By Alison Decker
NASHVILLE, TN — The new Tennessee Trojans women’s tackle football team was formed by U.S. Army veteran, Rachel Ortiz-Marsh. The women’s league is in association with Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC) and talent is picked through referral and an annual National try-out day hosted in the fall. The Trojans will be the 18th team to join the WNFC.
Ortiz-Marsh had the idea of forming a women’s tackle football team when attending a family member’s sporting event while sitting in the bleachers observing the players, coach and spectators. Ortiz-Marsh said, “Sports have always given me a sense of belonging as a Hispanic woman and, as a child, specifically taught me a sense of time and impact in the community. I wanted to have a sense of purpose again and women’s tackle football team has given me that.”
“When looking for talent we are looking for excellent, fierce competitors who have the passion for the sport and want to play,” she added.
Ortiz-Marsh, after retiring from the Army base located in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, began spending more time with women’s tackle football. She has been around football since 2017 and worked her way up from general manger to co-owner and now owner of another local Davidson County women’s tackle football team.
The Trojans are set to launch sometime in 2023 to allot time to form the tackle football team, train, and practice on the field. Networking and team support is a priority for Ortiz-Marsh and is dependent on the livelihood of the organization; current sponsors are Adidas and Riddel. The Trojans will be wearing Adidas shirts and Riddel uniforms and helmets. Currently Ortiz-Marsh is in the ongoing process of meeting tangible sponsors and teams on social media and meeting with like-minded individuals to form the foundation of the women’s tackle football team.
“Our mission is to help women and girls reach their fullest potential through the power of spot has expanded even further today. The WNFC is a very strategic and mindful about expansion and the partnerships that are right for the betterment of women’s football,” said Janice Masters, Commissioner of the WNFC, in a press release for the Trojans.
“We are incredibly thrilled to partner with Rachael and her team as we continue to lead the way in creating the most provocative women’s sports league in history. Nashville has always been a sports city with a huge opportunity for the growth of women’s sports. These factors make this an ideal partnership and we couldn’t be more thrilled. We are looking forward to exciting competition from the Tennessee Trojans in 2023!”
Women’s Football World Out of Season (OTA’s) training is held during the summer and is a hybrid of indoor and outdoor training in the gym and on the field in the elements.
Oriz Marsh said, “Safety is our number one priority and we will adjust OTA’s as needed due to climate conditions.”
Many of the women interested in the Trojans are players for other in-season women’s football teams and because of that, Ortiz-Marsh is diligent on when and where the team will practice and play games. “A lot of women tackle hits in season so we try not to pull them from one team to another while respecting the other team’s authority,” Ortiz-Marsh said.
There are currently 45 available spots on the team. Stay up-to-date on changes to the schedule and tryouts by subscribing to their newsletters at www.tennesseetrojans.com. Business inquiries, including becoming a brand partner or investor should be directed to tntrojans@wnfcfootball.com.
