Mary Wise Captivates Audience at Annual Girls & Women in Sports Celebration
February 5, 2010
Volleyball Senior Chelsea Armer Earns 2010 Elaine Evans Award
 Wise addresses a standing-room-only audience after receiving the 2010 Women in Sports Achievement Award |
SAINT LEO, Fla. - The Saint Leo University Department of Athletics paid tribute to women’s impact in sports at the 24th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Tuesday, February 4, 2010. Quickly becoming one of the most recognizable events of its type across the nation, this was the 20th time the event was hosted at Saint Leo University.
Saint Leo University, which has one of the longest-running Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrations in the state of Florida, highlighted the evening by honoring the University of Florida Head Volleyball Coach Mary Wise as the 16th Saint Leo University Women in Sports Achievement Award recipient.
Speaking in front of a standing-room-only crowd, Wise inspired the Saint Leo audience Thursday night by recounting her early career, telling listeners that everyone had to start somewhere as she credited an inexperienced, cigarette-smoking high school coach with forcing her to become a leader. Wise was later a setter at Purdue University, and then, at age 21, a head coach with a huge learning curve at Iowa State.
Over the course of a career that also brought her to Kentucky and Florida, Wise said she learned to champion volleyball and other women’s sports for even the youngest of girls. She also highlighted the fact that, despite being named head coach at the University of Florida over 19 years ago, helping to further the development of women’s athletics is not something that she has left behind, and will continue to pursue well into her 20th year and beyond.
After Wise concluded her remarks to a standing ovation, Sodexo General Manager Rich Vogel presented a female athlete in each sport with a $1,000 scholarship to help offset tuition costs of next year’s school expenses.
Requirement of the Sodexo Scholarships state the winner must:
• support her teammates and coaches with a positive attitude and is aware of individual responsibilities as a team player.
• give 100% effort toward her sport and her team
• be involved in some type of external community service activity
• demonstrate leadership, personal integrity and a tremendous team spirit
• be a good ambassador for Saint Leo University at all times
This year’s winners were:
Aija Bent-Trinder – Women’s Soccer
Jillian Browne – Cross Country
Corey Ryan – Volleyball
Kiara Bradley – Women’s Basketball
Liz Casey – Swimming
Christine Clyne – Women’s Tennis
Elysha Agen – Softball
Kristina Carvalho – Women’s Golf
Following the Sodexo presentation and some coaches remarks from Women’s Golf Coach Erika Brennan, the Department of Athletics handed out the evening’s highest female student-athlete honor, the Elaine Evans Spirit of Saint Leo Award.
After reviewing the requirements to the audience, the award was presented to volleyball senior Chelsea Armer, whose community service projects, dedication to her conference championship-winning team and her devotion to Saint Leo was recognized by the Lions.
For Armer, the award of $1,000 is immediately available for this academic year.
The evening closed out with a reminder that 12 of Saint Leo’s 16 teams will see action during the month of February and a call for the Lion family to support their own as the year begins to come to a close.
History of National Girls and Women in Sports Day
In 2010, thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, students and parents across the country showed their support of the 24th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day and of this year's theme, "Stay Strong, Play On".
The U.S. Congress chartered National Girls and Women in Sports Day in 1986 to honor female athletic achievement, and recognize the importance of sports and fitness participation for all girls and women.
NGWSD is celebrated in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports. Registering your activity is a way to advertise and allows others in your community or state to become aware of upcoming events and enables them to participate. Whether you are a new participant or a veteran, your support of the Day will go a long way to increase visibility for female athletes and advance their struggle for equality in sports.
NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. Hyman died of Marfan's Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.
NGWSD is jointly organized by the National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition. The Coalition combines the experience and resources of the six premiere girls- and women-serving organizations in the United States: Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women's Law Center, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the YWCA USA.
Collectively, these organizations have memberships reaching over 5.5 million girls and women.
More information on the NGWSD foundation can be found at www.NGWSDCentral.com.
