Kate Katsetos, Member of the Softball Team

In participating in this event, I am most looking forward to interacting with all the young participants and the other female student-athletes who are also helping out! 

The softball team typically teaches a diving-and-sliding station. We set up mats for the participants to jump and dive on while also tossing tennis balls for them to try and catch. We use our sliding mat as well, so the girls can practice their sliding.

This event will benefit the girls because they are able to see all of the sports and opportunities they can pursue in their athletic careers. I also feel it is really important to see us as female student-athletes being leaders and role models to the young girls to show them they can be in our shoes someday! 

To student-athletes participating in this event in the future, I think it is really important to realize the impact you have on the young athletes who come and participate in this awesome event. I have seen some of the girls in public, and they have come up to me to say how much they love the event we hold for them. Just showing up goes a long way! 

Alysa Elliott, Member of the Tennis Team

I'm really looking forward to having some fun with the girls alongside my teammates. It's great to see everyone having fun together and participating in some friendly competition. 

We will show them some basic beginner skills and play some games focused on hand-eye coordination and balance. Things like bouncing a ball on a racquet or balancing a ball while walking or running. We may also show, especially the older kids, how to perform a volley or a forehand, as those are fairly simple at the early stages in tennis and are crucial parts of the game. We will try to balance exposure to the sport with fun activities that will keep kids engaged and excited. 

Ella Smith, Member of the Track and Field Team (UG),
Swimming & Diving Team (GRAD)

In past years, I've looked forward to sharing the sport I've loved since I was a little girl with the young girls in our community. I get excited to watch their confidence grow throughout the session as they get more comfortable with the skills we're teaching. It's so fulfilling to watch girls discover and enjoy an event, even if they're not enthusiastic about the running part of our station. It's also such a full-circle moment to see them find joy in the victories that come with being a novice.  

We begin the session by dividing into teams and running relay races with the batons. The girls learn that track and field is a team sport, and when they're not running, their job is to cheer for their teammates. The girls run through an obstacle course, start in the blocks, sprint over hurdles, jump over into the sand and onto mats, throw medicine balls and shots, and even use the poles to vault onto a mat.

To other student-athletes participating in this event in the future, I'm excited to see how this event flourishes in coming years.  Leadership and service is an integral part of our school's philosophy, and I'm confident that this event is in very capable hands.  I hope they have as much fun as I did, inspiring the next generation of student-athletes and leaders. Have fun, connect with the girls and don't forget where you started!