She kicks, tackles and plays in the band for Lakewood High

ARLINGTON — Students at smaller high schools often spread their talents in many different areas.

Lakewood High School’s Sydney Gormley did exactly that during the Cougars’ homecoming win over Anacortes last Friday while turning in a performance many players only dream about.

The junior kicker played clarinet at halftime in the marching band, converted an onside kick and recorded a tackle on special teams, and capped the night by making her first career field goal as time expired as the Cougars came back from a three-score deficit to beat the Seahawks 25-23.

Yes, you read that correctly. Gormley is the only girl to play football for Lakewood (2-1 conference, 2-3 overall) in head coach Dan Teeter’s 11 seasons as the head coach.

“In high school you have to try as many new things as you can before it’s too late,” said Gormley, who developed her kicking skills in more than a decade of playing club soccer. “I always thought football was really cool and wanted to try it.”

Teeter said Friday’s storybook ending was one of the three most exciting games he’s coached. That includes several playoff games and a number of wins over perennial Class 2A power Archbishop Murphy.

“Spirits are low, it’s homecoming, you want to win it in front of all the people who are coming back and to pull it out and do it in such dramatic fashion, regardless of whoever is kicking the ball,” Teeter said. “In terms of pure excitement I’m never going to forget that game.”

The Cougars trailed 23-6 at the half and it was a game the team needed to win to remain in the chase for a playoff berth in its first season in the Northwest Conference.

Gormley converted the onside kick in the third quarter and also recorded her first career tackle on another kickoff, though she deferred credit.

“In my opinion it’s not (a) true (tackle),” Gormley said. “I was going up for the tackle, but then he slipped and fell down and I don’t know what happened. He clipped my ankle or something and then I fell down. Because I was the first one there they counted me as the tackler.”

All that helped set up the dramatic ending. The Cougars drove to the Anacortes 15-yard line and had a decision to make. Gormley is 7-for-7 on extra points this season, but had yet to make a field goal in a game.

The coaching staff determined — with a little prodding from Gormley — that the 32-yard attempt was in her range.

“I wasn’t really worried about (her) making it,” said Lakewood holder Taylor Tresch. “I was more worried about getting the snap, getting it down and making sure no one blocked it because they were rushing pretty hard on the last play.”

The snap, hold and kick were true and the Cougars had their victory.

“It was amazing,” Gormley said. “I really didn’t know I made it until Tresch grabbed my shoulder pads and started shaking and saying, ‘You did it, you did it.’”

Gormley is in her second year with the team after turning out for the first time as a sophomore in 2015. She wasn’t the starting kicker a season ago, but did get some varsity action on extra points. This season she has emerged as the starter.

Several other girls have participated in spring practice during Teeter’s tenure, but Gormley is the only one to stick with it. Her tenacity and work ethic are big reasons why.

“As soon as we got to know her it was not a surprise that she stuck with it,” Teeter said. “She’s determined, a hard worker and very focused.”

Added Tresch: “She definitely loves to go 100 percent in everything and that’s why she’s playing with us.”

Gormley has blossomed into her role and that’s why Teeter believes football is the ultimate team sport.

“You need guys who are big and strong and maybe aren’t the most gifted with their hand-eye coordination, but they’re big, physical guys who are going to make everything else happen up front,” Teeter said. “You need guys that can run, throw, catch, snap the ball and kick the ball. It wins you games.”

Gormley’s performance last Friday is proof of that.

Follow Herald Writer Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.