National Girls and Women in Sports Day is celebrated each February at New Hampton School, highlighting the best of sisterhood in athletics. With the help of many student-athletes, coaches, and community members, the “day” is actually honored over multiple days thanks to the thoughtful organization of College Counseling Athletic Liaison Eileen Williams P’22. Here’s a look at this year’s #NGWSD celebration.
Mentoring Young Athletes
One of the biggest rewards one might experience in athletics is sharing a skill with another player. To get things started right, New Hampton School invited local girls ages Pre-K to 8th grade to join us on campus for a multi-sport clinic. From lacrosse drills to softball, hockey stick work to basketball dribbling skills, our student-athletes became the coaches for this event and raised some serious joy in the process. Eileen shared her gratitude, noting “I am thankful for the incredible female mentors and role models who helped make today’s multi-sport clinic at New Hampton School so fun and inspiring!”
Lessons Learned, Lessons Earned
Following Sunday’s sports clinic, we headed as a community into Winter Spirit Week. In addition to the traditions students have come to expect, #NGWSD continued to be brought to the forefront in preparation for Wednesday’s big celebration. On Monday, community members shared what sports has taught them in a reflection exercise and photoshoot opportunity. The lessons we learn through sports are numerous and often personal. It’s more than the score on the board, and the awards we aspire to.
Often, the lessons teach us about ourselves, how to work with others, and the power of tenacity and perseverance. As Adriana ’25 shared in her note, in addition to time management and discipline, it teaches “how to work through adversity!” Being up for the challenge and owning our mental toughness are lessons that will serve well throughout our life experiences.
Popping Out in Pink
Finally, the big day arrived to showcase our winter sports teams: Pink Out Day! Wednesday brought together the community as they dressed in pink for the whole day in advance of the featured women’s hockey and basketball games. With the photo booth serving up lots of props, and the promise of half-time crowd competitions, our Huskies were making the most of a fun day together. Jersey shaped posters created with each player’s name and pink decor lent a festive atmosphere for all to enjoy. By the afternoon, parents and students were eager to watch the games. We’re grateful for the energy that the fans bring each season, but especially for these games in honor of female participation in athletics.
Leading Her Forward
Following the competitions of the day, it was time to refocus on the lessons at hand in a more personal way. Eight Husky alumnae welcomed the opportunity to speak with our community about their journeys to playing and coaching at the college level. While their main sports included hockey, softball, lacrosse, and basketball, many of these Huskies know a thing or two about being a multi-sport athlete as well as the rigors of balancing academics with their pursuits on and off the playing fields. Each of their journeys is unique, and while many are still competing in college, others have found success both professionally as players and coaches following graduation. The opportunity for our students to reconnect or meet these Huskies for the first time is an invaluable opportunity as they consider their paths beyond New Hampton School.
Thank you to Samantha Brenner ’12, Dempsey Arsenault ’15, Zola Braswell ’19, Taylor Healey ’20, Taze Thompson ’20, Emily Greenwood ’22, Sophia Hausberger ’22, and Jo Tattersall ’22 for leading us in thoughtful conversations and offering advice and inspiration.
About #NGWSD
Schools, colleges, and professional sports organizations around the country celebrate #NGWSD. NGWSD—organized by the Women in Sports Foundation—recognizes “student-athletes, champion athletes, coaches, administrators and lawmakers committed to providing equitable access to sports for all girls and women.” Thank you to all in the community who continue to show up and advocate for equity in athletics.
