Columbus Welcomes



THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

SPORTS THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2013

C9

Women’s football

Columbus Welcomes PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM KLESSE

The Columbus Comets’ Kim Klesse (41) is one of 45 players selected to compete for the U.S. team that will play in the world championship, which starts on Sunday.

Klesse to put football skills on world stage “There was a lot of anticipation,” Klesse said. “Every day after the tryout you wake up and you’re Kim Klesse has always trying not to think about loved football. From her it.” days as a 10-year-old in The U.S. coaches saw Reynoldsburg to her curthe traits that Patterson rent career as a tight end and Barnes had been for the Columbus Comets watching for years. of the Women’s Football “She’s a very talented Alliance, Klesse has found receiver,” Konecki said. from most players. joy in hitting people and “She has good hands. She “No (team) has an insimply being around the runs good routes. She side receiver that can do game. does a nice job on the the blocking and do the “I’ve always played perimeter as far as stock backyard football with the inside drag routes,” Patterson said. “That’s where blocking is concerned. boys,” Klesse said. “I’ve Most importantly, she’s a she’s making a name for just always liked football very a good teammate since I was really little. It’s herself.” The first women’s world and she’s extremely been the one super conchampionship took place coachable.” stant thing in my life.” But it wasn’t a happily in 2010. The U.S. domKlesse started playing ever after for Klesse yet. inated the tournament, for the Comets in 2004 She works full time at when she was just 17. Her winning the championship game 66-0 over Can- Aspen Community Living, parents had to sign a a rehabilitation center consent form so she could ada. that helps adults with Samantha Rapoport, play professionally. developmental disabilUSA Football director of Her football journey ities, and couldn’t afford has taken a new turn, one flag and female develto pay the $2,000 fee rethat is taking Klesse over- opment, said that the quired to play for the U.S. IFAF is trying to develop seas. She is one of 45 and initiate more interest team. women — and the only Klesse began researchOhioan — selected to play in women’s flag and tackle ing ways to raise money. football. for the U.S. women’s When Klesse discovered She found the site gonational team that will the opportunity to try out fundme.com, where peocompete in the eightple can set up a personal nation International Fed- for Team USA last year eration of American Foot- while surfing the Internet, page that allows friends and family to donate to ball women’s world cham- she couldn’t believe it. them. “This is real?” Klesse pionship from Sunday Since creating the page through July 6 in Finland. remembers asking herin January, Klesse has With a sturdy, 5-foot-10 self. In January, players from raised $2,250. frame, Klesse has the Now she can enjoy the all over the country arpower to provide a lead rived in Texas for a three- excitement of traveling to block and the hands to Finland to play in the day tryout. Klesse was reel in passes. worried about her chanc- tournament, as well as the “I think Kim Klesse is opportunity to help spur es of making the team the best tight end in the more interest in women’s because the offense run league,” Comets teamfootball. by U.S. coach John Komate Joanna Gardner “I know it is a tournanecki does not require a said. “Kim is really the ment,” she said, “but tight end. only one that I’ve seen in we’re really going to all be After the tryout, Klesse my experience that can there for each other and and the other hopefuls do it all.” just trying to promote the had to wait nearly a Comets coach Hank sport.” Patterson said that Kless- month before they [email protected] ceived the news. e’s tenacity separates her

By Isaac Teich

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Greater Columbus convention center

June 28-July 7

USA FENCING’S LARGEST TOURNAMENT EVER COMES TO COLUMBUS 4,000 ATHLETES 6,000 SPECTATORS 9,000 HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS $5M IN VISITOR SPENDING The USA Fencing National Championships are FREE to the public! www.usfencing.org

“I’ve just always liked football since I was really little. It’s been the one super constant thing in my life.” — Kim Klesse