National Girls and Women in Sports Day

In 1986 during a United States vs. Japan volleyball match, Olympic Champion Flo Hyman died unexpectedly on the court due to a heart condition.

The year after Hyman's death, the Women's Sports Foundation and Sen. Robert Packwood, R-Ore., worked to establish a national day of observance. Each year on Wednesday, Feb. 5, athletics programs across the nation celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). The day honors Hyman and the advancement of women's athletics, Title IX and all female athletes.

This year's celebration at UB was held in Alumni Arena on Feb. 5 and featured 2002 Olympic mogul skier Jillian Vogtli. In her speech, Vogtli told the story of her rise to success in skiing. She encountered many obstacles, including surgeries on both knees, one of which occurred only months before she was to qualify for the Olympic team. Vogtli offered words of inspiration and a challenge to the athletes and coaches who attended the presentation.

"What would you do if you knew you could not fail?" she asked.

Also speaking were honored senior athletes Jenelle Callender from women's track and field and Christine Dimpfl from women's ice hockey. The Annual UB Recognition Award went to former multi-sport athlete and staff member at UB, Sandra Porter.

Buffalo began celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day 13 years ago when the SA president, Richard Cole, and vice president, Kelly Sahner, handed out carnations in the lobby of Capen Hall. The theme for the day this year was "Succeed in sports, lead in life." Callender started the presentation by lending some perspective to what it means to truly succeed.

"Success is a freedom. ... Success, like so many other freedoms, is not without the most defining characteristic of adversity. ... After all, it was women overcoming adversity and achieving success who are the reason for our celebration today," said Callender.

Dimpfl expressed gratitude to previous generations for the steps they took to allow these opportunities to be realities.

"This has been an incredible opportunity for me, as a female, to take part in a sport that years ago was only a thought for women," said Dimpfl. "I am honored and humbled to those before me that took amazing strides to accomplish their own goals to start playing completive ice hockey. ... I am so lucky to be part of this legacy."

President William R. Greiner and his wife, Carol, both gave closing remarks. Carol Greiner shared her experience of athletics as a young woman, noting how far the opportunities for women in athletics have come.

Though the main event is the breakfast and presentation, National Girls and Women in Sports Day has taken other forms all over campus and in the community. The Student Athlete Advisory Council, made up of student athletes, sends groups of six or seven athletes into local middle schools, to talk about the benefits of sports involvement, in a program called Bulls Give Back.

"It's really a year-round project, the day after NGWSD, we start planning for next year, to make it bigger and better," said Council President Sara Sheffer.

On campus, many athletes hosted a high school student, showing the student around campus, taking the student to classes and letting the student experience a day in the life of an athlete at the collegiate level. This year, the women's basketball game on Feb. 9 was highlighted. Prior to the game, local girl scouts and parents were invited to UB to participate in an obstacle course and ice cream social with athletes from the women's softball team.

Softball player Marce Ross made a video for the event, which featured women's varsity and club sports at UB. Athletes also handed out free candy in the Student Union all week to increase awareness of the event in the student body.

In the end, National Girls and Women in Sports Day is meant to recognize that female athletes face the same challenges that male athletes do, and now they do it with pride.

"The biggest mental obstacle I face is myself," said Vogtli.