At nine years old, Ashley J. wanted to play football.

"But, girls don't play football," her classmate told her.

"Why Not!" It was not a question Ashley asked, it was a statement. All of her life she took challenges head on, and she saw this as a challenge.

Ashley finally convinced her parents to let her try out for the Pop Warner football league. She convinced them that ice skating or any other sport had about the same risk of causing injury.

The football coach signed her up, but not without reservations. There had never been a girl playing football in the Riverside league, and he wasn't too sure he wanted the first one on his team. But when tryouts were over, he had to admit that she had talent and Ashley earned a place on the team.

She worked hard to be good at this sport, practicing with her twin brother Matt every day after school. Matt wasn't too fond of the idea of his sister on his football team either. He feared the other boys would make fun of her. And at first they did.

"You should be home playing with your dolls," they taunted.

Ashley didn't pay them any attention. She concentrated on being the best football player she could be. And soon, the other team members saw how tough she played. At the position of nose guard, she stood head to head with the opposing team's center. After the first time she broke through the opposing line to sack the quarterback, her team quit teasing her. "All right, A.J!" they cheered.

Ashley chose the nickname A. J. so as not to make a point of her gender. Often, members of the opposite team didn't even realize she was a girl while they were playing. A few suspected when they spotted her ponytail coming out from underneath her helmet. But she surprised them all at the end of the game when she pulled off her helmet and shook out her blonde curls.

As the season went on, Ashley's team, The Bills, continued to win more and more games. Soon they were in the playoffs.

Ashley is proud of one of the last games played against a tough San Diego team. It was pouring rain and the field was covered in mud, but the game went on. By half-time, the score was tied 7 to 7 and every player was covered in mud. Ashley didn't mind. This was her game and her team had a chance to win. On the opposing team's fourth down near the goal line, Ashley made a tackle to block their score. Her team now had possession of the ball and drove it toward their goal line, with Ashley's brother Matt making the winning touchdown.

At the end of the season, The Bills had claimed second place in a very tough division. At the awards ceremony, the coach presented a special trophy to Ashley saying, "This award goes to someone who is not only the toughest kid in the league, but also the prettiest!" As Ashley accepted her trophy, the coach continued with pride in his voice, "She started this year not knowing anything about football. She wasn't accepted at first but soon proved her ability. This just goes to prove you can do anything you set your mind and heart to accomplish."