Ohio Wesleyan Helps Celebrate
National Girls & Women in Sports Day

OHIO WESLEYAN helped celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day by hosting a girls sports clinic prior to the Battling Bishops’ women’s basketball game against Kenyon on Saturday, Jan. 31.

The event began with clinics hosted by the Ohio Wesleyan women's lacrosse, women's soccer, softball, and women's tennis teams from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., followed by a picnic from 12:30-1 p.m. in Gordon Field House and then the Battling Bishop-Kenyon women’s basketball game tipping off at 1 p.m. in the adjoining Branch Rickey Arena.

Admission to the clinic was free for girls in kindergarten through sixth grade, and the picnic was free of charge for clinic participants. Admission to the basketball game was free as well.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day was Wednesday, Feb. 4. Thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, students, and parents across the country showed their support of the day and of this year's theme, "Look Who's Playing!" NGWSD is celebrated in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports.

"This is an opportunity to further promote the growth in women's athletics, not only at the college level but in high school and below," says Roger Ingles, Ohio Wesleyan athletics director. "Women's athletics (at Ohio Wesleyan) has come a long way since the North Coast Athletic Conference started in 1984, but we still have a long way to go in bringing equity to men's and women's athletics nationally."

NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women’s sports. Hyman died of Marfan’s Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.