RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside Athletics is proud to once again celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, a yearly benchmark that reminds us of how far we've come in the pursuit of gender equality on and off the field of competition.
Join us as we explore why UC Riverside's female staff and student-athletes got into and fell in love with their sports, what they would tell their younger selves, and how Title IX's impact and women's sports as a whole continue to shape a new generation.
Getting into the Game
There are multiple reasons to pick up a sport. Sometimes it's a family thing, sometimes it's just the perfect fit.
Mia Delahoussaye found her place on the volleyball court over a plethora of other sports, even opting for it over the more physical basketball. Women's tennis' Susannah Su, who has enjoyed sports since childhood, drew her inspiration from her grandmother. On the links, women's golfer Sophia Soto found her sport through sibling bonding.
A love for a sport can also emerge from a social opportunity. Just ask women's basketball's Maya Chocano, who broke out of her shell from the time she laced up her first pair of sneakers.
Michelle Almazan, UCR's interim Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator, had aspirations of going pro in beach volleyball before entering the business side of sports.
Falling in Love with the Game
Track and field's Elena Mack, presumably like any other of UCR's 300+ student-athletes, fell in love with track for its competitive nature. Mack relishes the daily improvement that comes with training every day.
"It means everything for me to be able to compete at this level," she says.
Delahoussaye, who participates in a team sport at UCR comparatively, cherishes just that. The junior outside hitter says she values volleyball's team aspect and maintains friendships with teammates from every level of competition, from youth to college. This, in turn, has fostered a deeper connection with both the sport and the social circle it has created over the years.
Softball's Hailey King gratitude shines through in her work at Amy S. Harrison Field. King says her performance on the diamond is "a reflection of all our hard work over the past year."
Advice to My Younger Self
Sports don't exist without adversity. In those times of trouble, imparting some wisdom on your younger self can help your current self push through.
"There are a lot of times when you doubt yourself," Soto says. "Everybody progresses at different times, and you just have to keep going. Good things happen when you put in the work. The more successful people are the ones who can control their attitude and effort. If you believe in yourself, it gets a little bit easier."
As the saying goes at UC Riverside, "just keep chopping."
Hard work and dedication are paramount in sports, but it's important to see the other side and stay relaxed. There must be a balance. While women's golfer Mitzi Duarte would tell her younger self not to cave to discouragement, Chocano hints at the importance of having fun and not taking things too seriously.
"You have to work hard, but enjoy the process because it's all going to work out," Chocano says. "Just have faith."
Women's Sports Today and Beyond
"Playing at the Division I level is definitely a privilege," says women's soccer's Mia DiLeo, who was named a Big West All-Freshman honoree this past year. "It's a great opportunity that I feel fortunate enough to have. I don't take it lightly, and I'm very grateful to be able to do it."
DiLeo will tell you that being around good people in sport is something you can't give up. UC Riverside Athletics is a collection of good humans, both on and off the field.
On the administrative side, Almazan is continually amazed and impressed at the progress that she herself has taken part in.
"I am looking at strong, powerful, young women every day and I'm learning from them. I'm seeing them overcome challenges. I see the trailblazers before me and what they did to pave this path for where I am today."
These trailblazers include those behind the passing of Title IX, without which, this story could not be written. UC Riverside's mission of building and preparing student-athletes for opportunities in life through sport remains congruent with the vision that Title IX sought to accomplish back in 1972.
"(We're) showing girls that they can go out and compete, have fun, and be engineering majors, or psychology majors, or educators," Almazan says. "Sport can be a part of that, and it can be a way to get them where they want to be. It doesn't have to be one or the other."
