NIC athletes reflect on National Girls and Women in Sports Day

North Idaho College’s Kolby Pimperton looks to pass in the Feb. 2 game against Big Bend at NIC’s Christianson Gymnasium. 

North Idaho College joined thousands across the U.S. in celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Feb. 2.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day has been celebrated since 1987 “to bring national attention to the promise of girls and women in sports,” according to the founding organization, Women’s Sports Federation.

The day has evolved to “acknowledge the accomplishments of girls and women in sports, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for women in sports,” according to the WSF.

More than 85 women participate in NIC Athletics programs as athletes, and NIC softball player Addison Ribordy said now that she’s a collegiate athlete, she sees how women’s collegiate and professional athletics have changed over the past few decades.

“When my mom was growing up, being an athlete wasn’t cool, and even when I was growing up it wasn’t as cool, but now it’s getting better and more girls want to do it, they want to be out there competing, they want to be an athlete,” Ribordy said.

And having a local athlete to follow and look up to makes a difference. NIC basketball player Layla Beam said that having a role model in Ruthy Hebard, a basketball player from her home state who now plays for the Chicago Sky in the Women’s National Basketball Association, impacted her as a girl and as a young athlete. 

“It’s important moving forward that we continue recognizing women so we can be role models for all the little girls out there who are watching NIC sports and show them what their future can be,” Beam said.

Taylin Rowley, who plays volleyball for NIC, said celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day is important, but women’s athletics shouldn’t be acknowledged on just a single day.

“We have come such a long way, but women still aren’t getting paid the same and they’re not getting shown up for the same way as men, so it’s great to celebrate us every year, but women’s sports should be celebrated every day,” Rowley said.

For more information about NIC Athletics, contact NIC Athletic Events and Information Supervisor Felicia Andrade at (208) 929-4013 or Felicia.Andrade@nic.edu.

Story by Megan Snodgrass mpsnodgrass@nic.edu

Photos by Elli Oba etoba@nic.edu 

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