season, she asked if she could come out.
“She wanted to give it a shot, and we gave her the opportunity.”
TONIGHT’S GAMES
NOTE: Some kickoff times have been pushed back due to an excessive heat warning in the area. Please take note of updated times below.
Oakland (Tenn.) at Center Grove, 7 p.m.
Franklin at Mt. Vernon, 7:30 p.m.
Greenwood Christian at Covenant Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Roncalli at Franklin Central, 7:30 p.m.
Greenwood at Indian Creek, 8 p.m.
Kokomo at Whiteland, 8 p.m.
Edinburgh at Cloverdale, 8 p.m.
