Pac-12 student athletes speak out on National Girls & Women in Sports Day

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In the Pac-12, being a role model goes beyond the floor, court or field.

As the nation celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day Wednesday, we asked six Pac-12 student-athletes to talk about their experience growing not just in sports, but in life, and how playing at the college level has empowered them to become solid role models for others.

Ali Aguilar, Washington softball

 

We're celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day this week by hearing from our student-athletes about the impact sport has had on them and what they hope to pass along to others! First up, @uwsoftball's Ali Aguilar. #NGWSD "When I was younger, my dad always wanted me to play on all-boys teams so that I could learn to compete and be aggressive at a high level. However, as I grew apart from that early in my childhood, I realized how skilled and competitive girls and women are. Especially now in collegiate athletics, I'm competing with the best of the best and I've grown to become a confident person as well as a female athlete. It's something special to be able to compete alongside strong, athletic women and I'm thankful for all the women who have paved the way for me to be able to have this college-athlete experience."

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Lanesha Reagan, Oregon State volleyball

Gabrielle Maurice, UCLA softball

Mo Mosley, California women's basketball

Anika Apostalon, USC women's swimming

 

@anika_apostalon, @uscswim | #NGWSD | "It is easy to confine student-athletes to labels. It's easy to do that to anyone, really. But collegiate athletics have show men that we have never been, or will be, that simple. "We are a family. The women I have fought for, lived, cried and celebrated with are also daughters, sisters and friends. Warriors. They are compassionate, intelligent and whole-heartedly determined forces to be reckoned with. "Collegiate athletics have emphasized to me that my role is to support others in our fight for our goals. So, this is for the women and girls reading this. For the men and boys, you are just as involved. For us as athletes, you are our inspiration to be better, but you have a chance to be your biggest fan. Be better than us. Be more driven, be more compassionate. Be more than what others have defined you to be."

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Michelle Floyd, Arizona softball