One player has made an impact on the varsity football squad for three years while another has jumped on board the gridiron for her first season.

Meet Juanita High’s Romeon Greve and Ruthie Childers, both seniors who are part of a Rebels team that has bolted out to a 3-1 overall record this fall and left last year’s one-win season deep in the past.

“Last year I was disappointed, but I never doubted my team and a turn-around. So just the feeling that I was right that we would turn around is just the best feeling in the world,” said Greve, a defensive end and tight end. “You have to get the little details right to really get the outcome that you want.”

Those details include having the right steps, keeping their pad level low and more, said Greve, who aims to contribute big blocks and key defensive plays, “flying around and doing everything I can.”

Team bonding is huge for the Rebels and Greve feels the players really want to unleash solid performances each game.

Childers did just that on Sept. 21 when she made her first appearance of the season on several plays at the end of the fourth quarter in the Rebels’ 53-21 victory over Lynnwood.

It was fun, she laughs, of her time on the defensive line and at right guard. She can’t remember exactly how many plays she got in on, though.

“I don’t know, I was too excited,” she said with a smile. “I worked the guy, but I didn’t get a tackle. He was really upset that I was a girl and I was kind of beating him up a little bit.”

Childers isn’t the first girl to rough it up on the gridiron at Juanita High. Kat Bechtel played varsity ball before graduating in 2015 and Da’Mae Birdsong played on junior varsity last year, said Childers, noting that Bechtel provided inspiration to get her on the field.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, about 2,400 girls played football during the 2017-2018 season.

Greve noted about Childers: “It’s just like having another teammate on the team. She’s very enthusiastic during games, she dances, she just brings energy.”

It’s Childers’ first year on the gridiron and she said it’s been a life-changing experience. She swam for 12 years and played soccer for seven years and now it’s football time.

“I just wanted to trying something different out of the box. I don’t like to do the ordinary stuff,” said Childers, who has an older sister and no brothers to get her fired up about the sport.

“I personally like hanging out with guys more, ‘cause it’s less drama. It’s a lot more normal for me, I think,” she said.

• The Reporter asked Greve and Childers a series of questions for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lives:

What’s your favorite restaurant in Kirkland?

Greve: Wingdome.

Childers: My kitchen, I love my mom’s cooking.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Greve: When people don’t listen to me, that really gets under my skin.

Childers: When people don’t clean up after themselves and litter.

What’s your dream vacation spot?

Greve: The Bahamas. I missed out on it last year because of football, and my whole family went, so I really wanna go.

Childers: I’ve always wanted to go to Jamaica, that’s been on my mind recently.

What’s something unique about yourself that someone doesn’t know?

Greve: I can play the drums and the piano.

Childers: I’m really good at opera singing. That’s my party trick, my secret talent.

Who was your idol growing up?

Greve: My dad, the way he raises me, the way he carries himself, the man I wanna be.

Childers: My mom, ‘cause she’s my best friend, she’s one of the most amazing women in the world. I really adore my mother.

What’s your favorite kind of music?

Greve: Rap (NBA YoungBoy is one of his go-tos.)

Childers: I like R & B. I like all music, just depends on the mood, I’ve been in a very big Cardi B mood recently, she’s awesome.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Greve: “Space Jam.”

Childers: I love “La La Land.”

Juanita High players got Romeon Greve to crack up before practice. Andy Nystrom / staff photo