From soldier’s child to professional footballer

July 10, 2024

Taylor Terry, Starting Defensive End for the Cincinnati Cougars (courtesy of Taylor Terry)

As a child of a soldier, we have many unique opportunities. From living abroad to meeting celebrities, we have the chance to do so many amazing things.

I had the great opportunity to graduate from high school in Wiesbaden at the General HH Arnold Gymnasium (now Wiesbaden High School) from 2008 to 2011.

During this time I participated in tennis, softball and basketball competitions. In Wiesbaden I had the opportunity to watch and participate in European events in each of these sports. In basketball I was even part of the winning Lady Warriors team in 2010! We secured the championship and came very close again the next year.

Taylor Terry (Dore) at Wiesbaden High School, 2010-2011 (provided by Taylor Terry)

During that time in Wiesbaden, Tom Rooney, Jim Campbell, Mook Alexander and Linnea Velsvaag helped me develop into the competitor and adult I am today. The coaches in all of those sports instilled in me a hard work ethic, sportsmanship and determination to show up every day and improve my skills. I’m not sure they knew how important those lessons would be, but I can say that the tips and tricks taught me by some of my best mentors are still useful today in 2024.

After graduating from Wiesbaden, I moved to Maine to study, where I earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Maine. I then had the opportunity to work for the Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) and the Walt Disney Company. Along the way, I got married and became a mother.

After all these adventures, I couldn’t imagine ever being an athlete again. Then I found out about the Women’s Football Alliance’s National Try Out Day on Facebook. Suddenly I was back in a sport where I could use the skills I had learned from coaches in the past.

Taylor Terry, Starting Defensive End for the Cincinnati Cougars (courtesy of Taylor Terry)

At 31 years old and over a decade after playing in Wiesbaden, I am participating in the Division III National Conference Championship in my home state of Maine, with the best group of women, the Semi-professional tackle football team of the Cincinnati Cougars in the women’s football alliance.

Playing as a starting defensive end for the Cougars has been a steep but rewarding learning curve. It has opened up many unique opportunities for me, from being a front row guest on Travis and Jason Kelce’s podcast to representing the city of Cincinnati across the country. As a team, we hope to add the title of National Champions to our list of experiences with the Cougars!

2024 Cincinnati Cougars Semi Pro Tackle Football Team (provided by Taylor Terry)

When I think back to my time abroad and the task ahead of me to make it to the national championships, I am eternally grateful to the coaches of my past and the athlete they trained me to be!