Arete Prep senior Skylar Nicholas is not only a trendsetter for female athletes, but an influential inspiration in the Gilbertcommunity.

Although Nicholas is the kicker for Arete Prep's football team, she has also scored on a touchdown run and saved a touchdown by making an important tackle in previous games.

After the tackle to save a touchdown, athletic director Amy Arnold said she heard a parent in the stands say, “He got tackled by a girl.” To where she responded,"No, he was tackled by a football player."

“She is not a female football player, she is a football player. She is as tough as they come. No one had to entice her to come out and play. She wanted this,” Arnold said. "Off the field she is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, but on the field she is all business, and we are very proud of her.”

Arete Prep's head coach Cord Smith said Nicholas is a really good soccer player and her talent for kicking a football was noticed during her sophomore year by the previous head coach of the team.

“She came out with her friends once and started kicking footballs through the uprights, and the former coach encouraged her to join the team,” said Smith. “When I was asked to be the head coach of this team, I encouraged her and said we need you. I have seen her kick and she is real accurate. She kicked a 40-something yarder in practice the other day and she has kicked a 31-yarder in a game, so she is accurate and has got distance. She is unique and she is a leader. A lot of the younger girls in our school really look up to her.”

“I wanted to put myself in a position that I wasn’t necessarily comfortable with to gain confidence and just prove it to myself,” said Nicholas.

When asked about her teammates and what they thought about playing with a female football player, she said, “I think that they might have been a little hesitant at first, but throughout the season they have gotten used to it and treat me just like another player.

“Other teams do not really know what to expect when they see me but I just do my best to go out and do my job. I think they just see me as another player too but I think they may be a little shocked at first,” said Nicholas.

Nicholas made it clear that it was a personal decision to play football, but her support group encourages her and keeps her motivated.

“After I told people I wanted to play, my family and friends were very supportive. I haven’t heard any negative feedback which is great,” Nicholas said.

On the field Nicholas said her biggest challenges is not getting nervous, but off the field she is challenged with focusing on her school work.

Nicholas said her top school she wants to attend after high school is Rhodes College in Tennessee where she would like to play soccer while getting her education.

Her aspirations for her career are to be a criminal defense lawyer, but for now she continues to inspire her community while still in high school.