Reflections on girls sports careers growth as opportunities skyrocket
HUNTLEY — For the last 37 years, a day in the first week in February has been set aside to mark advancements for female athletes. Feb. 5 is the day that National Girls and Women in Sports Day will be recognized.
The day “recognizes women’s contributions to sports and society,” according to its mission. From tennis legend Billie Jean King (who leads the NGW Foundation), to University of Tennnsee women’s basketball coach Pat Head Summitt, to gymnast Simone Biles and present hoops star Caitlyn Clark, female athletes have had strong role models.
Huntley girls golf coach Lindsey Allen, girls volleyball coach Karen Naymola, HHS Athletic Director Rita Castans and McHenry County College Athletic Director Karen Wiley gave some thoughts on the increased opportunities for females in athletics.
“There are definitely more role opportunities than ever before for women in athletics,” Castans said. “Professional sports leagues have been emerging or gaining traction. For example, the National Women’s Soccer League; Women’s National Basketball Association, Women’s Professional Soccer; National Pro Fastpitch Softball all provide platforms for female athletes to compete at the highest levels. This increases sponsorships and funding.”
Castans also cited increased media coverage with more women taking roles of sports analyst and commentators, and reporters. Also, there is a growing trend of females in administrative positions such as athletic directors and professional sports executives.
Allen and Naymola talked about their sports careers.
Lindsey Allen
“Allen played most of her prep matches on the boys golf team, but saw additional opportunities when a girls team was started, leading to a college career and coaching.
“In high school at Crystal Lake South, I played on the boys golf team for 9th, 10th and 11th grades,” Allen said. “However, I played in the girls postseason as an individual. I was lucky enough to advance as an individual to sectionals these three years. When I became a senior, District 155 formed the Crystal Lake Co-Op where I was finally able to play on a female team. I played with girls from Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, and Cary-Grove. In its first ever season, Crystal Lake Co-Op advanced as a team to the sectional golf tournament. This season I also won the McHenry County Invitational (now the Ann Christiansen Invite). I then continued my golf career at Lindenwood University where I was a two time All-American Scholar Athlete.”
Allen joined Christensen’s staff for the Red Raiders.
“When I first became a teacher in District 158, I learned that there was not a girls golf team,” Allen said. “It felt a lot like when I was in high school. I knew the sport was still growing in our area. Luckily, Christiansen, the boys golf coach at Huntley, noticed a need for a girls team. She was the one that started it all. Christensen worked hard to grow the new girls team and for the second season, she was able to hire me on as her assistant coach. I loved those early days where we had all levels of players. I remember showing girls how to carry their golf bags and even unwrapping brand new clubs that have never been used before. At the same time, we had athletes that were recruited to play college golf. Christensen taught me a lot those years. When she was ready to retire, I gladly applied to keep the Huntley girls golf team going strong. I’ve been pretty fortunate to see girls golf in McHenry County grow from a small group to a thriving and competitive area.”
Allen likes the improvement of possibilities for female athletes.
“I am happy to see women’s sports take more of a spotlight in recent years,” she said. “I think social media has brought many female athletes to the forefront. When my high school players see top female golfers on their phones or on TV, it helps them realize they belong on the course too.”
Allen mentioned Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang, Charley Hull, and Lydia Ko are a few of the team’s favorite players to follow on the LPGA.
Karen Naymola
Karen Naymola played her prep volleyball at Cary-Grove and went on to a collegiate career at Eastern Illinois University. She has led the Red Raiders program for 11 seasons, including a fourth place finish at the IHSA Girls State Tournament in November.
“Volleyball has always been a huge part of my life,” Naymola said. “I went and played in college and loved being a student athlete. I think athletics teaches us so much more than just the sports side of things. It teaches us discipline, commitment, dedication and how to work with others.”
“Women in sports are a powerful source of inspiration and motivation,” she added. “They show us that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, anything is possible. Their achievements remind us that barriers can be broken, and dreams can be realized, no matter the odds. Watching women excel in their respective sports encourages everyone to push their limits, stay committed to their goals, and believe in their own potential. Their stories of triumph and resilience motivate us to strive for greatness in all aspects of life.”
Karen Wiley, MCC Athletic Director, spoke on the growth of opportunities and the role community colleges play.
“Community college participation numbers continue to grow as well,” she added. “They allow an avenue for the transitional player that chooses to hone her skills for one or two more years before moving on to the next level. It is a launching pad for many in many different sports. Women’s Flag football and wrestling are NJCAA emerging sports and opens even more opportunities for more young women.”
Castans noted the increased amount of college scholarships available for female student-athletes.
“With Title IX in the U.S. mandating gender equality in school sports programs, women have increased access to athletic scholarships and opportunities at the collegiate level. This has led to greater participation in sports, as well as pathways to professional careers,” Castans said.
Castans’ background in sports started early.
“When I was a kid I was always outside playing sports with the neighborhood kids,” she said. “In middle school I started playing basketball. In high school I ran cross country, played volleyball, basketball, and ran track and field. In college (at Western Illinois University) I played basketball.”
