Local Girl Football Player Invited To Youth Pro Bowl In Florida

Family Seeking Sponsors To Help With Expenses

EC youth football player Bristol Butler is reportedly the only female invited to play in the 2021 Youth Pro Bowl.

Darren Doyle, story: submitted photos:
One local youth football player has hopes of heading south to Florida in a few weeks to participate in the Youth Pro Bowl 2021 event. More significantly, she's the only female football player that's been accepted to the event, according to her parents.

Bristol Butler, a 4th grade student at Kyrock Elementary and a member of the Edmonson County Youth Football League, along with her parents, James and Destiny Butler of Mammoth Cave, are looking to make the trip to Orlando for the event that will be held January 27 -31. 

Bristol Butler, 4th grade football player from Mammoth Cave.

EC youth football player Bristol Butler is reportedly the only female invited to play in the 2021 Youth Pro Bowl.

Bristol, who is 10 years old, has been playing football for three years and also plays soccer and softball. Her parents say she is one of only three female footballers in the local youth league. In addition to sports, her parents say that she's also active in the community, at least before the pandemic altered many activities.

"Before COVID, she would come with me to the nursing home and visit," said her mother, Destiny. "She would sing and paint the residents' fingernails." Mrs. Butler also said Bristol participates each year in her school's canned food drive.

While plans have been made for Bristol to participate in the national event, the family is a bit concerned about the cost of the trip, which includes event registration, hotel and fuel expenses, and food, which is estimated to be over $1000. They say it's even more difficult now since both James and Destiny lost their jobs due to the pandemic. They are seeking donations from the community to help them make the trip.

"We both worked for a seasonal cleaning company which shut down early due to COVID and has yet to reopen, but my husband has filed for unemployment," she said. "We’re barely scraping by with that right now. With our house payment and bills it would be impossible to save up enough in the time frame."

EC youth football player Bristol Butler is reportedly the only female invited to play in the 2021 Youth Pro Bowl.

Kyrock Principal Shaun Stice described Bristol as "a good kid."

"She's a good student and well behaved," he added.

Mrs. Butler said they're doing all they can to see that Bristol has the opportunity to play in the national event.

"I know every parent says this, but Bristol really is an amazing little girl and she deserves every opportunity," she said. "She makes amazing grades, she is a great big sister to her 4 year-old sister Anniston, and she has big dreams. She absolutely LOVES football and we just want to help her go as far as she can."

A message sent to the Youth Pro Bowl organization was not immediately returned.

If you'd like to donate to Bristol's cause, you can contact Mrs. Destiny Butler by call or texting 270-246-1075.