Springfield City School District and Wittenberg University have partnered to bring new athletic opportunities to young women in celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day. This is the fourth year these two organizations have collaborated for this special event.
150 girls from the District’s 10 elementary schools took a field trip to the University on Monday, where they tried their hands at various sports, including soccer, lacrosse, softball, basketball, track & field, football, golf and volleyball, under the mentorship of Wittenberg and SCSD student-athletes and coaches. A wrestling station was also added this year, as girls wrestling has recently seen an increase in regional and statewide participation.
According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) began in 1987 as a special day in the nation’s capital to recognize women’s sports. The day united premiere organizations and elite women athletes to bring national attention to the promise of girls and women in athletics. NGWSD has since evolved into an event to acknowledge the accomplishments of girls and women in sports, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports. NGWSD is officially recognized this year on Feb. 5.