Franklin flag football player recognized by the Green Bay Packers

FRANKLIN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Kaylee Knaak always wanted to play.

"I always went to my brother's football games. No matter when they were or where they were," Kaylee Knaak says.

And now, she has that chance.

"Powder puff? I was like, I love football. I want something more. I need more," Knaak says.

The Franklin senior along with her brother Kobe, wanted to start a flag football team.

"Our first little presentation, or meeting, I guess? No one came. So, we got really nervous that no one wanted to do it," Knaak says.

"Just to see her thrive and be a leader and grow up as a woman. It's really cool," Franklin Flag Football Head Coach and Kaylee's brother Kobe Knaak says. "And obviously I'm glad to be a part of it from a coaching side of things but also from a brother's side of things. It's really cool to see."

And seeing her talent, is believing. She's the Packers Girls National Flag Football High School Player of the Year nominee.

"I was in pure shock. This was such an honor to me. I didn't think I was at this level to be player of the year. Even being our first year," Kaylee Knaak says.

One year, because before that Kaylee was into competitive dance, not other sports. 

"Dance helped me become a better flag football person because I had the mentality," Knaak says. "I had the leadership. And honestly? I like to jump, so when I go up for an interception or anything I know how to do it. There were some days where I had a six-hour choreography for pom. And then I went to flag football practice for two hours right after."

"Coming from the dance realm? Usually, you don't expect a dance girl to be the girls flag football player of the year nomination," Kobe Knaak says. "For her to kind of break those barriers and be an inspiration to younger girls that are hey, maybe they're in kindergarten, first, second, third grade and now they're dancing. But they have brothers or they have family members or they're just watching the Packers on Sunday. Maybe they're like, dang, like I can do that."

"I wanna break the barrier of what not even girls but everyone what they can and can't do. If you're passionate about it? You need to go after it and do whatever is needed. Even though some people aren't gonna like it but no matter what in life? You're not gonna get everyone's acceptance and that's what I had to realize. Get a lot of people like oh, well this isn't a sport. But to me it is," Kaylee Knaak says.

Not the only hurdle Kaylee overcomes. She's also a type one diabetic.

"With flag football, it's a lot of running which obviously causes my blood sugar to go down and up," Kaylee Knaak says.

Kobe and Kaylee aren't just family off the field. They're family on the field, too.

"My brother always carries my phone in the pocket because my phone connects to my sensor," Kaylee Knaak says. "So he'll get the alerts. He'll hear the beeps and be like, okay I gotta go drink my juice box. Sit on the sidelines. Have my snack. Sit out for five minutes. And it's the worst five minutes of my life."

But nothing will stand in her way from making more impact moments.

"My overall goal is I would love to be on an NFL flag team. That would be huge," Kaylee Knaak says. "To be like, supported by a country, by a community. I definitely want to say a big thank you to the Green Bay Packers for nominating me because that's such an honor. And I'm gonna remember this the rest of my life."