FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is celebrated each year on Feb. 2 as a time to recognize and honor all the past, present, and future achievements in women’s sports. Since 1974, it has been the Women’s Sports Foundation’s mission to advance the lives of women and girls through sports and physical activities. Now in 2022, women’s sports is at the forefront, especially at Nova Southeastern University, where nine different teams and hundreds of female student-athletes play a significant role. NGWSD is special day at NSU.
This year in particular, our Sharks celebrated NGWSD by interacting with the community. Earlier this month, Allison Kopas (women’s swimming), Sydney Lageyre (softball), Kate Mihacevich (volleyball) and Haruka Muta (women’s golf) visited the NSU University School (pre-school through grade 12) to discuss what it’s like being a female in the world of sports. Our student-athletes were excited to share encouraging words and advice to the middle schoolers and high schoolers in attendance. Mihacevich shared that “as a woman in sports, I believe it’s important to give other young women positive role models and to be one that I would have wanted to look up to when I was younger and in their position”.
Over the years, NSU has been fortunate enough to honor some of its phenomenal female athletes that have rocked the blue and gray – one being 2011 NSU Flo Hyman Award recipient Rachel Woodson. Woodson played volleyball for the Sharks from 2009-2012 and exemplified what it meant to be a rock star female athlete.
It’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day!
As part of the celebration in 2011, Rachel Woodson received the Flo Hyman Award, and today we honor her and all girls and women in sports.#NationalGirlsAndWomenInSportsDay #OneSharkFamily pic.twitter.com/qpZOYANBI2
— NSU Athletics (@NSUSharks) February 2, 2022
Another outstanding female athlete for the Sharks was 2014 NSU Flo Hyman Award recipient Kamryn Blackwood, who played for the women’s tennis team during her time at NSU (2010-2014) and now continues her awesome athletic career as a professional pickleball player.
In 2014, Kamryn Blackwood received the Flo Hyman Award during the National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration. Today she is still connected to sports, but now as a professional pickleball player. #NationalGirlsAndWomenInSportsDay #OneSharkFamily pic.twitter.com/jMX5iKK2OG
— NSU Athletics (@NSUSharks) February 2, 2022
As time goes on, we look forward to seeing female athletes continue to break down barriers and reach new heights.
To stay up-to-date with all things NSU, visit our website NSUSharks.com, or follow the Sharks on Instagram and Twitter at @nsusharks.