3 sports, no problem for Bartlett High School's Dani VanOrd

Twice a week, Dani VanOrd participates in three sports.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, the Bartlett High School senior first hits the field for flag football practice. Next, she dons football pads and puts a helmet over her blond ponytail for practice with the Golden Bears varsity football team. Then, she's off to practice with Crossfire Alaska for her first love — soccer.

It makes for a tiresome schedule, but VanOrd wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'm glad I'm playing as many sports as I can my senior year," she said. "I feel like I'll regret it down the road if I don't do it."

VanOrd — a lifelong soccer player and a three-year varsity flag football player  — joined the tackle football team as a kicker this season after taking weightlifting classes from football co-coach Daniel Esparza and talking with former soccer teammate Kasila Carey, who kicked for the Golden Bears last season.

"I heard the boys talking about how they needed another girl kicker," VanOrd said. "Then Kasila talked to me about it. She brought me out for a tryout and they said 'OK.' "

Bartlett football coach John Jessen said VanOrd was nervous kicking early in the season, but it hasn't shown up in her stats. She has made 23 of 27 extra-point attempts.

"We're notoriously bad at kicking, so we've had to reach into the female population and she has done a great job," Jessen said. "As far as kicking through the uprights — she's the best kicker we've had here in almost 20 years. She's good."

In her best showing, VanOrd nailed seven straight extra points in a lopsided 49-7 win over North Pole on Aug. 27.

"I kind of just try to clear my head and not think of anything other than the ball and the (posts)," she said.

VanOrd hasn't attempted a field goal yet, but Jessen said she'll be ready if called upon. Her longest in practice is 40 yards.

VanOrd and the Golden Bears are the only undefeated team in Cook Inlet Conference play at 4-0, and they hold the No. 1 spot in the large-school football poll.

In flag football, VanOrd has more responsibilities. The 5-foot-4 senior plays running back, wide receiver, backup quarterback, cornerback and safety.

It's not out of the ordinary for her to play all of those positions in the same game.

"There's nothing really she can't do when she puts her mind to it," said flag football coach Clarence Smith Jr. "A few weeks ago against Eagle River, she had 90-plus yards rushing, six flag pulls, an interception and 200-something yards receiving, and she threw a pass in the game, so there's nothing she can't do."

VanOrd was the only returning senior skill-position player for the Golden Bears this season, and she has helped mentor freshman quarterback Aiyanna Lauofo.

"If I'm open, Aiyanna just sees it," VanOrd said. "She's a really good quarterback being a freshman. It kind of sucks 'cause I'm a senior and won't be here next year to play with her again."

Smith, who is also Bartlett's girls basketball coach, said VanOrd has helped him in his first season as the flag football coach.

"She knows some of the teams that we're playing against and their tendencies, so her and I talk about game-planning before the game," Smith said. "She's like a coach on the field."

Twice this fall, VanOrd has had flag football and football games on the same day, but because they were at different times, she was able to play in both.

She missed a couple of flag practices early in the season because of a soccer conflict, but has otherwise avoided having to choose between her three sports thanks in part to flexible and understanding coaches.

"My thing is I would never limit a child and say you can only confine yourself to one sport," Smith said. "If she can do three, by all means I'm going to support her to do three to the best of my ability."

If there is a conflict, soccer comes first. The high school season is in the spring but she's currently training with her club team, Alaska Crossfire, which is headed to a tournament Outside next month.

VanOrd said soccer is her No. 1 sport and she hopes to play it in college.

"This past March, we were in Las Vegas and I ended up getting three or four goals in one game," VanOrd said. "There was a college coach that was watching me and he'd seen me in a game before.

"… I thought it was super cool."

Whether she's wearing soccer cleats or football cleats, flags or football pads, VanOrd enjoys being on the field, and her teams enjoy having her.

"I'm pleased with her attitude and pleased with her tenacity," Jessen said. "… She's just a girl who likes to play sports."