Abby Vestal had thought about it, but the Lawrence High girls soccer standout never had the guts to ask.

Turns out, she didn’t have to. LHS football coach Dirk Wedd came to her instead.

While lifting weights this summer for basketball conditioning, Vestal was approached by Wedd with an offer she couldn’t refuse.

“He told me, ‘I heard you have the best leg around,'” Vestal said, “and asked me if I would try out to kick.”

Without hesitation, the junior agreed. And then immediately called her family and friends with the good news.

“I was excited for her,” said Abby’s father, Dale Vestal. “Honestly, I think football has always been her favorite sport. She absolutely loves it.”

Vestal made good on her promise Monday, showing up for the first day of Lawrence High football practice.

“She’s got a strong leg, and she’s very competitive,” Lawrence High football coach Dirk Wedd said.

“She’s a quality young person, and you can never have too many of those people on your team,” Wedd said.

Lawrence High junior Abby Vestal practices with her Kansas Soccer Academy club team. Vestal, shown Monday at Langston Hughes Elementary, could kick for the LHS football team this fall.

Vestal said she had received nothing but support from her teammates, but she also is working hard to earn their favor.

“I would do anything the coaches asked me to,” Vestal said. “If they said to go play another position, I’d do it. I’m trying hard every practice and lifting more weights to try to get the whole team’s respect.”

As a sophomore midfielder for the LHS soccer team last year, Vestal earned second-team all-Sunflower League honors. She will compete for the placekicking job with junior Chris Cates, who has an extra year’s worth of experience.

“I know it’s going to be competitive,” Vestal said, “because we’re both soccer players.”

Lawrence High running back Nathan Hickey said the players had no problems with accepting Vestal as a teammate.

Lawrence High's Abby Vestal takes a water break with her Kansas Soccer Academy teammates during practice Monday.

“Any help we can get is good,” Hickey said, “no matter who they are.”

In addition to football practices, Vestal also will play with her select soccer team during the fall.

She is working on kicking a football on the fly and improving her footwork in the backyard with her family and also at practice.

Most of all, Vestal said she looked forward to challenging herself.

“I’ll be excited if I can kick for a football team – for a guy’s team,” Vestal said. “It’s a situation to prove to yourself what you can and can’t do.”

Wedd said she would receive every opportunity to gain the starting spot.

“She has to earn the position,” Wedd said. “I think she’s got a chance.”