Paige Bowman’s passion for football began one late fall day in 2011 when her cousin Shelby Horak invited her to a Pittsburgh Passion football game. Bowman was inspired at the thought of playing for this team, then soon after tried out for it and made the cut.

The Passion is a professional women’s tackle football league located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

As Bowman’s coach proceeded to e-mail her a congratulations on making the team, Paige took off airborne from her seat and immediately began calling her family.

“I was excited to be a part of something bigger than myself and high school sports because I have a chance to become a part of history,” said Bowman, 17. “I meet a variety of new people at each practice, since they’re always different players there training with me.”

Horak is a class of 2010 Southmoreland graduate and has been playing for the Passion since the 2011 season. She has been a starting center since 2012 and wishes to continue to play as well. Horak and Bowman are close as team members along with being family. They have grown up together since Bowman was 5 years old.

“I’m excited to have Paige on the team,” Horak said “It’s different because we’re the first set of cousins to play together.”

Bowman expects to become even more knowledgeable about football and use the skills she learns from playing by interacting with people and apply them to everyday life.

To Paige, the favorite part of the sport to her is the fact that it is unusual for girls to play football, and to be professional in it.

Ever since Bowman has experienced the feel of being a part of the team, she plans to pursue to try-out and play for the Passion until she can no longer participate.

“I’m really excited to be a part of this team because I have the opportunity to become a part of history. The things I do are the things I want to be remembered by,” Bowman said. “If I have made a difference in one person’s life it’s all worth it.”