Sam Yeagy: Work hard. Show up. Repeat.

Football had always been Sam Yeagy’s favorite sport. The only problem was she'd played many other sports ... but not her favorite.

"I managed football in high school, but outside of Powder Puff, I had never played,” she said

Then a Facebook post about the Indiana Valor women's professional tackle football team changed everything. After months of workouts and practices, Sam earned the starting quarterback position. This summer, the Fairmount native will travel to Canton, Ohio, after being selected to the women's football All-American team. Read her story below in her own words.

I was born here and grew up in Fairmount. I went to Madison-Grant and played basketball and softball. I did a couple years of golf, managed football for a year, and I've pretty much been an athlete ever since.

I grew up right over on Tyler Street. It was common to see me at the ballpark playing basketball, football, softball—really anything outside. Every day after school, if it was nice enough, we were outside playing. I graduated from Madison-Grant in 2009 and was on the state championship softball team.

My parents still live in the same house I grew up in, and now I own a house here in town too.

Working Hard

I have a lot of different jobs. My full-time job is being the athletic trainer at Madison-Grant High School. I've been there since July of 2014, and I think this coming August will start year number 13.

I also pick up athletic training jobs on the side. I work part-time at Simple Goodness Soaps, which is a goat farm. I'm their farm hand, so I milk goats, feed goats, mow, weed, and do whatever they need. Occasionally I work at Bad Dad Brewing, helping with canning and cleaning kegs.

Out of everything I do, athletic training is probably my favorite. It's just a really good gig, and I love sports, so it's fun to be around sports and around the kids.

I actually got into athletic training because of my injuries. I tore both my ACLs in high school. That changed my plans a little bit. I found out what athletic training was and learned Ball State had a good program. I graduated in 2013 and came back home.

One thing I've learned is this: if you want something, don't expect someone to hand it to you. You’ve got to go get it, and you’ve got to work for it. Consistency is important too. I like to stay consistent, working out, playing sports, showing up for people: just being consistent.

Football

Football has always been my favorite sport. I just never got to play it.

I managed football in high school, but outside of Powder Puff, I had never played. Then somebody posted about the Indiana Valor women's professional tackle football team on Facebook. I followed them, went to workouts and practices, and ended up making the team.

I made the starting quarterback position and played that for the whole season.

This year I found out I made the All-American team, so I'll be playing in Canton, Ohio, at the Hall of Fame.

The Valor is a professional league, but we don't get paid to play, so I have to work other jobs. My job definitely has to come first because I have to pay my bills. There are 39 women on the team, and we're hoping it keeps growing. It's only the second year the team has existed.

The funny thing is that football came along after years of injuries. I actually need a knee replacement. It's been that way for nine or ten years. My medial meniscus is gone, so I have to wear a brace whenever I play sports or run.

It's a challenge to stay active, but staying active is important to me.

Outdoors and Adventure

I like to ride my bike, hike, camp, and generally be outside.

Last summer I did a bike ride across Iowa. It was 410 miles over seven days. You ride from town to town, camp overnight, and thousands of people participate. It was a really cool experience.

This year I'm trying to do that ride again, but I have to cut it short because of the All-American football game. The biking event starts on Sunday, and goes all week. But Thursday I'll ride 86 miles, get picked up, and head to Canton, Ohio, for the game on July 25th.

Some of my favorite places I've ever visited were Glacier National Park and the Grand Tetons. Those were Youth for Christ trips. Glacier is probably the best place I've ever hiked.

Nowadays I bike more than I hike, but I'd love to get back out West sometime.

Faith and Setbacks

Faith has been a big part of my life.

I started going to church in seventh grade because a friend invited me. My cousin, aunt, and mom came with me, and we just kept going back. I went to youth group, church camp, and eventually got baptized in eighth grade when I was 14.

I've been involved in church ever since. I worked for Youth for Christ for seven years. I was a Campus Life leader and spent a lot of time investing in students.

When I was playing a softball tournament to raise money for a scholarship, I had a little too much fun and made a mistake that changed my life.

I got an OWI, went to jail for 14 hours, and it was eye-opening. The longest 14 hours ever. My phone was blowing up, my mugshot was on Facebook, and my worst fear came true: I was fired from my ministry job.

What surprised me was how supportive people were. The school was supportive. The community was supportive. Friends reached out. My family stood by me. You can make mistakes and overcome them and work your way out of them; it doesn't have to be an end all be all.

Home

I definitely like the small town feel of Fairmount. I like to visit big cities, but I don't think I could live there.

My parents are here. My brother and his family are here. My church is here. Every Sunday we can count on seeing each other.

I feel like my jobs allow me to meet people from all over Indiana, but Fairmount is still home. Some of my football teammates are planning to visit, and I told them we could see pretty much everything in one evening.

I like the small town. And I like that my friends and family are all close.