Wright knows PP&K

Published 6:00 am Monday, January 7, 2008

Laura Beth Wright doesn’t expect to be playing in the NationalFootball League some day even though she has exceptional footballskills for a 13-year-old. Wright’s latest foray in the Punt, Pass& Kick competition will carry the Brookhaven teenager and herparents to Indianapolis, Ind., for the Colts’ playoff game nextSunday.

Wright, 5-foot-7, will compete against other girls her age inthe RCA Dome at halftime of the playoff game. A sellout crowd willwitness the event. She qualified by winning the local competitionon Brookhaven’s King Field, followed by state competition inJackson and the regional challenge in the New OrleansSuperdome.

The finalists at each NFL city had their distances totaled byPPK officials. The statistics were fed into the computer and thefinalists were determined for the AFC and NFC playoff games.

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Wright was successful last year as a 12-year-old but her totalyardage fell short of qualifying after competing in NewOrleans.

No matter what the outcome, it will be a rewarding,all-expenses-paid trip for Wright and her parents, Rick and DwanaWright. Besides New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, her favoriteNFL player in Colts’ signal caller Peyton Manning.

“I like to watch Brees and Manning on TV,” said Wright. Herfavorite part of the PPK competition is the forward pass.

“I like the pass best,” said Wright. Her best throw is 105feet.

“I really enjoy (competition),” said Wright. “It’s a lot of fun.Some kids say I should be playing football for the guy teams.”

She said she has no intention of playing varsity or juniorvarsity football. She prefers basketball and softball. She excelsas a center on BA’s junior high team and stars as apitcher/shortstop on the varsity softball squads.

“Our coaches ask all the time if I’m going to play high schoolfootball,” said Wright. “I haven’t thought much about it.”

Part of an athletic family, she was encouraged by her father totry PPK. “My dad told me to try it and I said, ‘OK. I’ll give it atry.'”

In her younger days, Wright preferred gymnastics andcheerleading for six or seven years. Her mother was a gymnasticsinstructor and is a former owner of a local gymnasium.

Asked about improvement in her football skills, Wright said, “Mypunting has gotten a lot better. I used to always shank it. Then Ifigured out what I was doing wrong.”

When she isn’t playing basketball or softball, Wrightconcentrates on her school work. “History is my best subject.”

In the future, Wright said she might pursue a career in athletictraining.

Surprisingly, she doesn’t practice throwing and kicking thefootball very much. “Sometimes my dad will get out there and throwit with me.”

She said two of her uncles, Reggie Lea and Todd Lea, willoccasionally practice with her. Both were standouts in high schoolathletics.

Much of her practice time is spent warming up before theofficial competition begins.

Her mother, Dwana, said she enjoys watching her daughterparticipate in PPK. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s neat seeing hercompete.”

They agree that the trip to Indianapolis will be an excitingadventure.