On Sunday, April 13 the Ashland University Athletics Program held their annual “Girl in Sports Day.” The event allows young female athletes to come to the Niss Athletic Center to learn about various sports from the female athletes.  

The sports that the young athletes could learn from were golf, softball, soccer, STUNT, basketball, lacrosse, wrestling, football, track and field, swim and dive and volleyball.  

The person who has in charge of organizing this event was assistant athletics director and senior woman administrator, Elizabeth Hoge.  

“The first process is just making sure we are doing everything we can to advertise it and promote it to the local community,” said Hoge. “Then making sure that the teams are aware of the event as well… and getting a day where most sport teams are available.”  

Athletes of the sports teams would host a group of young athletes for about ten minutes. They would do drills to teach the girls about the sport that they played.  

But athletes were not the only ones to appear at the event to represent the teams. A couple of coaches showed up for their teams and the young athletes. One of those coaches was Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, Katie Kuhn.  

“I think it is so important to have events like this just to expose young girls to all the different opportunities that they can have,” Kuhn said.  

Kuhn also attended the event because she has a daughter that exposes her to these types of events. 

“I have a 10-year-old daughter, so it is so awesome to bring her to this and to expose her to all the different types of sports,” explained Kuhn. “I think it so also cool to see role models of older girls and that are also competing at a high level and be able to just show them what can be possible.” 

Everyone at the event, if it was coaches or athletes, had the same mindset of trying to inspire the next generation of female athletes. They all had the same message of trying your best and to never give up but also finding something that is also fun.  

A message from senior golfer, Alyson Veverka, sums up the message of what the event is supposed to represent.  

“Just believe in yourself, try any sport that you can while you’re young,” Veverka said. “Once you find something that you’re passionate about, just explore that sport and try your best.” 

If you know someone who would like to attend this event, this event is held every April in the early to middle part of the month. So, keep an eye out on the goashlandeagles Instagram account so you do not miss the event.