She was totally mainstreamed, popular, and funny, attending every football game. Then came her senior year. She would be considered for scholarships; however school activities, especially sports, could often mean the difference between receiving an award or losing out.

So Jenny came to a decision; and in her quirky, unorthodox manner, she began to bombard the high school football coach. She begged. She pleaded. She promised. She got her best friend to sign up with her. Finally the coach gave in, with the admonition, “If you miss ONE game, you’re out!” So, Jenny became Manager of the Garrett High School Football Team.

She carried big buckets of water to her teammates. She bandaged knees and ankles before every game. She massaged necks and backs. She gave pep talks. She was continually at their beck and call, and it turned out to be one of the best years for Garrett High School Football Team, in its history.

When asked why he thought that the team was winning all their games, even in the face of injury, one linebacker explained, in his soft, Charleston

drawl, “Well, when you’ve been knocked down, and you can’t seem to move, you look up and see Jenny Lewis, limping across the field, dragging her buckets and carrying her pillow.

It makes anything the rest of us may suffer seem pretty insignificant.”

At the awards ceremony, Jenny received a number of scholarships to College of Charleston. Her favorite scholarship, was a small one from the Charleston Women’s Club. The President of the Women’s Club listed Jenny’s accomplishments, starting with her grades, and ending with an excited, “...and the first girl to letter in football, in Garrett High School history!!”

— inspirationalstories.com (concluded)