Katie Hnida

Katie Hnida (born 1981) is a native of Colorado who, on December 25 of 2002 made history by becoming the first woman ever to play in a NCAA division 1 American football game, when she placed a kick for the University of New Mexico[?] team against UCLA at the Las Vegas Bowl[?].

She was the homecoming queen at Chatfield High School in Littleton, where she was a member of the football team. She tried 5 field goal kicks there and made four, and 87 extra points, making 83. She was a member of the varsity team, and was named one of America's 20 most influential teens by Teen People Magazine[?].

She joined her first NCAA Division I team when she entered the University of Colorado, joining their team as a walk-on freshman. She never saw play there, however, so after two years, she was released and she transferred to the University of New Mexico, where she once again made the football team as a walk-on, leading to her participation in the bowl game, where she made women's sports history the moment she kicked the football. Unfortunately, the kick was blocked.