Bethany Evans earned a personal training certificate from National Academy of Sports Medicine and is now enrolled at Illinois Institute of Technology, studying mechanical engineering.
She also is a national champion—a member of the Chicago Force women's tackle football team, which claimed the title in the Women's Football Alliance ( WFA ) in 2013. Evans sports Force jersey No. 23 and plays cornerback and on the team's special teams unit.
"I watched a few games when I first moved to Chicago and became friends with a few of the girls on the team," Evans said. "I decided to join [the team] to become a part of a community."
Evans said her highlight from the 2013 season was moments before the championship game, played last August in San Diego, when the team was meeting in a hotel conference room.
"The passion inside each person was emanating and contagious. Every struggle or insecurity dissolved by the strength of the girl next to her. We wanted that win and would not accept [a loss]. That moment will stay with me forever," Evans said.
Evans praised teammate Dawn Pederson for helping her improve. Pederson met Evans after practice and helped Evans develop muscle memory "to hit the person in front of me and run around," she said. "We were playing against Atlanta and the linemen were much bigger than me. I'll never forget the opposing lineman screamed, 'You've got heart, 23' a fter I successfully executed a move that Dawn had spent so long [practicing] with me."
Evans has been a counselor for admitted psychiatric patients for almost two years. "I ensure safety and facilitate psycho-educational groups, observe and record behaviors of the residents, as well as therapeutically adapt responses and programming to patient needs and redirect when patients act inappropriately," she said. "Everyone at work is very supportive of me playing tackle football, though I had to explain it was not lingerie or flag football several times."
Evans admitted that her family was worried when she joined the Force that she would get injured. Ultimately, her family became her "biggest fans," she said. "It meant the world to me having my family present for the game in Detroit."
THE STATS
Age
25
Neighborhood
Wrigleyville
Relationship status
"I like to keep my dating life private, but will say that I'm very happy."
Orientation
"I identify as a lesbian. When it comes to girls, I can't help the urge of holding awkward prolonged eye contact praying they are as interested as I am."
Sporting background
Captain of her track team in high school, played rugby for Michigan State
Hobbies
"Anything spontaneous/different. I love going on random trips and trying new things. I'm an adrenaline seeker. I rock climb, actual rocks, and climb up buildings. I snowboard, hike, and do races like the Warrior Dash and Tough Mudder."
Favorite TV shows
The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Dexter
Favorite movie
"I couldn't pick a favorite movie, but love action/adventure [movies] and horror [movies] are good to watch with someone [who] will get scared."
Favorite pizza topping
Pepperoni
Little-known fact
"Am a Bloody Mary connoisseur, am fluent in German, and a thrill-seeker dying to try skydiving and base-jumping."
