Cuppens’ kick heard around Calcasieu Parish

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - Football fans have seen it many times before: a game that’s decided by a slim margin.

For the Westlake Rams, the program knows all too well how vital each extra point can be.

“We struggled to find a kicker last season,” said Westlake football head coach John Richardson. “Last year we pretty much struggled in the kicking game, and we lost a couple of games by one point.”

Enter Alicia Cuppens, who was one day in driver’s education when her instructor, Coach Richardson, approached her to kick for his squad.

“I remember asking her about it because I knew she used to play soccer, and she told me that she would try if I let a girl on the team,” explained Richardson.

“At first I was like… uh… like no, because I’m like the only girl. And you don’t really expect that… like a girl to be on the football team,” Cuppens said.

“So I let her come and try just to see if she could kick and sure enough she could and she’s getting better at it each day,” added Richardson.

After many summer practices, Cuppens suited up in the orange and black as a kicker when the Rams opened their varsity season at Rosepine.

“When I first went out there, I like I was a little nervous cause like you could see it too because I chopped whenever I went to go kick, I started chopping,” she said.

It wouldn’t be until the third quarter, following a Westlake touchdown, that Cuppens was put to the test.

“I was really scared because like if I would’ve missed it, people would’ve been like ‘why would she miss that we need a point.’ So like when I first went on the field, I was like praying like I’d make it,” Alicia said

The ball made it through the uprights, marking her first extra point of the season. Cuppens is believed to be the first female football player at Westlake High School. Additionally, it is believed she is the first female to represent a Calcasieu Parish school and score a point in a regular season varsity game.

“It was exciting for her and exciting for the community and everything,” Richardson explained. “I think everybody is gathered behind her and we’re really supporting her on this. And all of our players support her as well. They know she can help the team win and that’s what it’s all about.”

While last week’s victory for Westlake wasn’t decided by an extra point, it signified something deeper.

“I think it’s cool because like I was the first girl to like make history here,” said Cuppens. “For me, it means like any girl can do whatever they want to do.”

“Whenever you’re the first one to come through and do it, it definitely encourages others that ‘hey maybe if she did it, I can do it as well,’” Richardson added.

A message Cuppens hopes inspires other girls to try the sport.

“If you’re a girl, I think you should try it. Like if you’re a girl and you want to try out for football, you should try it and you shouldn’t like care what other people think,” she said.