EAGAN, Minn. – Shernice Henry has been around American football literally her entire life.
A New Zealand native, Henry was born to parents passionate about the sport and involved in the founding of the Papatoetoe (pah-pah-toy-toy) Wildcats American Football Club in 1986 — her mother as the club’s president and father as a player.
“I started on the sideline under a tree, probably with a dummy (pacifier) and a bottle,” Henry quipped. “And then I got into water responsibilities, running out the kicking tee, holding the down markers, managing teams, refereeing.
“But I didn’t get to play a game until I was 26 years of age,” she added. “When I was growing up, I was always interested in being part of it, but I was a girl. So they’re like, ‘Sorry, Shernice.’ My uncles: ‘Sorry, Shernice, this is for the boys.’ I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, the audacity.’ “
She received “the” phone call in 2017.
“I was pregnant at the time,” Henry recalled. “One of the club leaders called and goes, ‘Hey, we’re playing women’s and we’re going to start in August.’ I was like, ‘Thank you, ma’am. Let me just give birth to my baby and I’m going to be there.’ “
Henry’s son was born on June 24, 2017. Four weeks later, she suited up and joined the Wildcats women’s club for preseason games.
“My partner’s like, ‘What are you doing?’ And I said, ‘I don’t think you know, but I’ve been waiting my whole life for this opportunity,’ ” Henry reflected.
Source: www.vikings.com
