GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College Athletic Department will host its annual National Girls and Women in Sports celebration Saturday, Feb. 8. The celebration is free and open to girls and women of all ages.
 
The celebration will begin at noon in Bristol Field House. Legendary Head Soccer Coach Aliceann Wilber will host a sports clinic called Get On The Brain Train: Fun Ways To Think About Winning. On-site registration opens at 11:45 a.m. The one-hour clinic, which includes small and large group activities that focus on general strategy and tactics for any sport, will begin at noon. The clinic will be followed by lunch from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
 
All participants are invited to continue the celebration at 2 p.m. by cheering on the Heron basketball team in Bristol Gymnasium. William Smith hosts Clarkson University in a key Liberty League match up. Admission to the game is free and Get On The Brain Train participants will be given a complementary bag of popcorn. Following the game, girls are welcome to get William Smith players' autographs in the Carver-DeLaney Team Room.
 
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 Marfan'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.
 
This year will be the 34th annual NGWSD. William Smith has celebrated NGWSD 15 consecutive years, hosting hundreds of girls and women in a celebration of female athletes. More than 500 events celebrating NGWSD will be held nationwide.