Royal Purple

Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Joy Kowald Warhawk athletes such as basketball player Nicole Bundy (left) are attracting interest in women's sports.

In recognition of Black History Month and women's athletics, UW-Whitewater will host its 17th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Saturday in the Williams Center.

The event was created in tribute of Olympic female volleyball great Flora Hyman, who died on Jan. 24, 1986 while playing volleyball in Japan. Hyman, an African-American woman and silver medalist at the 1984 summer Olympics, was a leader among her peers and worked for equality in women's sports.

The Warhawk community invites young girls in the third through eighth grade who play on any sports teams, or those who are not currently participating but are interested to attend the event. UW-Whitewater's women student-athletes will be available for information on selected sports and how to get involved in the sport. Skill demonstration, tips on how to become a better athlete, and pointers on how to improve personal skills will be offered to participants from 1-2 p.m.

"These girls do not get the opportunity to be this close to an athlete, especially someone participating in a sport they enjoy," Administrative Assistant for Athletics Ruth Hake, said. "Young girls will be inspired by our female student-athletes [who] are just like them."

Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Services Amy Edmonds was thrilled to be part of the event and see the girls with female athletes they can idolize.

"I love seeing young girls coming and interaction with our female athletes," Edmonds said. "I think it's a great opportunity to see these girls get a good education and compete in student athletics in college. This is a great opportunity for all our students, especially in Division III, to spend time with these girls and become role models."

UW-Whitewater women's basketball will host UW-Eau Claire Blugold at 3 p.m. The women's gymnastic team will invite Brockport University of New York Ellsworth at 2 p.m. The meet is a special opportunity to support former Warhawk gymnast Lisa Mueller in her battle with cancer.

The admission is free to all girls and women. Individuals who register will be in a raffle drawing for prizes. At the conclusion of the women's basketball game and the gymnastics competition, the teams will available to sign autographs on their team's posters.

Hake said the event will showcase the appreciation of girls and women in sports and give the girls more confidence to be a female athlete.

"Recognition of women and girls in sports and the opportunity for girls to participate," Hake said. "Hopefully the event will establish a little bit of their self-worth ... The event will give the girls an opportunity to analyze being a female athlete can be done."

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