Dannika Campbell – Ovid-Elsie Soccer Player Gives Football a Try

And she is doing an incredible job.

The Ovid-Elsie Football team needed a kicker and Dannika Campbell was intrigued. While she has been kicking a soccer ball for a decade, kicking a football was something entirely new.

After we got the okay from mom, GLAMoms had an opportunity to speak with Dannika on a day she was off from school.

And it just happened to be the same day two GLAM-Kids were also off for a Teacher Professional Development Day.  Why is this being mentioned?  Because per usual, when mom needs to do something for 5 minutes, they both want to see what was going on. One decided to sit with me – I thought, why not, this is real life and Dannika is exactly the role model younger girls need!  And then a quick wave by my son.  

Also my daughter wanted to ask some questions and I later learned she was nervous.  She asked if she would be able to talk to her again. I told her we may follow-up with a call after her football game tonight or perhaps again next fall!  I asked her to write her questions down so she would not forget.  “All of them?”

Oh my… maybe we will have a GLAM-Kid led conversation at a later date!  

For now though, we are honored to share more about this incredible area athlete who is showing everyone when you take a risk – in her case, do something she never had before – you do reap rewards.  After speaking with her we learned the on-field accolades are great, yet being part of the team and the sense of community it embodies is something she would not have experienced if she had not put herself out there!

Have fun Dannika, and we look forward to seeing you on – and off – the fieldS! 🏈⚽️ And court 🏀!

How long have you played football?

This is my first year playing football.

How did you get to be the kicker for the OE Football team?

Last Spring, I emailed Coach Long and Coach Winter about my interest in playing. They started adding me to the football emails and I got the information about the meetings and the summer events that they had planned.

Coach Long asked for me to go out to the field with him so he could show me the kicks that I would have to do for the team, he gave me the names of the kicks and showed me where exactly I would put the tee and everything. 

From there I started practicing and going to summer camps to learn more about kicking a football, rather than a soccer ball.

Now soccer.  How long have you played soccer?  

I have played soccer since I was 5 years old. 

Do you plan to play after high school?  

I am still up in the air about playing soccer in college, but I think if I am given the opportunity to do so, I will take it. 

How does soccer help you with kicking a football?

Previously knowing how to kick a soccer ball has helped me a lot with kicking a football. The fundamentals are about the same in my head. 

Do you have siblings? 

Yes, I have two sisters. 

My older sister is Hailee, she is a Freshman at Albion College playing soccer. My younger sister Kaela is a Freshman in high school. 

I played my first two years of high school with Hailee and I get to play my last two years of high school with Kaela.

Back to football.  Do your teammates treat you like one of the guys or are they extra protective of their kicker?

At the beginning of the season, the boys treated me like a girl and was shy to say or do something off point it felt like. Once we got into the season a little more their mannerism towards me kind of wore off. Which isn’t bad, it’s nice to see what they are actually like, makes me feel less weird. 

I think they treat me as one of the guys off the field, but when it comes to being on the field, they are extra protective. 

This is good to hear!  Yet to an opponent you are just that, the opposition, have you been hit this season?  

I’ve gotten hit 2 times this season. The first time it happened the guys were coming up to me asking if I was okay, checking on me every so often. The second time it happened, they turned around right after it happened, the line got up in the guy’s face. 

What is one lesson you have learned being part of the Ovid-Elsie Football team this year?

Our football program is built off of our character and culture, this team is like no other. Everyone is family, one person goes down, everyone helps them up. Everyone checks in on everyone. They push each other to grow from it. Football is obviously a contact sport and they use every opportunity to get better at what they love. 

The coach and players have a love for the game that can be seen off the field and on the field. 

One lesson I have learned is you use every opportunity to be the player you want to be, don’t hang your head because you messed up, drive that anger or sadness – whatever it is – to be your best. There have been times this season where I’ve struggled with kicking, but people have come up to me and said it’s okay you got the next one. 

What is your favorite memory of this football season – so far?

My favorite memory this season by far must have been my first game. 

The first game of the season, I was extremely nervous as it was my first time ever in game gear, that big of a crowd, and experiencing those few hours before a game. 

Once I got out to the field, I started kicking and was beginning to realize that it’s just like a soccer game, you do your job and let others do theirs. Once the game began, looking around and seeing all those parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, friends, every last person, just meant the world to me. Just looking in awe of the crowd that was present.

I had my first ever points and extra point attempts in this game, it’s a feeling I couldn’t put into words, but something you’d have to experience first hand to understand how awesome it is to say you kick for the Ovid-Elsie Football Team.

Do you have any advice to other girls who are possibly interested in being a kicker?

If you are considering it even a little bit, don’t back down. Have the courage and drive to be your best. 

I was once the girl who was possibly interested, I would never have forgave myself for not going through with it. It has given me opportunities of a lifetime and memories that will last forever.

We know you are all into post season play right now – what are you looking forward to after football season draws to a close?

I’m most looking forward to getting a little bit of rest, I’ve been constantly on the go between club soccer and football here at the high school. My body needs a rest.

After football season though, I play basketball and that starts pretty soon after football, depending on how far into playoffs we go. 

We learned you have cochlear implants.  Are you able to wear them when you play?   

This was something that almost made me turn the other way and not do football. Before the season, we had gear handed out and we got our helmets. I went home and tried putting the helmet on with both cochlear’s, and they just wouldn’t stay, I was so frustrated. 

One of my coaches suggested taking one off and seeing if that would help, sure enough, it did. I now only wear one cochlear, on my right side and its been working great. 

How does this play into your on field communication or is it limiting?

I can still hear pretty well with just one in, so I would say it doesn’t affect my hearing too much, the coaches are aware and if I am uncertain I ask questions and they answer. My teammates make sure I can hear or I understand what was said.

Okay, enough about sports.  Let’s hear more about you! 

Where is your favorite place in Michigan to travel?

My favorite place in Michigan to travel would definitely be Grand Haven, it’s absolutely beautiful over there.

What are some other things you like to do in your free time?

If I’m not playing sports, I’m usually with family or friends. I love playing card games, especially euchre! 

A couple quick, fun ones:

Pizza or Pasta?

I would definitely have to go with pasta.

Favorite Halloween Candy?

I love Milk Duds and Almond Joys!

Jordans or Dunks? 

While I own neither of these, I think Dunks look cooler.

Snow or Sand?

Sand all the way!

Netflix or Hulu?

I’m a Netflix watcher for life.

MSU or U of M?

Go Green!!

GO WHITE!  

Oh my Dannika, what a story you have shared!  And your smile lights up a room.  GLAMoms LOVES sharing about what got people to where they are today!   You are incredible AND we are looking forward to watching what comes next.   

If you can play football, you are going to be able to do most anything you set your mind to.  

But be careful.  

And an extra special thank you to a Bath High School Senior for the introduction to Dannika. 🙂

Where can you learn more about Ovid-Elsie Athletics?  
OE Athletics @ovid_elsie_sports
OE Football @ovidelsiefootball
OE Soccer @ovidelsiesoccer 
Cap City Soccer @capcityathlethic1847
Michigan High School Athletic Association mhsaa.com

Did you enjoy learning more about Dannika Campbell?  We did and GLAMoms has featured many other local and national level female athletes! 

A few are listed here: 
National Women and Girls in Sports Day
Meet a Mom: Robin Fralick, MSU Women’s Basketball Head Coach 
Meet a Mom: Shannon Miller, Team USA Olympic Gymnast