Atlantic City Weekly

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An honors student with renaissance features and a megawatt smile, 12-year-old Deirdre Lynzsch loves to listen to Jack Johnson and Christina Aguilera — when she’s not playing varsity football for the Somers Point Sharks or competing for a national weightlifting ranking. Her mom says that when Deirdre was six, “I told her football is for the boys, but if she still wanted to play the following year, she could. The next year, her brother was suiting up, and she came out with her cleats on. She said, ‘you promised!’ I brought her to the field and asked the coach to humor us. When I came back, he said, ‘Hey, she’s really good!’”

You’re involved in some demanding sports.

Well, I was always really strong, and I hung out with my brother Timmy and the boys a lot. I’m not trying to be a boy, but I just always found myself interested in sports like hiking, fishing, dirt-biking, football. Even snorkeling — I’d hold my breath as long as I could at school. I just like adventure more than staying home.

This is your sixth year with the Sharks.

It’s our town football team, in the Atlantic County Junior Football League. When I started, I couldn’t throw, kick, or run, but I could block and tackle. I played tackle, then linebacker. Last year, I scored a touchdown on a kickoff return! Over the years, as I got even stronger, it gave me more reason to continue. I was never really a very big fan of girlie things, cheerleading and putting on nail polish and stuff.

But you’re very beautiful – you must know that?

Thank you, but beauty isn’t everything. Someday when my Prince Charming comes along, it might mean more. Football gave me a lot more reason to stay strong and fit, than if I were just worrying about my appearance.

Tell me about being the only girl on a team.

I’ve gotten used to it, and the boys are fine with it now. We’re friends. The first year, some people didn’t even realize I was a girl, because I braided my hair and tucked it in. Some boys wouldn’t come after me when they realized I was a girl, so their coaches started double teaming me. They don’t avoid me now, and they respect me.

Is there anything girls can’t do or shouldn’t do?

If something would make you happy, and you’re able to do it and won’t hurt yourself doing it, then I say: go for it! The only thing I ever wanted to do that I couldn’t was to compete in the Pinewood Derby Race. It was only for Cub Scouts.

Do you expect to play football much longer?

I’ll play next year, but I sort of draw the line at high school. Meanwhile, I’ve started playing lacrosse, too. But the thing I’ll probably follow competitively now, big-time, is weightlifting, which I started last July.