February 12, 2026 — Hillgrove's female athletes recently came together to celebrate the 39th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The annual event is a powerful reminder of the achievements, resilience, and leadership of female athletes. The event at Hillgrove was emceed by distance running coach Kailyn Jackman and recognized both athletic success and the broader impact sports can have on the lives of girls and women.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day is sponsored by the Women’s Sports Foundation as part of the Lead Forward movement. Since its founding over 50 years ago, the foundation has invested more than $1 million to expand access and opportunities for girls and women in sports. A panel of five coaches at Hillgrove was asked how sports influenced them personally and professionally.
The panel emphasized how far women’s sports have come since the passage of Title IX in 1972, which transformed educational and athletic opportunities by increasing equity and access. At the same time, they acknowledged ongoing challenges—such as limited opportunities, safety concerns, and persistent stereotypes—that still cause girls to drop out of sports at higher rates than boys. They spoke candidly with the Hillgrove athletes about overcoming injuries, self-doubt, role changes, and life transitions. They reinforced the message that while sports are important, they do not define a complete identity.
"Being an athlete is a really great privilege," explained lacrosse coach Alicia Acton, "but being an athlete is not everything you are; it is just a portion of it. Who you are as a person is really important. There are a lot of other characteristics about you that are really special and important as well."
A recurring theme was the lifelong value of athletics: higher academic achievement, stronger mental health, leadership development, teamwork, discipline, and resilience. Panelists encouraged the young women to focus less on outcomes and more on the process. They said to lean on their teammates as family, stay flexible through change, and believe deeply in themselves.
"Outside of the game, sports will teach you how to bounce back from disappointments and setbacks and how to be better prepared the next time," said basketball coach Sue Milam. "Having that inner toughness to push through and do what you need to do to make the situation work is a life skill because things don't always go your way."
The event concluded with a clear and inspiring message: barriers are meant to be broken. The women who came before paved the way, and girls of today are capable of redefining what’s possible tomorrow—in athletics, in their careers, and in life.
