In the absence of a girls soccer program, a handful of females at Hauser have played on the school’s boys team the past couple of decades.
But since 2013, only two girls have earned full-time starting spots for the Jets. Seniors Emily Harker and Adonah Riddle have helped them to a 3-4-2 start going into tonight’s match at Greensburg.
“Since I’m a very competitive person and I like the challenge of playing with the guys, I really enjoy playing coed,” Harker said. “I’m like a Tomgirl. I grew up on a farm. I have to compete on a higher level because athletically, men are more superior than women. I’ve had the experience of playing against more athletic individuals. It gives me a sense of challenge, and I really enjoy it.”
Hauser technically has a “coed” team, but plays against mostly all-boys squads and competes in the boys sectional. Harker and Riddle are the only girls on this year’s squad.
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But just like Harker, Riddle isn’t shying away from the competition.
“Playing against guys is more of a challenge for me because I have to prove a lot,” Riddle said. “Now that I’m playing with guys, I feel stronger, and I feel like I talk a lot more. I’ve played a lot longer with guys than I have with girls, so I’m just used to it.”
Riddle grew up in Seymour and played a couple years of recreational soccer when she was in elementary school. She moved to Hope her freshman year.
Harker also grew up outside the area. She lives near Saint Paul, in Waldron school district. She went to Smith Elementary in Columbus and now makes the half-hour commute to Hauser each day.
“There’s more opportunities at Hauser like FFA, and I do 4-H in Bartholomew County,” Harker said. “I knew a lot of kids there. I played Biddy Ball in Columbus, so we would drive through Hope.”
Beginning at age 5, Harker played in the Columbus Parks and Recreation program every spring and fall season until playing junior high soccer at Hauser. In high school, played a little as a freshman and started a couple games as a sophomore before becoming a starting midfielder last season.
“I wouldn’t say there was more pressure,” Harker said. “I knew all my hard work and dedication would pay off. I don’t get frustrated when I don’t start. But when I start, I feel like (coach Andy Hunnicutt) believes in me.”
Harker plays mostly outside midfield, but played center midfield in Saturday’s win against Austin.
“She’s always full of positive energy,” Hunnicutt said. “She never gets down in a game. She always tries to execute the game plan. Then, her enthusiasm just helps pump up the rest of the team.”
Meanwhile, Riddle has been a starting defender this season after gaining some playing time last year.
“I struggled seeing game time my freshman and sophomore years,” Riddle said. “We had a lot of guys, and I had a hard time keeping up with them. My junior year, I built up my skills and got to play a lot more.”
Riddle plays mostly outside back, but also has seen time at stopper or defensive midfield.
“She’s just tenacious and tough as nails,” Hunnicutt said. “She is quite quick. She just won’t give up, and that’s what’s wonderful about her.”
Harker also has played some forward and scored the first goal of her career Aug. 28 in a 2-2 tie against Columbus Christian. That was the first Jets goal scored by a girl since Elizabeth Ream in 2007.
“I’ve been so close the past three years and finally did it,” Harker said.
Harker has won the team’s Mental Attitude Award the past three years. She also was a JV captain her freshman and sophomore years and has been a varsity captain as a junior and senior, as voted on by her teammates.
“I don’t know if it makes me feel accepted in a way,” Harker said. “Sometimes when we go up to shake the other teams’ captains’ hands, I get some funny looks. They’re like, ‘You’re a girl and a captain?’ But this is my second year, so I’m used to it.”
Both Harker and Riddle also compete in track and field. Harker played basketball as a freshman and junior and indoor soccer as a sophomore and plans to play indoor soccer this winter. She is considering playing tennis in the spring.
“I have been actually exploring tennis because it will be a lot easier on my lower half,” Harker said. “I’ve been meeting with our assistant coach (Karen Kelly) after practices to hit. She told me I was the kind of athlete that could jump into a sport senior year and thrive at it. If that plan fails, I’ll run track again.”
Neither Harker nor Riddle are planning to play soccer in college. Riddle wants to study criminal justice at a yet-to-be-determined school.
Harker plans to major in agronomy or plant and soil science, she hopes at Purdue. She had talked to Manchester about playing soccer, but decided against it.
“I just feel like my academics are more important,” Harker said. “That’s my future.”
Hunnicutt said he hasn’t seen any jealousy out of the boys on the 20-player Hauser team.
“A lot of the kids that aren’t starting are freshmen, so they’re learning,” Hunnicutt said. “Both of these young ladies have put their time in. They know what we’re trying to accomplish, and they’re good at it.”
