Temple University Athletics
2014 National Girls and Women in Sports Day at Temple
Photo by: Cameron Resnick
Temple Celebrates 2014 National Girls & Women in Sports Day
2.25.14 | Field Hockey, General, Women's Rowing, Women's Fencing, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball, Cheerleading
Event Video l Event Photo Gallery
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple University Athletics Department hosted an event on Monday, Feb. 24, celebrating the 28th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). Nearly 100 girls in eighth grade and below from the Philadelphia area came to Temple's Pearson-McGonigle Hall, where they participated in clinics with student-athletes from many of Temple's women's sports programs.
The event was a huge success, despite being rescheduled from Feb. 3 due to snow. After registering and collecting a gift bag, all participants gathered in the new Campus Rec gym to listen to an opening speech by Temple assistant track & field coach Shameka Marshall. Marshall was a two-time All-American at Rutgers University, and won a silver medal at the 2011 Pan American Games which she had on hand for everyone to see. After speaking about her experiences, the multi-talented Marshall also sang the national anthem.
The girls were then split into nine groups and spent the next hour and a half rotating between stations around the building which included volleyball, track & field, soccer, rowing, tennis, gymnastics, fencing, field hockey, cheer and dance and strength & conditioning.
One rotation stood out among the rest due in large part to the available facilities, as the women's gymnastics team had the groups come right into their gym and use many of the apparatuses. Junior Lauren Capone enjoyed seeing the change in the girls from when they came into the gym to when they left.
"For us the cool thing to see was that they came in and were terrified," she said, "but we got them to break out of their shell a bit and see that they can do some things they might have been scared of. Then they're really proud and they leave with a smile on their face after trying something they didn't think they could do."
The event was one of more than 1,000 such events taking place in all 50 states. For Temple, it is the second straight year of hosting, but the planning and execution were stepped up a notch thanks in large part to the efforts of assistant field hockey coach Kelly Driscoll and Assistant AD/Creative Services Kelli Sheesley. With help from other members of the athletics department and the campus community, the two were able to host an event they were truly proud of.
"We certainly couldn't have pulled this off without the efforts of a lot of other people," said Sheesley, who specifically gave credit to Margo Greicar, the Athletic Training Education Program Director, Temple Athletics Hall of Famer Tina Sloan Green, and to Dan O'Brien, the Assistant Managing Director with the City of Philadelphia. "After last year's event we started meeting regularly to ensure an even better event this year, and the hard work definitely paid off. All of the kids were happy and having a great time, and the parents and after-school group leaders were all so appreciative of the experience."
Knowing the participants would be hungry after a long day at school and a couple hours of sports, the planning committee was committed to getting donations of healthy food and water, and each girl was given another bag before leaving the event. The bags, donated by Fresh Grocer, included Primo Hoagies, water, granola bars and pretzels from Snyder's of Hanover. Eileen Bradley of Campus Safety Services, who has been involved with the event from the start, donated a couple hundred soft pretzels which were a huge hit with all the participants.
Throughout the entire event, all involved could see what a unique and valuable experience it was for both the student-athletes and the girls.
"I think it's a really special opportunity and something I don't think a lot of places will offer," said Capone. "Being around Division I athletes is inspiring to a lot of kids and will hopefully spark them to try something new or set a goal to become an athlete themselves."
NGWSD is officially celebrated on Feb. 6, with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports.
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple University Athletics Department hosted an event on Monday, Feb. 24, celebrating the 28th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). Nearly 100 girls in eighth grade and below from the Philadelphia area came to Temple's Pearson-McGonigle Hall, where they participated in clinics with student-athletes from many of Temple's women's sports programs.
The event was a huge success, despite being rescheduled from Feb. 3 due to snow. After registering and collecting a gift bag, all participants gathered in the new Campus Rec gym to listen to an opening speech by Temple assistant track & field coach Shameka Marshall. Marshall was a two-time All-American at Rutgers University, and won a silver medal at the 2011 Pan American Games which she had on hand for everyone to see. After speaking about her experiences, the multi-talented Marshall also sang the national anthem.
The girls were then split into nine groups and spent the next hour and a half rotating between stations around the building which included volleyball, track & field, soccer, rowing, tennis, gymnastics, fencing, field hockey, cheer and dance and strength & conditioning.
One rotation stood out among the rest due in large part to the available facilities, as the women's gymnastics team had the groups come right into their gym and use many of the apparatuses. Junior Lauren Capone enjoyed seeing the change in the girls from when they came into the gym to when they left.
"For us the cool thing to see was that they came in and were terrified," she said, "but we got them to break out of their shell a bit and see that they can do some things they might have been scared of. Then they're really proud and they leave with a smile on their face after trying something they didn't think they could do."
The event was one of more than 1,000 such events taking place in all 50 states. For Temple, it is the second straight year of hosting, but the planning and execution were stepped up a notch thanks in large part to the efforts of assistant field hockey coach Kelly Driscoll and Assistant AD/Creative Services Kelli Sheesley. With help from other members of the athletics department and the campus community, the two were able to host an event they were truly proud of.
"We certainly couldn't have pulled this off without the efforts of a lot of other people," said Sheesley, who specifically gave credit to Margo Greicar, the Athletic Training Education Program Director, Temple Athletics Hall of Famer Tina Sloan Green, and to Dan O'Brien, the Assistant Managing Director with the City of Philadelphia. "After last year's event we started meeting regularly to ensure an even better event this year, and the hard work definitely paid off. All of the kids were happy and having a great time, and the parents and after-school group leaders were all so appreciative of the experience."
Knowing the participants would be hungry after a long day at school and a couple hours of sports, the planning committee was committed to getting donations of healthy food and water, and each girl was given another bag before leaving the event. The bags, donated by Fresh Grocer, included Primo Hoagies, water, granola bars and pretzels from Snyder's of Hanover. Eileen Bradley of Campus Safety Services, who has been involved with the event from the start, donated a couple hundred soft pretzels which were a huge hit with all the participants.
Throughout the entire event, all involved could see what a unique and valuable experience it was for both the student-athletes and the girls.
"I think it's a really special opportunity and something I don't think a lot of places will offer," said Capone. "Being around Division I athletes is inspiring to a lot of kids and will hopefully spark them to try something new or set a goal to become an athlete themselves."
NGWSD is officially celebrated on Feb. 6, with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports.
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Ep. 9: Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Shaw
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Ep. 8: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Women's Cross Country Runner Amelia Sabatino
Tuesday, September 30
Ep. 7: Temple Field Hockey Alumna Cherifa Howarth
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