MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — They are the co-captains for the Harrisburg Havoc women's tackle football team and are now teammates on an all-star squad selected from teams that play in the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) across the United States.
Hanover's Leah Crump and Middletown's Kaeli Thomas will take a 15-hour flight in a few days and then take the field in Bogota, Columbia to compete in an international competition called the Coffee Bowl.
“I was like, am I going to Colombia to play my favorite sport?" said Thomas. "It’s cool, I’ve been out of the country for vacations and stuff but to know that I put myself in this position, I feel like is the best feeling ever.”
“I’m nervous but excited at the same time," admitted Crump. "I always say it’s a blessing because I never thought I would get that far. I would say amazing, it’s a time in a life chance that you get to do something like this, so to be picked, I’m blessed.”
After one year of playing in the WFA, you become eligible to play internationally. Crump and Thomas were selected to represent the league on Team United.
The Coffee Bowl is on Sunday, February 18, and consists of two games. The first is a team from Bogota versus a team from Mexico City. The winner then faces Team United, who will be big favorites to win.
They didn't allow a point in the first competition last year
Crump is a 2014 graduate of South Western High School. Thomas was in the Class of 2016 at Middletown.
The women are a little nervous and excited to travel to South America.
“I’m ready to represent the Havoc here," said Crump. "I’m ready to meet new friends, family, gaining new friendships.”
“We’re playing in a men-dominated sport so it’s really hard you know," added Thomas. "Some people don’t look at us as real football players, for us to be able to relate to them, to tell them it’s ok, keep going, you’re doing great, and people do see you in the USA, I think that’s a great feeling too, not only being on the field playing the sport, but being able to be friends with them.”
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