Kaeda Gibbs, one of the first female football players at Point Pleasant, faced bullying but tackled giants and rose stronger, inspiring others with her courage.
Sashia Gibbs, Kaeda’s mother, took to her Facebook post to share the story of her daughter’s incredible journey on the football field.
From the time Kaeda was in 7th grade all the way through 11th, she woke up every morning knowing the day ahead wouldn’t be easy.
Back then, people didn’t think girls belonged on the field. People passed comments like “Girls can’t play football.”
Every single day, Kaeda faced teasing, harassment, and straight-up bullying from kids who couldn’t handle a girl out there mixing it up. Nonetheless, it didn’t stop her.
Kaeda woke up every day and chose to keep going. She loved football too much to let others’ opinions win.
Sashaia remembers those tough times as if they were yesterday.
Kaeda took on guys 4 times her size, tackling them with everything she had. Sure, she got banged up a few times, but she popped right back up like nothing could keep her down.
One of the memories that sticks with Sashia from Kaeda’s 8th-grade year is from her first big tackle.
The rest of the team was piled up on the wrong guy, but Kaeda saw the ball carrier making a break for it. She charged, took him down just before the end zone, and saved the play.
Sashia recalled the moment, saying “She looked so silly in full pads and everything skipping, hopping, and clapping her hands “like a girl.“
Her proud coach, Jordan, shouted, “That’s my girl!” Kaeda’s coach was the one who saw her potential from the start and gave her that shot to prove what she could do.
Over the years, Kaeda kept at it, and slowly but surely, things began to change. By the time she was a junior, she wasn’t just “that girl playing football,” but she was one of them.
Kaeda earned her spot and began to fit in with the team like she’d always been there.
In fact, she became the first girl to really play the game for Point Pleasant, not just kicking from afar, but out there tackling and fighting for every yard.
However, last year, things took a turn for the worse again. Kaeda, now a senior, dealt with sexual harassment from some freshmen on the team.
She was tired of it all and grew weary from the constant negativity. And it was during that time in her last year of high school that she decided enough was enough.
Kaeda decided her senior year deserved better. So, she stepped back from football and chose to spend her time with her horses and her real friends.
Sashia wraps up her post with nothing but love, saying:
This girl will always be her favorite female football player.
Sashia Gibbs
