Becca Longo | Childhood, Families, and Education

Rebecca Longo, also known as Becca Longo, was born on March 17, 1989, in Chandler, Arizona, to Andrea and Bob Longo.

Becca has an older brother named Bobby Longo, who is eleven years her senior. Becca comes from an athletic family, so athleticism is in her blood. She has had a lifelong fascination with sports, which has led to her having the athletic potential she now possesses.

To put it another way, at the tender age of four, she was already at ease standing on the water skies. When she was nine, she simply blew everything off while kicking soccer balls. She was a warrior, a tough competitor who never gave up, as far as she recalls.

Bobby Longo is following in her older brother’s footsteps

Becca was always in awe of her older brother’s play because she both admired and competed with him during the games.

Bobby, Becca’s older brother, must have been a defensive end for their high school football team, but he was a true icon to her. Becca was always eager to learn all of the tips and techniques that his brother used on the field.

If Bobby did two jumps on the water skies, she was bound to mimick to do more than his brother. She attempted to get three. If Bobby chose to play in high school, she aspired to be a collegiate athlete.

What if this isn’t ideally trying to follow in her brother’s footsteps?

Harder challenges, on the other hand, were waiting in line. She was a girl, and football was a boy’s sport, with girls expected to serve only as cheerleaders. She had to be extremely tough to compete with the athletes.

Becca had to refuel herself with positivity every time she was criticized for being a female footballer, which she did admirably.

She could even hear the kicker’s foot attempting to make contact with the ball on the ground. She cherishes all of her football-related memories.

Furthermore, in an interview with Rocky Mountain PBS, Becca mentioned another role model in her life: her older brother’s football team. She didn’t say anything about herself.

Still, after seeing that girl play football, she realized that football is not just for men; girls can excel as well. She had been watching that girl play football since she was six years old, and her brother was seventeen at the time.

Becca Longo | High School Experience

Becca was intrigued to select her high school and college to help her explore her potential, just like every other player. She continued her education at Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona.

She participated in a variety of sports there. After all, she was a true athlete who participated in football, basketball, and soccer.

Becca began playing football competitively during her sophomore year. She was also a junior varsity kicker at Queen Creek High School in Arizona, but she was allegedly benched for her junior year after transferring to Basha High.

Becca converted 35 extra points on 38 attempts during her senior year of high school. In the field, she proved herself to be an emperor by attempting to run 30 yards.

When she decided to kick a different ball, she had the full support of her father. Becca has always wanted to push the boundaries and break the mold, especially for those who believe that girls aren’t cut out for football.

Her parents also drove her to Gilbert Christian High School to attend an Arizona Cardinals kicking camp. And, without any elaborate training, Becca came in first place in a sport she had never played before.

She never felt awkward on the field with the coach or the other players, and the first time she put on that jersey made her happy.

College Career | Becca Longo

Becca and her father create a delightful highlight out of her early high school play game videos. Adams State offensive coordinator Josh Blankenship happened to come across Becca’s homegrown talent as a kicker by chance. She nailed the kicking technique.

Blankenship was looking for a hardcore kicker when she decided to go see her on the real ground and went to Basha.

Following that, a fortunate event occurred in her life; Becca was called for a tryout, and she eventually impressed everyone with the toughest kick she gave with her right leg. It was a spectacular one.

Not to mention, head coach Timm Rosenbach, a former NFL quarterback himself, saw her energetic kick and clearly stated,

“I don’t care if the player is from Mars… Gender was not a consideration for me.” according to ESPN

He was a true coach in judging Becca based on any norms, culture, stereotype, appearance, background, status, or gender. Becca was redshirted for a year after enrolling at Adams State University to play for the Adams State Grizzlies.

Following that, she suffered an untimely ankle injury during the 2018 season, forcing her to forfeit her scholarship without having made a single kick or played a single down in a game.

Becca also shared this information on her social media accounts, making her fans aware that she is not stopping her search for better opportunities.

And then came word that she would be joining the Gila River Hawks, a newly formed four-team Hohokam Junior College Athletic Conference.

For the first two games, Becca was 4-for-7 on PATs and attempted 22 yards.

Bullying, Difficult Days, and Transition | Becca Longo

It was never too easy for a girl to make a name for herself as the first female athlete to receive an NCAA scholarship. She had all those criticisms, comments, and challenges coming her way because she couldn’t hide who she is, a girl?

Becca’s meritocracy could not overcome the severe sexism and biases, no matter how well she performed as a kicker. People would ask on the infobahn, “Is she wearing her jersey or her boyfriend’s?” And in response, Becca would laugh herself silly for an entire season.

It’s difficult to believe that Becca was doing exceptionally well as a kicker, kickass on the ground, in a society still full of stereotypical people and misogynist men.

Not only that, but her peers and friends could not accept the fact that she was one of the good players. She urged her classmates to transfer to Basha High School after spending most of their time at Queen Creek.

Being emotionally and mentally strong was simply a means of maintaining her defense mechanism. Becca’s college days were very different from her high school days. She would no longer be treated as an outsider by the players. She was greeted warmly.

And She was aware that her high school played a role, but college kicking is something entirely different. Longo had no choice but to grow.

Well, thanks to the football scholarship, she became the first female athlete on an athletic scholarship.