Twinsburg mom goes from sidelines to offensive line

by Kristin Wedemeyer Goss

Less than a year ago, Heather Woods was the self-appointed team photographer and “snack mom” for her son’s football team. Today, she is getting ready for her rookie season with Cleveland’s professional women’s football team, the Fusion.

Woods, 40, has always been athletic. The Twinsburg native and R.B. Chamberlin graduate played basketball, volleyball, softball and tennis growing up and now is on coed softball and volleyball teams. Athleticism notwithstanding, Woods is surprised by her current sport of choice.

“I’ve honestly never been interested in football whatsoever, and I’ve always been against my kids playing the sport because of all the negativity that comes along with it, but this past fall, my youngest son expressed interest in playing, and I gave in and let him,” said Woods. “We both really enjoyed the excitement of the game, and I was there for every practice and game.”

Woods also got in the habit of throwing the ball around with the boys who showed up early for practice. Her “arm” caught the eye of coach Steve Rhynard, who suggested she try out for the Fusion.

“I had no idea what that was,” said Woods. “He explained that it was Cleveland’s women’s pro football team and sent me a link to the information.”

Woods took the leap and went to one of the Fusion’s open tryouts. That evening she was offered a spot as a player.

With that, Woods’ busy life became even busier as she looked to balance being a working single mom – employed as a human resources and payroll manager for a small military manufacturing company in Newbury – with training and practices. “Sometimes I feel like all I am is on the go, but you do what you have to in order to accomplish greatness,” said Woods. “Practices are in the evenings, so I have time to do dinner with my boys before I head out.”

Woods said her sons, Logan and Jeremy, sometimes tag along with her to practices. “I’m trying to set a good example by showing them that you can do anything you put your mind to,” she said. “That no one can hold you back from doing what you believe in.” 

Fusion Director of Football Operations and Assistant Head Coach Sam Jackson said Woods has continued to prove herself.

“Heather’s motivation and dedication in the off season is what led to her earning a roster spot,” said Jackson. “Heather is very coachable, and her development is going great. She’s picking up the playbook pretty well, which has enabled her to play several positions on the offensive line.”

Training and practices have allowed Woods to develop her skills and knowledge of the game. Over time, she will learn another important thing. “Like most rookies,” said Jackson, “Heather will have to develop mental toughness.”

Preseason training has wrapped up and Woods and her teammates are gearing up for their first game April 6 in Pittsburgh, followed by the home opener against the Indy Crash on April 13 at Mustang Stadium in Maple Heights.

“I am looking forward to so many things,” said Woods. “Playing with such a great group of women, that first win, the first hit to an opponent, family and friends coming out to support me and the team and the overall excitement of it being women’s football.”

Getting excited about women’s football and, in turn, getting support for girls and women in athletics, is one of the Fusion’s goals. “Our women see themselves as role models and barrier breakers,” Jackson said. “We have three goals: to inspire girls to play football, to change the how society views women’s sports and to win championships.”

Founded in 2001, the Fusion has combined its commitment to chalking up wins with giving back to the community, and in 2017 founded the non-profit Cleveland Women’s Football to further its dedication to increasing girls’ accessibility to athletics, women’s health and empowerment.

The Fusion’s regular season is short with four home games between now and June 8, followed by playoffs and the mid-July Women’s Football Alliance Championship.

The season started out with a hard-fought 26-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Passion, but the Fusion came back to win big at their April 13 home opener with a 46-0 shut out against the Capital City Savages. Their next home game is May 11 at Mustang Stadium in Maple Heights. Find team and ticket information at clevelandfusion.com.

Featured image photo caption: Heather Woods is a rookie offensive lineman – ahem, linewoman – on the Cleveland Fusion, a women’s professional football team. Photo courtesy of Cleveland Fusion