Anderson to try out as place kicker for Wild football team

Ashley Anderson is more embarrassed by her opportunity than nervous about it.

The 27-year-old dental assistant at Augusta Family Dentistry will try to kick her way onto the Wichita Wild's Indoor Football League team.

Recently the Wild announced they would host try-outs for the kicker position.

Brett Harris and Tracy Cassidy, of the B98-FM morning show, were discussing the possibility of a female trying out for the team.

Anderson's mother heard the early morning discussion and called the show. Not long after that call, Brett and Tracy had been in touch with the owner of the Wild who agreed to donate $50 to breast cancer research for every field goal Anderson made during her try-out.

That was an offer Anderson couldn't refuse.

"I've got two months to get ready," Anderson said. "I was going to go out for the football team as a kicker when I was a freshman, but my dad was scared I would get hurt and ruin my soccer season."

Anderson never has kicked a football, but she's no rookie to putting her foot on the ball.

She has been playing soccer since she was a toddler, including teams at Wichita Heights High School, Cloud Junior College and three years at Newman University.

She still plays every chance she gets.

With a nickname like Bigfoot, distance probably won't be a big problem for her, either.

For the next 60 days, she'll be putting balls through goalposts instead of into the net in preparation for her try-out.

On Nov. 1, she'll have some fun, make some money for breast cancer research and - who knows - maybe start moonlighting in shoulder pads.