Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Paige Ozaroski
Temple Celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day for Third Straight Year
2.3.15 | Field Hockey, Women's Basketball, Women's Rowing, Women's Cross Country, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball, Cheerleading, Outreach
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple University Athletics Department hosted an event on Monday, Feb. 2, celebrating the 29th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). Nearly 150 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.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter made a special guest appearance at the event, making the rounds to try each sport and interact with both participants and student-athletes.
It was third straight year in which Temple Athletics has hosted such an event, and the number of participants in 2015 was the most ever. The success of the day was evident on the smiles of all the faces
throughout the afternoon.
After registering, all participants gathered in the state-of-the-art women's basketball practice gym and had some time to dance along with the music of DJ Dee Square before sitting down to hear the keynote speaker.
Temple Athletics Hall of Famer Edna Brown-Hecht spoke to the crowd about her impressive career and about the importance of becoming and staying active. Hecht, a 1982 Temple graduate, is a four-time All-American in outdoor track, a three-time All-American in indoor track, and was also a member of the USA National Team.
The participants were then split into eight groups and spent the next hour and a half rotating between stations which included volleyball, track & field, soccer, rowing, tennis, gymnastics, field hockey and cheer and dance.
The event was one of more than 1,000 such events taking place in all 50 states. Temple's event has grown each year thanks in large part to the efforts of Assistant AD/Creative Services Kelli Sheesley and Associate Head Field Hockey Coach Kelly Driscoll. 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 the first year's event, we started meeting regularly to ensure an even better future, and the hard work has 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."
After the final rotation ended just after 6 p.m., all student-athletes and participants gathered back in the gym for a group photo, autograph session and a performance by the Jumping Jems, the only double-dutch competition team in Philadelphia.
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. While registering, the participants were able to snack on Philadelphia Pretzel Factory pretzel bites, and before departing for the day, each girl was given two gift bags. One bag, donated by Fresh Grocer, included Potbelly sandwiches, water and granola bars. The other, donated by Under Armour, included Under Armour "I Will What I Want" hair ties and temporary tattoos, Temple Athletics posters, Philadelphia Union stickers, vouchers for a future Temple women's basketball game, and a brochure put together by Temple Strength & Conditioning Coach Clare Kaufman about healthy habits.
NGWSD is officially celebrated on Feb. 4, with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports.
"This event continues to grow and improve," said Sheesley, "and I think it's evident that it has just as big an impact on our student-athletes and coaches as it does on the participants."
In the coming days, check back to OwlSports.com for video highlights of the event being produced by 20/20 Visual Media.
Temple Athletics would like to sincerely thank all of the following groups for donating time and/or items for the event:
Temple University Student-Athletes and Coaches
Temple University Athletic Training Leadership Council
Temple University Campus Public Safety
Temple University Campus Recreation
Temple University Office of Risk Management & Insurance
Fresh Grocer
DJ DSquared
Philadelphia Pretzel Factory
Philadelphia Union
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Sodexo
Under Armour
Photo Gallery
Exposure Gallery & Video
KYW Radio Coverage
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter made a special guest appearance at the event, making the rounds to try each sport and interact with both participants and student-athletes.
It was third straight year in which Temple Athletics has hosted such an event, and the number of participants in 2015 was the most ever. The success of the day was evident on the smiles of all the faces
throughout the afternoon.
After registering, all participants gathered in the state-of-the-art women's basketball practice gym and had some time to dance along with the music of DJ Dee Square before sitting down to hear the keynote speaker.
Temple Athletics Hall of Famer Edna Brown-Hecht spoke to the crowd about her impressive career and about the importance of becoming and staying active. Hecht, a 1982 Temple graduate, is a four-time All-American in outdoor track, a three-time All-American in indoor track, and was also a member of the USA National Team.
The participants were then split into eight groups and spent the next hour and a half rotating between stations which included volleyball, track & field, soccer, rowing, tennis, gymnastics, field hockey and cheer and dance.
The event was one of more than 1,000 such events taking place in all 50 states. Temple's event has grown each year thanks in large part to the efforts of Assistant AD/Creative Services Kelli Sheesley and Associate Head Field Hockey Coach Kelly Driscoll. 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 the first year's event, we started meeting regularly to ensure an even better future, and the hard work has 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."
After the final rotation ended just after 6 p.m., all student-athletes and participants gathered back in the gym for a group photo, autograph session and a performance by the Jumping Jems, the only double-dutch competition team in Philadelphia.
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. While registering, the participants were able to snack on Philadelphia Pretzel Factory pretzel bites, and before departing for the day, each girl was given two gift bags. One bag, donated by Fresh Grocer, included Potbelly sandwiches, water and granola bars. The other, donated by Under Armour, included Under Armour "I Will What I Want" hair ties and temporary tattoos, Temple Athletics posters, Philadelphia Union stickers, vouchers for a future Temple women's basketball game, and a brochure put together by Temple Strength & Conditioning Coach Clare Kaufman about healthy habits.
NGWSD is officially celebrated on Feb. 4, with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports.
"This event continues to grow and improve," said Sheesley, "and I think it's evident that it has just as big an impact on our student-athletes and coaches as it does on the participants."
In the coming days, check back to OwlSports.com for video highlights of the event being produced by 20/20 Visual Media.
Temple Athletics would like to sincerely thank all of the following groups for donating time and/or items for the event:
Temple University Student-Athletes and Coaches
Temple University Athletic Training Leadership Council
Temple University Campus Public Safety
Temple University Campus Recreation
Temple University Office of Risk Management & Insurance
Fresh Grocer
DJ DSquared
Philadelphia Pretzel Factory
Philadelphia Union
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Sodexo
Under Armour
Photo Gallery
Exposure Gallery & Video
KYW Radio Coverage
Ep. 9: Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Shaw
Friday, October 03
Ep. 8: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Women's Cross Country Runner Amelia Sabatino
Tuesday, September 30
Ep. 7: Temple Field Hockey Alumna Cherifa Howarth
Friday, September 26
Ep. 6: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Field Hockey's Peyton Rieger
Tuesday, September 23
