Sullivan High School senior working to be first female offensive line starter in Indiana history

            By Jessica Winters, THG Sports

August 1, 2004

When football practice officially begins in Indiana tomorrow, Tonya Ludlow wants to be treated like one anyone else on the team.

A senior member of the National Honor Society and editor of the school newspaper, Ludlow wants to prove a point: women can compete with men on any field of endeavor.

This is why the 5-foot-8, 225 pound Ludlow decided to try out for the Sullivan football team.

Describing herself as a “feminist to the bone”, Ludlow believes that for women to be treated equally with men, they need to constantly knock down any doors or break any “glass ceilings” that may be holding the female gender back. 

This is why she decided to try out for the football team—to show her male counterparts that anything they can do, she can do just as well or even better.

And unlike many girls who have tried—and failed—to crack a high school team’s starting lineup, Sullivan coach Rick O’Reilly believes Ludlow has a good chance at earning a starting position at offensive left guard. 

“Tonya has worked out with the team all winter, and is naturally very strong.  She made the top ten on our team with her combined bench press, squat, and power clean totals.  She is not real athletic, but she makes up for it with her attitude.  I think it is safe to say she will be the meanest player we have.  I wouldn’t be surprised if she cracked the starting lineup,” said O’Reilly.

When asked if any football players were her role models, Ludlow mentioned only one.  “Kathleen Trumbo.  She was the first woman in Indiana to play an entire season for a high school football team in this state (Corydon Central, 1989).  I hope to build on what she started by taking it to the next level and becoming a starter.”

I wouldn’t put my money against Tonya Ludlow taking the field against North Central when the Golden Arrows kick off the regular season at home August 13 at 6 pm. 

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