March 28, 2024

Cardinal Gridiron Gals hit the field

Image 1 of 5

Getting a taste of what high school football players go through in practices and in games, more than 40 ladies of various ages were on H.A. Lynn Field Thursday in the third annual Newton Cardinal Gridiron Gals. There were mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, friends and even six NHS cheerleaders were learning the basics of football.

Newton High head football coach Ed Ergenbright and his coaching staff provided the instruction for the Football 101 event, sponsored by the Newton Athletic Booster Club. There were 43 participants on the field doing pregame warmup stretches, position drills along with learning the fine points of kickoffs.

“A lot of moms watch their sons play football from middle school on, and most don’t understand all the rules of the game. They don’t know offensive and defensive alignments or player positions,” Ergenbright said.

“Gridiron Gals is a fun event for us coaches as well as the women. We encourage anyone to come out for it. We take them through short, low-impact position breakdown drills. We show them our formations.”

The six Newton High cheerleaders had this message —

“We were excited about coming out here and learning about the game we will be cheering for this year. It’s easier to cheer if you know more about the game. We had fun tonight.”

Kim Didier, mother of Duncan and Mason Lee, experienced her first Gridiron Gals.

“It was a lot fun,” Didier said. “I learned the difference between what a rush is and a blitz is on defense. Also, I know now that the numbers mean when they are calling the plays. I understand the drills they do. I can’t image how hot they are when it’s still 90 degrees, and they are in their full uniform.”

There were position station drills for offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, receivers, running backs and defensive backs. The participants rotated through the stations before learning about kickoffs and punts. Ergenbright had two teams lineup on the field for a couple of kickoffs.

“We take them through the formations for both offense and defense. We explain the positions and what those players do,” he said. “They start to gain an understanding how much their boys have to learn, and how important it is for the kids to be disciplined and to think on the field.”

“I’m so happy they allowed grandmas to be involved with this,” Connie Matsen said after the event. She is Evan Walker’s grandmother. “I learned a lot and had fun.”

Michele Ergenbright doesn’t have a player on the high school team, but she said her son plays in the youth league. She said she learned how much work actually goes into playing the game.

“I always knew they worked hard, but they have to be physically fit to be doing it. And I’m not,” she said. “I learned a little more of what my son, who plays tackle and guard, has to do and his responsibilities in terms of blocking.”

Coach Ergenbright explained the offensive positions to the ladies, then Darren Hurt went through the defensive players and responsibilities. Andy Cazett, Andy Swedenhjelm, Tanner Clute, Tom Weeks, Brad Kahler and Chase Dickinson each coached position drills.

Clute said he had the least liked drills. He coaches defensive backs and kept tell the ladies as they backpedaled and ran forward at angles and straight, “that’s all we do in practices is run.”

The Cardinals open the 2015 season Aug. 28 at Knoxville. Their home opener is Sept. 4 against Marshalltown.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com