GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College Athletics Department will host a National Girls and Women In Sports Day celebration on Saturday, Feb. 4. Additionally, the Herons will host several other events around the basketball team's final home weekend.
On Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., William Smith will hold a SportsFest in Bristol Field House for girls of all ages. Participants will enjoy pizza and poster making from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Registration is free and will be conducted at the field house on the day of the event.
William Smith student-athletes will escort participants to Bristol Gym to watch William Smith play Clarkson (11-8, 6-4) at 2 p.m. Admission to the game is also free. At the game, there will be face painting and an opportunity to get autographs from the Herons following the game.
This year's NGWSD events are sponsored by Ciccino's Pizzeria & Restaurant and Club 86 Bagels and Cakes.
NGWSD began as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. Since Hyman's death from Mafan's Syndrome while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan in 1986, NGWSD has evolved into a day to not only acknowledge the past, but also recognize the current sports achievements as well as the positive influence of sports participation and continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.
The theme for this year's NGWSD is Expanding Opportunity: The Power of Play.
Prior to the start of Saturday's game, William Smith will honor its six seniors:
Krista Anken,
Mary Buck,
Courtney Chase,
Alyssa DiCampli,
Gabrielle Eure, and
Melanie Patterson. They have led the Herons to the top of the Liberty League standings with a 9-1 conference record and a 15-4 overall mark.
The Herons will be home on Friday night as well, hosting St. Lawrence (7-11, 4-6) at 6 p.m. At halftime of that game, William Smith Athletics will recognize student-athletes from the 2016 spring and fall seasons that received academic honors.
During both games, William Smith players will wear gold in support of Go 4 The Goal's fight against pediatric cancer.
