National Girls And Women In Sports Day Celebrated

From Cherokee County School District: More than 700 female athletes from Cherokee County's six high schools participated in the county's annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), held Monday, February 5, at Cherokee High School. NGWSD recognizes the contributions female athletes have made in their sports, acknowledges the challenges they have overcome, and celebrates the positive influence of sports participation for girls and women everywhere, as well as the impact of Title IX legislation that guarantees equal access to athletics for females.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day is celebrated in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring athletic achievements and encouragement of female participation in sports. Cherokee County School District takes part in this special day by hosting its own event, which it has done since 2005.

"Thirteen years ago, we began this tradition," said Laiken Wade, a basketball player who helped coordinate the event as part of her Senior Project at Cherokee HS. "Today, we put our rivalries aside, come together and celebrate. We celebrate our schools, we celebrate our coaches, we celebrate our peers, and we celebrate our awesomeness!

"The National Girls and Women in Sports Day Coalition knows that educating the public about the power of this legislation is critical to its enforcement," said event coordinator Tonya Sebring, athletic director at Woodstock HS. "The more you understand Title IX and the rights it protects, the more you can advocate for others not as fortunate as us.

"This year's National Theme is Play Fair Play IX," Sebring told the crowd. "As a way to celebrate this day and the support of our School District, the 2018 Theme for CCSD is 'WE play fair, WE play IX'."

The program honors a coach each year for his/her contributions and support of female athletes. This year's recipient was Anita Dodd from Woodstock HS. Coach Dodd has led girls' sports teams in Cherokee County for more than 30 years, coaching teams in volleyball, cheerleading, basketball, lacrosse and golf. Last year, Dodd was the Cherokee County Golf Coach of the Year and led the Lady Wolverines to a 7th place finish in the state, producing the division 7A low medalist and state champion Abby Bolt.

Each school also honored an alumna, an athlete of the year and a team of the year.

* Cherokee High School honored alumna Bree Wells; Athlete of the Year Taylor Cates; and selected Lady Warriors Basketball as Team of the Year.

* Creekview High School honored alumna Ansley Henson; Athletes of the Year Makena Gates and Emilie Wilkie; and selected Lady Grizzlies Softball as Team of the Year.

* Etowah High School honored alumna Kelsey Hodgson; Athlete of the Year Skylar Wallace; and selected Lady Eagle Softball and Volleyball as Teams of the Year.

* River Ridge HS honored alumna Angel Cornista; Athlete of the Year Ryley Decoteau; and selected Lady Knights Basketball as Team of the Year.

* Sequoyah HS honored alumna Jordan Haley; Athlete of the Year Ashley Painter; and Lady Chief Volleyball as Team of the Year.

* Woodstock HS honored alumna Emily Bowman; Athlete of the Year Anna Burnett; and selected the Wolverines' Competition Cheer Squad as Team of the Year.

The event was attended and supported by high school principals and athletic directors, as well as Superintendent of School Dr. Brian Hightower, School Board Chair Kyla Cromer, and School Board Members Patsy Jordan and Kelly Poole. Event sponsor was Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Images courtesy of Cherokee County School District:

(Image 1) Honorary Coach Anita Dodd of Woodstock HS shares her thoughts about her years of coaching and being involved in women's sports.

(Image 2): Woodstock HS Athletic Director Tonya Sebring, right, presents Anita Dodd with her award as Honorary Coach.

(Image 3): More than 700 female athletes from across the county gathered to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

(Image 4): Cherokee HS athlete Laiken Wade welcomes guests to the event. Laiken helped coordinate the event as her Senior Project.

(Image 5): Kelli McLaren, a four-time state champion in gymnastics and member of event sponsor Children's Healthcare of Atlanta sports medicine team, shares her experiences about what athletics mean to her.

(Image 6): Ernie Yarbrough brings congratulations from the Georgia High School Association, announcing that in 2018, GHSA will be adding a state championship for female wrestling.

(Image 7): Alumna Bree Wells, right, presents the award for Athlete of the Year to Taylor Cates.

(Image 8) Alumna Ansley Henson, right, presents the award for Athlete of the Year Emilie Wilkie; co-winner Makena Gates was not able to attend.

(Image 9): Alumna Kelsey Hodgson, right, presents the award for Athlete of the Year to Skylar Wallace.

(Image 10): Alumna Angel Cornista, right, presents the award for Athlete of the Year to Ryley Decoteau.

(Image 11): Alumna Jordan Haley, right, presents the award for Athlete of the Year to Ashley Painter.

(Image 12): Alumna Emily Bowman, left, presents the award for Athlete of the Year to Anna Burnett.