How Baylor’s Ella Metzner turned a friend’s idea into a history-making football career

How Baylor's Ella Metzner turned a friend's idea into a history-making football career.

Key points

• 12 team in USA TODAY Sports latest Super 25 football rankings, Baylor is the only team ranked in Tennessee.
• Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: [email protected].
• She has intends on applying to both the Naval Academy and to West Point.
• Two more wins would offer the Lady Raiders their fourth consecutive state championship and 13th title in total.

How Baylor's Ella Metzner turned a friend's idea into a history-making football career. Joseph Spears USA TODAY High School Sports.

Since she could remember, Ella Metzner's life has revolved around soccer. Nevertheless, she didn't hesitate to say yes when a close friend asked if she'd want to join the football team in middle school.

Her friend ultimately backed out of that original plan. But Metzner stuck with it.

Ahead of junior season of high school, Metzner created the decision to transfer from Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Atlanta, to a national powerhouse to further her playing and academic career at The Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Her plan with the move wasn't just to join one of Tennessee's premier girls' soccer programs. She wanted be a part of one of the nation's best high school football programs as well.

Now in her senior year with a state title in both sports under her belt, that spark-of-an-idea created back in middle school has changed her life in ways she never could have imagined.

"Coming in last year was incredible. Being able to say that I won two state championships in the same season is a really special accomplishment, " Metzner remarked in an interview with USA TODAY Sports. "It took a lot of hard work and hours behind the scenes doing things that people don't see but it was incredible." Making friends and history in Chattanooga.

Though she admits there was a bit of awkwardness at the start, baylor was quick to welcome Metzner.

"When I first said that I was coming to Baylor, I had so many people reach out and there was definitely a little bit of an awkward beginning of like, 'Oh, there's a girl on the team, '" Metzner remarked. "A lot of guys didn't really know how to act or speak to me but that didn't last long, and they've really opened up so much and made me feel like a part of the team."

She notes fellow Baylor kicker Sam Shutters was the first player to reach out to her before she had even began her junior season. Metzner arrived in Chattanooga for soccer tryouts and while she was there, she and Shutters kicked a ball around, rapidly becoming friends.

For Shutters, he knew just what she was getting into, joining a Red Raiders program that had rapidly established itself not only as one of the best in Tennessee, but one that had kicked off to become known nationally.

I wanted to talk to her because this is a difficult program to come into and I had a person I could talk to when I first came here, Shutters remarked. I wanted to be that person for her since I know it's hard with her being a female and coming into a male football team. It's been awesome having her here.

"It's been awesome seeing her do everything she's done, especially with all of the students that come to our games. I love being the first person to congratulate her every time she comes off of the field."

Baylor head coach Erik Kimrey was just as impressed with her when she first approached him regarding playing on the football team.

Beyond the leg talent that she has, Metzner's ability to balance being the soccer team's starting goalie, playing football and her academics is what has stood out to him.

"I thought it was awesome when she first came to me saying she wanted to play. It takes a lot of courage for a young lady to want to play the sport, " Kimrey remarked. "Clearly it's not something that a lot of individuals do but all of the guys on our team universally respect Ella – not just for her ability as a kicker, but for who she is as a human being. She's just an impressive young lady who works to achieve excellence in every endeavor in her life."

In every opportunity Kimrey and the Red Raiders' coaching staff have given her over the last two seasons, Metzner's delivered. That's why when there was an opportunity to create history against the Red Raiders' biggest rival on Oct. 2, there was no hesitation.

Facing crosstown rival McCallie (TN) in one of the biggest and longest rivalries in state history, Kimrey and the rest of the Baylor coaching staff offered Metzner an opportunity to etch her name into the record book, becoming the first female player to score a point in the rivalry's 120-year history.

"It was an easy decision, " Kimrey remarked. "She's been putting in a lot of hard work over the last two years and has been super consistent every time she's gone in to kick. I felt like this was a really unique opportunity for Baylor to shine and show the diversity we have within our culture, our school and our team." The decision proved to be a no-doubter.

Metzner discovered out the night before the game and was given not just one opportunity – but three as she converted on all three extra point attempts she was given in the Red Raiders' 49-7 victory.

It was definitely nerve-wracking, she remarked. Before the game I was really nervous and freaking out inside, but I tried not to show it. I knew that I was going to have the backing of my coaches and teammates no matter what happened.

"It was just a really special moment just to be able to put my name in the history book." Is football or soccer in Ella Metzner's future?

For Metzner, this year is the last of her playing career when it comes both to football and soccer.

She has intends on applying to both the Naval Academy and to West Point. But before hopefully taking that next step in her life, she still has at least one more game with the game she first loved as a child, and is hopeful for another month with the sport she's grown to love over the last five years.

Metzner lately led Baylor's girl's soccer team to another shutout win in the state quarterfinals and set up a gathering with Harpeth Hall in the state semifinals on Oct. 28. Two more wins would offer the Lady Raiders their fourth consecutive state championship and 13th title in total.

To win again would be state title No. 3 during her time at Baylor. The fourth could come during the first weekend of December with the football team.

Ranked as the No. 12 team in USA TODAY Sports latest Super 25 football rankings, Baylor is the only team ranked in Tennessee. During her time with playing with them, Metzner has never experienced a loss as the program is at present on a 21-game winning streak since the start of last season.

I think the senior class's record speaks for itself, Kimrey remarked. To me, we have some super talented players in the class but they're all such high character and selfless kids. They put their teammates before themselves all the time and they're genuinely just good individuals.

"The legacy that Ella and the rest of the seniors leave is going to be tough to match but it's one I welcome because it's a great standard for the younger players."

That legacy is one that Metzner isn't taking for granted, but one she remarked she'll think concerning more once the season is over. If the soccer team does create it to the championship game, then she'll have her final regular season football game the next day as they travel to Knoxville for a gathering with Knoxville Catholic.

From there, it's a straight shot back to the Division II-AAA championship game if the team takes care of business in the postseason like plenty of expect it too. Anything less than that wouldn't seem right to Metzner.

This team is really special, and I think it will go down as one of the best teams in Baylor history, she remarked. It's been such an incredible ride and it's sad to think that's almost over. I'll always remember all of the backing I've gotten since arriving on campus not just from the athletic side but from my teachers and friends.

"Everyone here just cares so much regarding the students and the athletes as they just want us all to succeed to the best of our abilities. The amount of backing I've gotten is something I'll never forget or take for granted. I just love being at Baylor."

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