National Girls and Women in Sport Day

On Friday, February 7, 2014 National Girls and Women in Sport Day was held at Faneuil Hall in Boston.  Annually all 50 states set aside a day in February, to honor high school female athletes.  In Massachusetts each MIAA affiliated high school is invited to select two outstanding athletes, to represent their respective schools.  Attleboro Basketball Coach Missy Traversi chaperoned athletes Beth Clifton and Bri LaPlume. Beth is captain of basketball, soccer and spring track teams.  In addition, she is a member of the National Honor Society and works with Attleboro youth basketball.  

Bri is captain of the soccer and basketball teams and assists with youth soccer and basketball.  

Also honored were Senior Olympians Clare O’Neill and Sheila McKenna, assistant basketball coaches at Attleboro High.  O’Neill plays 3 on 3 basketball with the CT Classics 2, in the 55-59 age bracket.  At the National Senior Games in the summer of 2013, at Cleveland State University, the Classics, competing in the AAA division, won gold.  McKenna, also a basketball player, competes in the 70-74 age bracket, for the CT High Fives.  At the Nationals her team also played in the AAA division and earned a bronze medal.

Massachusetts Girls and Women in Sport Day is sponsored by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and the New Agenda:  Northeast.  New Agenda recognizes women for their contributions to girls and women in sport.

The day is set aside to pay tribute to former Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman, for her athletic achievements and work for equality in women’s sports. The first Girls and Women in Sport Day was held in 1987. This year, at Faneuil Hall, 300 high school girls were honored.  Guest speaker was Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.  Former All American League baseball player Mary Pratt closed out the program.