WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- The Williams College Athletic Department teamed up with several athletic teams and the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) to host Girls and Women in Sports Day on Saturday, February 5th. The successful event brought together 35 girls from the surrounding community. Williams’ athletes and coaches led the day’s events, which included teaching and playing field hockey, golf, squash, softball, soccer, and rowing.
“Girls and women in sports day was an absolutely fantastic experience,” stated Hayley Swan ’13, a member of the women’s crew team. “None of the girls had ever been exposed to rowing, so we were really starting from scratch when we taught them how to row in the tanks. I was amazed at the enthusiasm all the girls had for learning this new sport and how quickly they picked it up. It was extremely rewarding to share something we love to do with a group of girls who will be the future of women's sports.”
The girls were divided into groups based on age, and went through three 45–minute stations that allowed them to briefly experience each sport. The event concluded at the women’s ice hockey game against Hamilton College.
“I thought the day was a great success,” said Kaitlin Dinet "13 an Eph softball player. “All of the girls had a great time and seemed to really learn a lot. It was really awesome to see so many Williams students, both men and women, representing their teams and supporting such a fun event.”
Participating teams included women’s field hockey, golf, soccer and softball as well as men’s tennis and soccer. This year’s sports day also included events for women in the community. Women were offered three separate sessions, including yoga, with Williams’ dietician and nutritionist, Maria Cruz; rowing by women’s crew coach Brad Hemmerly; and spinning with women’s tennis coach, Alison Swain.
Each February, Williams’ athletics and several athletic departments around the nation attempt to bring together girls and women in the community together and expose them to different sports, encouraging girls to participate in athletics, and recognize female athletes. This year’s Girls and Women in Sports Day marked Williams’ 3rd year of participation in this worthwhile event. “Girls and Women in Sports Day was great fun for us,” said Will Petrie ’12, a member of the men’s tennis team. “We worked the squash station, and the girls brought a lot of excitement with them. Our goal was to help them have fun, but I think we had as much fun as they did.”
